Questions for Wed 11/14

What should the purpose of prison be? To punish or to rehabilitate? Or other ideas?
Is prison the only way to hold someone accountable for their actions? If not, what other ways do you think that might be?
What rights should prisoners have? (do they have rights to vote like in Norway? Communication with outside? etc…)

9 Responses to "Questions for Wed 11/14"

Kevin Villagomez says:

November 13, 2018 at 9:38 pm

1.) The purpose of prisons should be fundamentally purposed as a deterrence, the reason why we have prisons installed into our society is to prevent people from doing certain actions. However, there are certain parameters behind a punishment, it should only be done if it is not an addiction to something that they are drawn towards and cannot help it.

2.) I do not believe that the prison system is the only way to hold people accountable for their actions, however it has been the sole method that we have conformed to. The only other process of accountability would be some form of community service, but with this comes limited supply and marginal return to the work being done and leads to a regression in our sense of safety, knowing criminals are no longer in the street.

3.) People that have been convicted of a crime loose many of their rights because they violated the rules that they are suppose to be abiding by. Nations like Norway have granted access to voting, but due to American exceptionalism we have create a notion that they have no rights. Criminals still do have their human rights however, I do not believe that they have the same rights as a law abiding citizen. They have violated the laws set in place by our governing society, therefore breaching the societal norms, and creates their limit access. I believe that they deserve the basic human rights guaranteed to everyone, even when incarcerated but do not deserver to have the same rights as those that are not incarcerated.
Kayley Hoffman says:

November 13, 2018 at 10:55 pm

1. The purpose of prisons should be to rehabilitate them. By effectively eliminating their personal freedoms and liberties usually granted that is punishment enough. Furthermore, by simply punishing them without educating them on how to reintegrate into society, they fail to fix the “problem” which landed them there in the first place. Essentially, they are being idle and are therefore hindering society even more than before.

2. Prison is not the only system that we can use to hold people accountable for their actions. Instead, we can set up programs that center on community service with people who bear the consequences of their questionable decisions. Of course, there would need to be supervision and tight guidelines as to where and when they complete the service, but I think it can’t be up to them to find it. The court should set up connections that place “criminals” with specific programs. Therefore, they would be forced to see the consequences of their actions being inflicted upon other innocent people, there by instilling a sense of guilt and responsibility.

3. People who are convicted of a felony should lose the freedom of movement and choice inherent to personal liberty. However, they should still retain their constitutional rights to vote, to free speech, to run for office( in special cases), etc. This is because the time in which they are isolated from society is meant to be seen as their payment and recompense. Any other restrictions following release from prison should be considered “cruel and unjust” punishment because it no longer fits the crime.
Eden Kim says:

November 13, 2018 at 11:00 pm

1. I believe that the purpose of prisons should be to provide rehabilitation for those who need it, as well as to eliminate future crimes. Unfortunately, prisons in America are currently places of punishment and revenge. Many prison staff and administrators are confused and even irritated by the services that jails offer (such as classes and music programs), because they view incarceration as a strictly punitive measure.

2. I do not believe that incarceration is the only way to hold people accountable for their actions. First, to clarify, there are many people who are wrongly convicted, so they have not actually committed any crimes. This past Friday, I attended the lecture “Finding a Solution to the Mass Incarceration Crisis” with Anthony Bradley. He also opposed the idea that prison is the only way to hold people accountable for their actions. Mr. Bradley hinted at the idea that healthy, loving families will keep people out of prison. While I disagree with this, I do agree with his idea that incorporating dignity in prisons is important. Prisoners are subjected to and forced to do horrific things (cf. When They Call You a Terrorist). Overall, it is difficult to answer this question, because not all prisoners have done something that they need to be “held accountable for.”

3. Prisoners should have a right to some form of education. This is because there are many who are wrongly convicted, and while they are in prison, they do not have access to an education. Even for all prisoners, after they are released, they are unable to obtain jobs because their criminal record and lack of education put them at a disadvantage. Ultimately, prisoners should have the right to be able to start again after being released from prison. They should have the opportunity to get a job, make a living, and live happily with their families.
Sabrina Duarte says:

November 13, 2018 at 11:37 pm

1. Prison should be a combination of punishment and rehabilitation. Prisoners are to be punished for the crime they have committed, but also should be rehabilitated in order to rejoin society effectively. I think educating prisoners produces a better outcome for the individuals as well as society rather than isolating them in poor conditions, exposed to idleness and violence.

2. There are other ways to hold someone accountable for their actions besides putting them in prison. The justice system in America already offers alternatives like dedicating time and effort to community service or attending group meetings. I think alternative forms of consequences can be beneficial, especially for crimes of lesser intensity.

3. Prisoners are human beings just like everyone else, so they do deserve the basic human rights, but they also challenged and abused the rights they had when they committed a crime. Since they committed a crime, it is understandable that they have some rights removed from them as a form of punishment. Like Norway, I think the US should allow prisoners to vote, especially since politics is a heavy influencer on the conditions and policies of prisoners. I think the limited exposure to society can be just because prisoners could be a harm to the community, and it also serves as punishment to allow them to think of their actions and the consequences that accompany them. However, I do believe that prisoners deserve better education in order to rehabilitate and rejoin society. Education is an essential factor to improving society as a whole, and since lots of prisoners already lack essential education, perhaps prison can be an opportunity to provide them with knowledge needed to shape their character and reflect the values of their society.
Rong Bao says:

November 14, 2018 at 12:30 am

The purpose of a prison should ideally be the rehabilitation from trauma, as well as educating those prisoners to be better citizens. However, since adults ought to be responsible for their own behaviors, it is reasonable to receive punishment to make up the responsibilities they failed to assume, which vary from respecting others’ rights of property (regarding robbery etc.) to protecting others’ right to live (in terms of murdering or doing harm to others). Therefore, I believe the purpose of a prison is a combination of rehabilitation and punishment.
Considering the fact that prisoners’ bodies are already held in prison, inmates are deprived of their freedom to mobilize, which is a representation of punishment. Therefore, activities inside the prison should focus more on the rehabilitation and education. I think this is what the Norwegian prison tries to do. By providing a caring and friendly atmosphere, prisoners are more inspired to be kind, which is an ideal way to promote values of being a good citizen through the “capillary power”.
But, for sure, it needs money. A lot of money.

(Sorry for answering in a whole paragraph…)
Mysia Perry says:

November 14, 2018 at 1:02 am

I believe that prison should be used for punishment through rehabilitation. I believe that the two are not exclusive. We “punish” our children in order to teach them or rehabilitate them to the right path. I think in some ways prison is not the most beneficial way to “punish” people for their crimes. In some instances, there is service to the community that could and should be done to alleviate those crimes (like with monetary crimes, for example.) I don’t believe that crime should take away your right to vote, etc. Regardless of how you see it, the previously incarcerated need representation just like the rest of us and denying them those rights for a mistake they made and served time for is just unethical.
Maiana Russell says:

November 14, 2018 at 1:52 am

1: I believe prisons main goals should be to rehabilitate. I also believe the punishment factor should still be accounted for as well, however. For one, not everyone can be rehabilitated. Also, punishment can be used to discourage future criminal behaviors, but it must be accompanied by rehabilitation to be fully effective.

2: I do believe there are other ways to hold people accountable for their actions. For example, tickets are a way to hold people accountable. Community service is a way to hold people accountable. Rehabilitation classes (similar to driving classes that people have to take when they are speeding) could be a way to hold people accountable. There are many, many alternatives to holding people accountable aside from prisons.

3: Prisoners rights should not need to be discussed. Once their time is served, they should be viewed as a regular citizen and therefore have every human right that we all have.
Phillip Daniel says:

November 14, 2018 at 8:52 am

1) The purpose of a prison should be rehabilitating members of our society so that they can go back in and be better adjusted along with being a contributor to the operations of every day life.

2) A prison is not the only way to hold someone accountable for their actions. There are various other ways to hold a person accountable, such as required therapy, rehab, counseling, welfare services, fines, and rational dialogue.

3) Prisoners should have the right to physically and verbally interact with family and they definitely should retain the right to vote.
Renata Stankowska says:

November 14, 2018 at 9:50 am

1) The purpose of prison should be to rehabilitate but unfortunately, in the USA that purpose does not exist. I think there should be some sort of punishment in order for the criminal to understand that his/her actions shouldn’t be repeated.

2)Prison is not the only way to keep anyone accountable for their actions. there are ways to start in schools and teach kids to make their own decisions and allow them to understand that there are consequences but not scare them that prison is the only one, that just makes sneakier kids. I feel like in the climate we live in the foundation which exists in schools simply instills fear in kids and though their actions may not be right placing them in prisons simply perpetuates the issues in the future.

3) Prisoners should still be able to contact their family and be allowed to see people during limited visitor hours. They should definitely still be able to vote in order for them to have a say in their society.

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