Hi, quick question:

Is prison a good idea?

psi42

Do you think there is a better alternative?

thebriggsdude

yeah its a good idea to be turned into a girl if thats what your asking. any other alternative would be a month locked in a ward for lunatics in a revolving room without anything to eat. then sure!

fredg

Hi,
Your "quick question" really doesn't have a "quick answer".
But, as another expert said, "is there another way"?

Prisons house those who are dangerous, in one way or another, to society.

Maybe an island for Prisoners? Where they can't get off?
fredg

serialwife

Is prison necessary? Most definitely. Prisons take in the person who clearly can not function in society without violating laws. Are the prisons in the United States effective? I think the answer there is no! Our prison system is ineffective. It does keep them seperated from the law abiding section of society. However, it houses them all together. Alot of petty criminals come out harder than they went in. Perhaps we should discuss the fact that criminals in prison in many cases have a better life than poor children. They are guarenteed meals, the have recreational events, and they can get a college education. Maybe we should do prison like one of the ones in China or other foreign countries where prison is an actual punishment. At one point in Terre Haute IN they had what was called "bomber's row" it house The Unibomber, Tim McVeigh, and the 1st guy that blew up the world trade center. Do they really need to be lumped together to exchange ideas. Prisons encourage recidivism.

labman

The 23 May Forbes Magazine has an article titled ''Lock Them Up'' on page 216. We are very unsuccessful at changing criminals, and it is possible prisons make them worse. On the other hand, as the Forbes article shows, as we have locked up more criminals, the crime rate has gone down. The article may also be available at www.forbes.com.