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Originally Posted by mmarsh ---------------------------------------------------------------
In the US, the basis of our legal system is INNOCENT until proven GUILTY. That means for *some* of the prisoners they haven't been convicted of any crime yet, though the system in Arizona is already treating them as if they were convicted. Thats neither right, nor smart. |
I agree.
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For the rest, as Gilbert and Sullivan once wrote "Let the Punishment fit the crime". I am not saying they should live the life of luxury, but depriving people of coffee, and other little things that have NO consequence on the prison is cruel, especially when those inmates are serving minor crimes like DUI, Drunk and Disorderly, or unpaid parking tickets. Remember this is COUNTY jail, not State or Federal Prison.
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I don't agree, I think a short sharp exposure to conditions like this probably does more to talk people out of repeat offending than 30 days in state holiday camp with all amenities paid.
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There is a safety concern too. Prisons are very stressful places, you push people too hard and they will snap; hurt others or themselves. This has even happened to inmates with no prior violent tendencies. Some people cannot deal with the stress of incarceration. So by running a pissant county jail like its Stalag 19 the sheriff is putting other inmates, guards, and workers at risk. And he has already been sued because of it.
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I don't disagree however life is full of stress and to be perfectly frank the reason a lot of these people are in prison in the first place is because they snapped and hurt others so to be absolutely truthful I would much sooner have them snapping and hurting each other in prison than out on the street doing it and lets face it if you cannot handle the stress of incarceration then don't get arrested.
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What is the sheriff trying to prove? Not to come back to jail? If you've ever seen a jail, you don't need to grind in the heel to prove that. Remember these inmates are people who couldn't pay bail, are awaiting trial, and those convicted of minor offences.
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For you and I this would be absolutely true which is why the vast majority of us think before we do stupid things that will land us in prison however there are those who don't seem to have the capacity I know people that have refused Christmas release because the prison food was better than what he would get at home, I know people on their 14th DWI who don't care that every one after the 2nd has a mandatory sentence starting at 6 months (reduced to 2 months for good behavior).
It is clear that for a good number of the repeat offenders prison isn't some place they don't want to be therefore I have no issues with the conditions they spend there time in.