We are much too easy on people in our prisons

from JoeUser Forums

News today of yet another unnecessary and stupid lawsuit filed on behalf of, or by, a prisoner in jail for crimes that he was convicted of.  It seems that Mr. Prisoner is upset because in the prison system he is incarcerated at, people convicted of or with a history of sexual misconduct get issued pink prison uniforms to wear while others in the prison population get other colors to wear.

Personally, I think it's a good thing that the jail system may be discriminating against the prisoners with this particular history.  No, I don't think it is a good idea to let other prisons pick on the people in pink, but then again prison isn't supposed to be all smiles and pretty flowers.  It is supposed to be a vile place where normal human beings wouldn't want to wind up at.

Perhaps there are problems with the way this particular plan was implemented, but I personally don't see a problem having different categories and classes of prisoners be issued and forced to wear different color coded clothing that tells the guards and other inmates what type of prisoner they are dealing with and getting to share space with.  If something bad happens to the individuals that are forced to wear the colors of sexual predator, that is an unfortunate side effect of the policy, but perhaps news of those occurrences would help send the message that may be needed to scare some other potential criminals straight.  Something sure should.

News article that inspired these comments (from USA Today):

 

Prisoners in pink: Deterrent or scarlet mark of danger?

Con raises hue, cry over punishing color

2,165 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
If something bad happens to the individuals that are forced to wear the colors of sexual predator, that is an unfortunate side effect of the policy, but perhaps news of those occurrences would help send the message that may be needed to scare some other potential criminals straight. Something sure should.


So its the rule of Law until it does something the vigilante disagrees with, then anything goes - back to the jungle. Convienience law, circa McLaw's.

Where do you stop? Deep Pink for a wife killer? Purple for a child killer? Kevlar green for a vicious terrorist? Light Pink for released sex offenders so people are warned in the streets what they did 20 years ago? Pink for those on remand for sex offences?

All that achieves is one nights self satisfied sleep from the vigilante before mass riots start with some very scared inmates fighting for their lives, prison officers seriously hurt even killed, and for what? The better "punishment" is for these crazy nutters to rot in jail for a long period of time, its a far far more effective "punishment".

If we go down that suggested road we end up being worse than those animals, provide the perfect excuse to bring the whole justice system into disrepute, and provide the perfect defence of justified punishment for every vigilante to go crazy and force those who they think are guilty to walk the streets in pink.

Its insane, and I hope the authorities take down those responsible for such a crazy idea. We came out of the trees long ago, lets not climb back up again.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

Its insane, and I hope the authorities take down those responsible for such a crazy idea. We came out of the trees long ago, lets not climb back up again.

It is, and no I don't hope.  It is insane to think it will make a difference.  I don't want the people who authorized it to have any repercussions.  It is not a life threatening issue, or even torture.  It is simply misguided.

A bit extreme, but then you are a very strong opinion person.  Of which I do respect that in you.  But I think this is not such a case where it is Neanderthal, but rather just a mistaken conception.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't want the people who authorized it to have any repercussions. It is not a life threatening issue, or even torture. It is simply misguided.

Fair call to a degree, however what raises the strong concern in my mind is the state of mind that could even think this was acceptable, let alone do it. If that person did this, what else would they do as a means of self imposed justice? The latter is not a call I could make for sure, I dont know them, but if I was sitting in the seat of those investigating I would have to, at the very least, seriously think if they were suitable to run such a facility. To do otherwise would be inviting trouble.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry, I'm with the prisoners on this one. They lose their freedom. That is their punishment for their crimes. The fact that many prisoners are assaulted in prison by other prisoners and that is greeted with a wink and a nod is reprehensible. Anything that singles these prisoners out as a target is wrong, IMHO. The fact that they are feminizing them by chosing pink also irritates me. As far as prisoners punishment not being harsh enough, it's harsh enough that I wouldn't want to trade places with any of them.

Our penal system is a mess in this country. There are too many people in prison in our country. Many prisoners are not violent threats to society though unfortunately some that didn't go into prison that way come out that way. Prison should be about rehabilitation not just punishment.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
but if I was sitting in the seat of those investigating I would have to, at the very least, seriously think if they were suitable to run such a facility.


Definitely! I agree it is a lack of judgement or knowledge. And that does not bode well for their other decisions.

And how did we go red? I posted my comment on JU not the forums. But that seems to be the starting point for the color.

Ya think they may be reading this as well?
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Our penal system is a mess in this country.


let's trade it for the penal system in say......Russia?

Yea, we are real 3rd world!  
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ya think they may be reading this as well?


Nah - its Bush's fault   
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nah - its Bush's fault


Comeon! You are really American not British!   
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
  
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

So, to follow-up on some of the comments above, some people have problems with the idea that the prisoners with a history of sexual misconduct are made to wear pink uniforms?

Ok, here's a solution for you -- issue pink uniforms to everyone that hasn't got a history of sexual misconduct and give plain old prison drab to the ones that do (have that history...)

Again, I'm not going to cry over the fact that someone that is in prison is identified in some way based on their criminal history.  I'm not saying that the other prisoners should be able to administer their own justice on those individuals either, and I'm also not saying that the guards should look past any abuse of those prisoners by others.  I'm saying I don't have a problem distinguishing criminals quickly and easily based on the uniform they are assigned.

Let me ask this - if the only people that were getting pink uniforms are prisoners that have tested positive for HIV would anyone have a problem with that?  If so why, and if not why?

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've always been told you were sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment...
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm saying I don't have a problem distinguishing criminals quickly and easily based on the uniform they are assigned.


Despite knowing what the consequencies would be? And you know perfectly well what would happen. Thats like saying a blind man wasnt responsible for shooting the victim, the victim just got in the way of the bullett.

Let me ask this - if the only people that were getting pink uniforms are prisoners that have tested positive for HIV would anyone have a problem with that? If so why, and if not why?

Of course they should not be required to, and for exactly the same reason.


A lot of people fought WW2 in Europe partly because its abhorrent to brand someone just because of what they are. That applies equally to the bad guy as the good guy. Its not justifiable under any circumstances, let alone institutionalise it.

If its acceptable as you appear to be claiming, why have a justice system at all, just shoot them and be done with it - its cheaper. The latter is the logical end road of such lines of thought and equally insane.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm not going to get into a discussion about pink prison uniforms, but I do wonder - what exactly IS the point of prison? Is it strictly punishment, or is it supposed to be something more? It seems to me that "rehab" as a prison goal isn't working too well. Why not?

Is that what we want our prisons to do? Try to rehab these folks into upstanding citizens, or do we think that's just a pipe dream?

We came out of the trees long ago, lets not climb back up again.


Better look at those trees. Most of America is swinging from the branches by their tails.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm not going to get into a discussion about pink prison uniforms, but I do wonder - what exactly IS the point of prison? Is it strictly punishment, or is it supposed to be something more? It seems to me that "rehab" as a prison goal isn't working too well. Why not?


When I studied psychology in high school my class went to Sydney to study abnormal behaviours (basically an excuse to walk down the undeservedly notorious sex strips at Kings Cross and the Wall in school uniforms with clipboards in hand...). As part of it we visited the Silverwater jail and had a lecture from the warden and a tour of the facilities with some of the women imprisoned there.

From what the warden said the only reason they were there was to be deprived of their freedom. That was the punishment. No other reason. Inmates can choose to rehabilitate, but the prison didn't see its duty as anything other than to deprive its inmates of their freedom of movement.

From what the inmates said (in between attempting to sleaze onto a fairly shell-shocked batch of 16-year-olds) that was their impression as well.

The US system might have different aims, but I wouldn't have thought they'd be that different. Doesn't someone who posts here work in a prison? They might be able to help us out here with their views.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think the purpose of the prison is to deny freedom while offering a chance to rehabilitate. At least, that seems to be the goal of the parole system. Basically, if they feel you have rehabilitated, they let you out. If they don't feel that way, you stay in. Whether or not they take the time or put in the effort to actually make an informed decision is where it breaks down - but if they did, then it would be a better system, allowing for just punishment, but allowing for rehabilitation as well.