Why do we put in the same jail violent criminals with non-violent criminals? As far as i know (please correct me if i am wrong), the current system sends non-violent offenders to the same place as violent offenders. Would it not be better to put nonviolent criminals to forced labor to repay their debts to society? I am thinking of large working camps, where they would be forced to labor 6 days a week on hard-work or dangerous places where manual labor is hard to find. These working camps would allow them to sleep in tents or some sort of cabins. Security could be minimal since there would be only non-violent offenders. Would any non-violent offender prefer to go to such a “working camp” than to go to a jail full of gangs and murderers? I would think they would love to have that choice.
Separating violent from non-violent criminals would allow the Government to make penitentiaries across the nation less “cozy”. Let the violent criminals live in one cell (one per cell) and never allow them to get out of the cell (for their own protection and the other inmates). Meals would be distributed to the cells and cells would have plenty of room for inmates to stretch. Isolating them from the external world and other inmates could help society break down the gangs that are controlled from inside jails. Showers would be administered by a hose spraying through the cell bars. Health care to those inmates could be reduced to the bare minimum, no more $30,000 surgeries paid by the Government; why would a violent criminal get a free surgery when many honest people can’t afford one? All of these suggestions may make jails cheaper to run. Would that be too much torture for an inmate? if you see them as violent criminals who were found guilty by a jury of their peers, the answer is no; it is exactly what they deserve for daring to attack another human being.
If you agree with me (at least somewhat), please make sure your public servants who are in charge of the penal system know your opinion about it. And although it will be nice if you add your comment in this blog or Facebook, it won’t do too much if you don’t express your sentiment with the Government.
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