For today’s comic, I want to ask two things: 1) What do you believe is the ultimate goal of the prison system, and 2) do you believe that the prison system is effective in reaching that ultimate goal?
Well, to call it a “penitentiary” we would hope people would become penitent and see the error of their ways; to call it a “reformatory” we would hope people would reform their behavior. In both cases, the idea is to remove someone from society for a period of time to protect society from anti-social behavior and to give them an opportunity to change. Either alternative focuses on the person in prison and (at least) theoretically is based on a belief that the human can improve his or her behavior. But if all we want to do is punish, then warehousing people without providing education or skills training seems about right. And that is what we do right now. The only question we ask any more is “how much punishment” can we inflict, and the answer seems to be everything up to the magical idea of that which we deem “cruel and unusual”.
The questions make one think. Just as in many aspects of life, I am pretty sure that everyone does not share the same set of goals; thus the truth about the second question’s results may be rather sad.
I won’t say that there’s never a reason to incarcerate, but we incarcerate far too many people. Incarceration, especially the way it’s done in the US, is cruel in itself and it makes most inmates worse rather than better. The system is demonstrably racist. It’s also a big waste of money.
1) The ultimate goal of the prison system is a racism for profit system whose ultimate goal is to punish people for their race while making as much as possible.
2) I believe that the prison system under GOP guidelines are very effective in reaching this ultimate goal, if they can stop actually killing minorities in the field.
There may be reasons to incarcerate to protect others, but it is not a long term answer. And no matter what the justification for incarceration is, to do it with what are clearly inhuman conditions is unjustified and completely counter-productive in terms of results. The thirst for revenge drives too much of our criminal justice system, and, as lonecat notes, is blatantly racist. However, it may be worth noting that about 35% of our prison population score high in psychopathic evaluations. It is also estimated that probably 10% or more of our CEO level people score as psychopaths. (The list of jobs with the highest rates of psychopathy: CEO, lawyer, media (TV/Radio), salesperson, surgeon, journalist, police officer, clergy person.) So how best to deal with the 1% of the population that exhibit such personalities fairly and safely for the society as a whole? It would appear that incarceration as we do it now is not an effective way to accomplish this goal.
With marijuana becoming legal (either for medicinal or recreational use) in one state after another, how do you think people who did time for merely possessing a small amount feel? I’d have to wonder if it drives ’em to drink……
While I recognize the cartoon makes its point by the “D’s v R’s” split, I think Abe Lincoln, would support justice and thus wouldn’t support Trump. McKinley, TR or Taft would have been a more apt choice, IMHO.
The ultimate goal of the prison system is to get unruly white youths off the street because we have no jobs for them, get black youths into jail and get some work out of them at the lowest possible wage, and to give some work as guards to white men of unremarkable talent. Our current system accomplishes all these goals quite well despite the best efforts of outsiders who want to teach them to read, give them college classes, put them on debating teams, and get them to stage productions of Shakespeare. Our prison system is not well thought out, but then, our legislators are as reluctant to think and feel as the general populace. Does Elizabeth Warren have a plan for prison reformation? Let me check.
There are a lot of good comments here from all different perspectives, I always appreciate hearing differing opinions on all types of topics. One thing that strikes me about this particular topic is the thought that only “bad” people commit crimes. For example, the POTUS says that because Michael Flynn is a “good” guy he should somehow be treated differently for the crimes that he admits committing. The problem is defining who is a “good” and who is a “bad” guy. Now, we all know that some people truly are unrepentantly, just “bad”. This should not be the standard of guilt or innocence. Plenty of these ""bad" people do not commit crimes and are living among us like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. By that same token, there are some “good” people who have run afoul of the law(for whatever reason) and are in prison. In order for our criminal justice system to work, it should be applied equally regardless of sex, race, social standing or ability to hire an entire fleet of lawyers. Unfortunately, many in this country are born into an unrelenting cycle that takes great luck and/or perseverance to break out of from the inside. They grow up with limited options and on the wrong side of a stacked deck. Because of the color of their skin, many in this country automatically put them in the “bad” category. Others are born into the other side of this equation and automatically are assumed to be in the “good” category. Justice is supposed to be blind, but we all know it is not. Therefore to answer the question, our criminal justice system cannot work because it is built on a flawed premise of “…liberty and justice for All”. That being said, it is way better then what most of the world has to deal with, but we can do better.
What is the purpose of laws which impose monetary fines for certain behaviors… especially those where a fine may be imposed, but if it’s not paid, imprisonment becomes mandatory?
Is this not basically saying that the rich may purchase a “right” to break the law?
Brian Carroll creator almost 5 years ago
For today’s comic, I want to ask two things: 1) What do you believe is the ultimate goal of the prison system, and 2) do you believe that the prison system is effective in reaching that ultimate goal?
thebashfulone almost 5 years ago
Well, to call it a “penitentiary” we would hope people would become penitent and see the error of their ways; to call it a “reformatory” we would hope people would reform their behavior. In both cases, the idea is to remove someone from society for a period of time to protect society from anti-social behavior and to give them an opportunity to change. Either alternative focuses on the person in prison and (at least) theoretically is based on a belief that the human can improve his or her behavior. But if all we want to do is punish, then warehousing people without providing education or skills training seems about right. And that is what we do right now. The only question we ask any more is “how much punishment” can we inflict, and the answer seems to be everything up to the magical idea of that which we deem “cruel and unusual”.
happyhollow almost 5 years ago
The questions make one think. Just as in many aspects of life, I am pretty sure that everyone does not share the same set of goals; thus the truth about the second question’s results may be rather sad.
Kalkkuna almost 5 years ago
Are we too vain to compare against what other ‘civilized’ countries’ do? It would seem there are some good models for us.
lonecat almost 5 years ago
I won’t say that there’s never a reason to incarcerate, but we incarcerate far too many people. Incarceration, especially the way it’s done in the US, is cruel in itself and it makes most inmates worse rather than better. The system is demonstrably racist. It’s also a big waste of money.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
The USA has an ego problem. People feel justified in committing crimes, and guns are readily available.
acellist Premium Member almost 5 years ago
As a good Christian, I prefer exile . . . as if.
Mr. Blawt almost 5 years ago
1) The ultimate goal of the prison system is a racism for profit system whose ultimate goal is to punish people for their race while making as much as possible.
2) I believe that the prison system under GOP guidelines are very effective in reaching this ultimate goal, if they can stop actually killing minorities in the field.
martens almost 5 years ago
There may be reasons to incarcerate to protect others, but it is not a long term answer. And no matter what the justification for incarceration is, to do it with what are clearly inhuman conditions is unjustified and completely counter-productive in terms of results. The thirst for revenge drives too much of our criminal justice system, and, as lonecat notes, is blatantly racist. However, it may be worth noting that about 35% of our prison population score high in psychopathic evaluations. It is also estimated that probably 10% or more of our CEO level people score as psychopaths. (The list of jobs with the highest rates of psychopathy: CEO, lawyer, media (TV/Radio), salesperson, surgeon, journalist, police officer, clergy person.) So how best to deal with the 1% of the population that exhibit such personalities fairly and safely for the society as a whole? It would appear that incarceration as we do it now is not an effective way to accomplish this goal.
Godfreydaniel almost 5 years ago
With marijuana becoming legal (either for medicinal or recreational use) in one state after another, how do you think people who did time for merely possessing a small amount feel? I’d have to wonder if it drives ’em to drink……
jcole998 almost 5 years ago
1) Keep those who would do others physical or civil harm isolated thus promoting general population safety. 2) Yes.
mackinpc1977 almost 5 years ago
While I recognize the cartoon makes its point by the “D’s v R’s” split, I think Abe Lincoln, would support justice and thus wouldn’t support Trump. McKinley, TR or Taft would have been a more apt choice, IMHO.
clc6 almost 5 years ago
The ultimate goal of the prison system is to get unruly white youths off the street because we have no jobs for them, get black youths into jail and get some work out of them at the lowest possible wage, and to give some work as guards to white men of unremarkable talent. Our current system accomplishes all these goals quite well despite the best efforts of outsiders who want to teach them to read, give them college classes, put them on debating teams, and get them to stage productions of Shakespeare. Our prison system is not well thought out, but then, our legislators are as reluctant to think and feel as the general populace. Does Elizabeth Warren have a plan for prison reformation? Let me check.
Znox11 almost 5 years ago
There are a lot of good comments here from all different perspectives, I always appreciate hearing differing opinions on all types of topics. One thing that strikes me about this particular topic is the thought that only “bad” people commit crimes. For example, the POTUS says that because Michael Flynn is a “good” guy he should somehow be treated differently for the crimes that he admits committing. The problem is defining who is a “good” and who is a “bad” guy. Now, we all know that some people truly are unrepentantly, just “bad”. This should not be the standard of guilt or innocence. Plenty of these ""bad" people do not commit crimes and are living among us like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. By that same token, there are some “good” people who have run afoul of the law(for whatever reason) and are in prison. In order for our criminal justice system to work, it should be applied equally regardless of sex, race, social standing or ability to hire an entire fleet of lawyers. Unfortunately, many in this country are born into an unrelenting cycle that takes great luck and/or perseverance to break out of from the inside. They grow up with limited options and on the wrong side of a stacked deck. Because of the color of their skin, many in this country automatically put them in the “bad” category. Others are born into the other side of this equation and automatically are assumed to be in the “good” category. Justice is supposed to be blind, but we all know it is not. Therefore to answer the question, our criminal justice system cannot work because it is built on a flawed premise of “…liberty and justice for All”. That being said, it is way better then what most of the world has to deal with, but we can do better.
Daeder almost 5 years ago
You’ve got Lincoln on the wrong side. He’s a liberal.
gammaguy almost 5 years ago
Let me pose a related (in my opinion) question:
What is the purpose of laws which impose monetary fines for certain behaviors… especially those where a fine may be imposed, but if it’s not paid, imprisonment becomes mandatory?
Is this not basically saying that the rich may purchase a “right” to break the law?