Prison Reform - crime and punishment

Here is another serious drain on our system, giving us little return on our investment.

Simply,

Declare amnesty, and decriminalize for all crimes to oneself, with respect to incarceration.

Incarceration should only be for those who have committed violent crimes, or significant crimes against humanity.

Abolish the prison employee unions influence in the political process. Unions are for protecting workers safty and human rights, not to influence legislation to imprison the minor offender to insure a steady stream of union jobs, for example. Obvious stuff here... greed is wicked.

Reconstruct the prison system to become secure working factories.

Each inmate must contribute labor to compensate for his/her crime, and to earn privileges beyond the very basic requirements of life. no work, no windows... is the slogen. That includes TV, ballenced regular meals, excersise, socializacion and visitation... all to be earned from profitable work.

The disabled can be determined, and cared for accordingly. Perhaps some government support here may be needed, as well as in rehabilitation services within the prison.

The criminally insane, and the hopelessly violent, can be segragated and configned at the cost of the state.

The prison staff is to use inmate labor to turn a profit, including the upkeep of all capitol equipment, as in all business. The free labor will be payed for by the prison in providing housing, food and living necessities for the working inmates. Luxuries are only for those inmates who make extrodinary contribution to the profitability of the prision, or the furtherance of the rehabilitation goals.

The prison staff can be fired if they do not turn a profit, by a publicly elected board of trustees.

Incentivise the rehabilitation of the inmates through prison employee bonus program with the focus on providing vocational training and experience to the inmates.

With respect to crime that is not significant enough to warrant incarceration, penalties should be community service related to the crime, in stead of monetary penalties. ... all the way down to traffic tickets. This will take the money making incentive out of penalty determining legislation.

..a work in progress... will update...

I will eventually get to the police and justice departments, and the perverse incentives therein.

Tony