A couple days ago I wrote a blog on prisons and punishment for the criminal element in our country. In my blog "death sentence" I contemplated the act of capital punishment and other forms of punishment in other countries. The feedback I got back was insightful with a few groups agreeing that harsher punishments do not deter criminals.
What these people agree on is that programs that focus on prevention and education to those at most risk, people in poverty, social inequality, and family structure,(A nod to my buddy Jason and my sister Kim) will curb communities in these areas so they do not enter into a life of crime.
This may well be the case, but if it is, then why isn't it happening? Why do we still have a strong criminal element that evolves with every new generation? This also doesn't solve the issue we have with our current career criminals. The ones that are already grown up to adult status and don't give one whit for our laws.
There are people out there that use the criminal justice system to their advantage, they enjoy their summer months, but when it gets cold they perform a small crime that will net them a few months in jail for the winter. They will get hot meals and warm beds, and then get let out for the summer. I thought this claim was utter "horsesh*t" when someone mentioned it to me but after reading multiple articles on the subject I am slowly starting to become a believer.
What does this tell me? That are prisons are too lenient, and at the very least prisoners should be put to work to hard labor that nobody else wants to do. I have also read that when a "Bad" person goes into a maximum security prison they usually come out worse than when they entered. I know there are programs and help groups in some prisons but you can't teach someone something if they don't want to learn.
Programs for the impoverished may well help if they get to people at a young age and stops them before they start. The reality of the situation is that not all communities partake in the program, and after a message becomes repetitive to the point of annoying, nobody will pay it any attention when they hear it.
I think we need a deterrent for all age groups, I have no idea what that might be, but I do know that the programs we have in place right now need to be updated.
Scott Goerz
