Associated Press
A few years ago, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) quietly helped get the ball rolling on an issue that many Democrats have generally been reluctant to touch: prison reform.
In March 2009, Webb said on the Senate floor, "Let's start with a premise that I don't think a lot of Americans are aware of. We have five percent of the world's population; we have 25 percent of the world's known prison population. There are only two possibilities here: either we have the most evil people on earth living in the United States, or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice."
The fear was that the right would immediately launch tired and predictable attacks about Democrats being "soft" on crime and/or "coddling" criminals, using demagoguery to cut the discussion off at the knees, but that never really happened. Other national priorities took precedence, but Webb initiated a discussion that most serious people, regardless of ideology, considered worth having.
A few years later, we appear to have reached the point at which prison reform is a bipartisan issue. Indeed, Dylan Matthews noted yesterday that it's the right that's "leading the charge to reduce the U.S. prison population."
According to John Hopkins's David Dagan and Steve Teles, writing in the Washington Monthly, the change is not primarily due to economic constraints. The change started in the early 2000s, with major conservative-led reforms passing in Texas in 2007, when times were flush, and states weren't facing draconian budget cuts of the kind they've been forced to implement recently.
Nor is this a case of corporate cronyism. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which drafts model legislation for conservative state legislatures and is a newfound supporter of prison reform, does not receive support from any prison privatization companies, and has renounced its previous support for privatization measures.
Instead, the change has come about due to an alliance between libertarians, who are as skeptical of the prison system as they are of all uses of state power, and religious conservatives.
Remember Chuck Colson? He helped make this an issue for social conservatives, but we've also seen prison reform gain traction throughout the right, at the state and federal level.
The Dagan/Teles piece is worth checking out. Given the enormous ideological gap between the Democratic and Republican parties, it's become exceedingly difficult to find important issues that can garner bipartisan support, but if we're making a list, reforming the criminal justice system deserves to be on it. There's a real opportunity here for much-needed change.
Leave a Comment:
Prison reform? To steal a GOP theme, isn't the bulk of this a supply side problem?
How about starting with termination of the Drug War?
The problem, the B I G problem, is that there a huge amount of money involved. Not just in for-profit and state-run (guards, food service, etc)prisons, but in the entire system. Cops, lawyers, courts.
And that goes double for drugs!
Watch out! Prison reform may be like education reform. A voucher system where prisoners are sent to for profit prisons for having committed acts that don't require jail time. Check out the states that have privatized their prisons and the consequences for people who are sentenced harshly and sent to these for profit prisons to meet the prison's quota under its contract with the states.
Prisons should not be privatized!
Prison reform to the right means letting rapists and murderers get parole if they accept Christ and evangelism.
We in CA just gave the boot to 3 strikes law, which was needlessly locking up for life, prisoners for a minor 3rd offense.
So, if we had a person addicted to drugs, got caught. The third time, they are locked up for life. How much does life in prison cost taxpayers and for which crimes? Some are fine, lock up for life. But using drugs or selling pot or something… we need to be smarter and not so reactionary.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57418495/the-cost-of-a-nation-of-incarceration/
Not to mention the industry of private for profit prisons?
Yes, be vigilant and pay attention to what "reform" really entails. Voters are often misled by ads paid for by the industry involved.
Prison reform means repealing the failed "War on Drugs"; it also means stopping the insanity that has been it's companion "Stop & Frisk". And can we stop privatizing prisons, period. Yes, we do need "prison reform", we also need to rethink those conditions which lead people to commit crimes - education is cheaper than prison and more productive for society.
You pretty much said exactly what I was going to say.
There's a saying "It costs five times as much to go to the state pen for a year than it does to go to Penn state for a year." Of course the whole Penn state fiasco makes the saying not so popular these days but you get the point.
The national prison system is a national disgrace. We just lock people up, throw away the key, and not deal with the systematic causes. Too many groups have too many dollars locked up in the current system, and the for profit prison abomination is trying to take over. It is as bad as the military industrial complex, and it is becoming as bad as the back log for the veterans disability claims.
I had two daughters who worked in juvenile system. When they first went to work the facility was state run. When they left it was primarily due to the purchase of the facility by a for profit company. There seems to be a total lack of any critical thinking going on when these decisions are being made. There is no win/win scenario just a win/lose. Their GOD is green and that is what they see, not human beings. Each body inside is worth money; the length of time prisoners have to serve the profit margin. More bodies, more money. These for profit prisons do not want fewer people to be incarcerated, they want more. No support here for working toward healing society.
Legalize drugs and treat addition as a disease.
My much darker opinion is that convicted pedophiles should be removed from this earth immediately after the trial. However, the death penalty apparently costs us more than life in prison. Go figure.
Rape should have life long incarcerations.
This is the breakdown from the Libertarian News. The largest percentage of those incarcerated are for victimless crimes. The whole article can be found here: http://www.libertariannews.org/2011/09/29/victimless-crime-constitutes-86-of-the-american-prison-population/
To pretty much end crime as we know it (luvn those euphisms); put a tracking chip into anyone convicted of a felony. Once those bad guys know that any crime they might commit will be recorded place and time,, end of crime.
We have to change the fact that once you get a felony it is almost impossible to get a job.
And yeah,, it's basically a jobs issue,, let's create 40 million jobs,, ha ha,, and/or we can socialize higher ed, have the army have an open door hiring policy and do all lot more civil service (especially recycling, habitat restoration, etc. etc.).
There's nothing like being incarcerated to turn one into a prison reformer, which is why I think the Republicans are finally "getting religion" on this as guys like Colson go through the system. I'm sure Randy Cunningham's newfound fervor for prison reform is also genuine. As is Jack Abramoff's.
End the war on drugs. End private prisons. End prison industries for profit, prison industry should be for supplying prisons only.
Prison industry is fine IF you pay the inmates a decent wage that gets put into an account for when they are released. Right now inmates get 13 -18 cents an hour for doing things like kitchen work and factory work. Then they take half of that for restitution. If inmates had money upon their release, they wouldn't need to go back to crime to survive. Even minimum wage over a period of years adds up to a decent chunk of money.
In CA, when you are released you get $200. You have to buy your bus ticket home and food for the trip with that. If you are lucky you hit the streets with $100 and no job or place to live. And you wonder why they go back?
Wouldn't this have been better saved for Friday's show?
Folks, Obama has been the one building new prisons to temporarily house Latinos that he wants to deport.
Check the facts.
The Prisoner of Truth
The eager, Young Journalist was honestly surprised. “What ? You like prison ?”
“Yep, sure do.”
“But why ? Don’t you want to be Free to Live your Own Life ?”
“Free ? Are you kiddin’ ? On the Outside ? That’s a load of messy goose puckey,” The Prisoner harrumphed derisively.
“On the Outside, you Suckers have got massive unemployment, primarily due to the fact that the Planet is over populated, and our Socio/Economic Systems are too rigidly outdated, corrupted and overwhelmed to do anything meaningful about it, at this moment in time. There will never be enough so called jobs for everyone. It’s statistically impossible. It’s one of the many reasons that Global Empires use Wars and Dis-ease to ‘cull out’ the masses of the poor and unnecessary.”
“But instead of facin’ the cold, hard reality of that fact, because everyone is so brainwashed into the Gotta Work For The Man Plan mentality or your worthless to Society. The Global Systems will take a long time to Evolve into somethin’ better. You and I will never Live to see things Change. And that’s a Fact. But eventually Humanity will Evolve into yet another Higher State of Being. If it doesn’t it will destroy itself, and that’s just too depressin’ to even consider. I’m a cock-eyed Optimist, and I say that eventually we’ll Evolve into somethin’ better.”
The Prisoner stared the Young Journalist in the Eye. “You just think you’re Free, Buck’o. You’ve got drones and cameras spyin’ on you in your sleep same as me. Ha !”
“You’ve got a lot of boneheaded political leaders that openly state that they want everybody, but themselves and the rich to go without Healthcare and sink into indigent homelessness.”
“Heck, they’re stealin’ your Homes right out from underneath you with scams and flim-flams that would land me, and everyone else in this Jailhouse, right back behind bars. They don’t care whether or not you starve to death out on the street, as long as they get your money and your vote before you croak. It’s just one less lackey to have to worry about. One less gaping mouth to Feed, Clothe and Shelter.”
“You’ve got Bucket-headed Bankers, Rabid Speculators, Corporate Moose-heads, and Political Hot Shots stealin’ every dime out of your pockets that they can scam and con out of you.”
“Heck, the Corporate Money Men and Kick-back Politicos, have even got their clutches on this For Profit Prison. They charge me rent and fees for every day I’m locked up in here. I’ll never get out of debt. But the rent and fees are cheaper than anything I’d have to pay on the Outside, so it’s a much appreciated benefit for bunkin’ in’ here for awhile. It‘s better than sleepin‘ under a bridge somewhere. Ha !”
“On the Outside, the Elitist Crooks and Thieves smile in your face while shankin’ you in the back. At least in Prison, I know who my Friends and Enemies really are. You know who’s got your back.”
“In Prison, I gotta roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, a pot to poop in, toilet paper to clean up with, hot and cold runnin’ water, three square meals a day, a t.v., music in the Rec Hall, a gym to work out in, library books to read, therapy sessions, healthcare, a dentist, conjugal visits and a work program to participate in. For a Poor Man or a Middle Class Man on the downside of this roller coaster of an Economy, I’d have to say that I’ve got the better end of this Deal. And my sins are no better and no worse that the 1% givin’ you 99% the Big Lyin’ Runaround right now. Ha !”
“I’m just small potatoes, kiddo. I snatch computers, t.v.’s, microwaves, small appliances, jewelry. Quick money items for any out-of-town pawn shops.”
“Now, the Big Honchos and their Speculatin‘ Speculators. They steal people’s mortgages, pensions, investments, Hopes and Dreams with the push of a computer key, and the cold impassivity of some fancy numerical algorithm. Now, that’s Grand Theft that gives one pause.”
“I go out and shoot a cannon into some ‘ole cow field, and cops swarm all over me. And then it’s off to Prison, and I’m forgotten. End of damages for the Outside.”
“The Big Honchos and their Speculators sneeze away people’s Life savings and years of hard work in the blink of an eye, and no cops, no Prison, but the reverberations of The Grand Shaft they gave to ordinary folks everywhere are felt around the World. In fact, nothing changes, and the Big Honchos and their Speculatin’ Jackles go right back to their old bad habits preening over how they got by with Social/Cultural Murder. Ha !”
“Everything is Relative, my Man. Everything.”
In some ways, Life in prison is more Honest and Transparent than on the Outside. In here, We know who the Warden - the Big Dog is - what the Rules to the Game are - who the Guards - the Barkin’ Dogs are, what they Want, what they Need in order for a fella’ like me to Survive with a minimum of aggravation and grief.”
“Can you say that on the Outside ?” The prisoner asked with a sly, knowing grin. “I don’t think so. You live in a World of Smoke ‘n Mirrors. A World of Big Lies and little Life drainin’ nibbles at your Identity - your Soul each and every minute of each and every day and night.”
“Heck, dude. I Freely do things to get me Here - in Jail - when I Need a Vacation - a break from the World you flatfoot around in, in an Unconscious stupor. I come Here to Relax - to veg - to get away from the big Craziness Out There. The Craziness in Here is manageable - is a predictable Cake Walk compared to the mine fields and Life Suckin’ Swamplands Outside of these Walls.”
“I know. I know. I can see it in your eyes. You think I’m nuts. I’m just a worthless Ne’er-Do-Well - a stinkin’ Jail-Hound - a Prisoner. That’s alright. I understand. I was once a lot like you, but I’ve Evolved. And that’s the Truth. A Truth that has Freed me from the Inside Out.”
“Why, even Prisons Evolve, dude. I’m not on a Chain-Gang. I’m not out breakin’ rocks. In my work program I plant things. Trees, bushes, flowers, Gardens. I Grow things. Now, that’s Enlightened Evolution.”
“Truth is the same way. It Evolves. Truth goes through its own Revolutions and Evolutions Inside you, and Manifests itself Outside of you. We have a tendency to Live Out our Truths. So, when you Eyeball one floatin’ your way you gotta reach out and grab it. The Truth you grab will begin to work its molecular magic - its transformin’ quantum physics on you right away. That’s just the Nature of Truths.”
“Truths are Relative. And Truths of Freedom are Relative. It’s all about Location, Location, Location and Time and Space Occupation. Ha !”
“And me, I’m just a Monk, and this Prison is my Sacrilegious Monastery. And until the World finds the Courage and Strength to Change for the Better, my Religion is Survival. My Commandments are the Rules of the Game of Survival. I Pray on my Feet - not my knees. I can Meditate and Relax in Here. Can’t do that much on the Outside. Too many distractions. Too much unnecessary pressure to do too many things that make no sense at all, other than to better and enrich Someone else’s Pocketbook. Someone else’s Mirage of Freedom. Someone else’s Agenda. Certainly not mine.”
The Prisoner looked out into the Prison Garden and sighed, “So, what was your original question ? What do you Need me to say to make the story your writin’ interestin’ to your Boss and your Readers ? What do the Folks Outside of these Walls and Iron Doors think they want to hear from the likes of me ? Tell me, and we’ll fill-in the blanks. After all, the Truth can be a very dangerous and catalytically Freeing thing.”
“We don’t wanna’ scare or disappoint anybody. Better to let them remain Sleep-Walkers stumblin’ around in the Outside World, feelin’ better about themselves and the Nightmarish Predicament they’re in than to startle ‘em Awake. You know what they say about Sleep-Walkers. Best to leave ’em alone, and let them wander back to Bed on their own. Wake ’em up before they’re ready and they can go Crazy on you or even die. Don’t want that on my Conscience.”
“Knowin’ the Head Honchos here, as I do, they’d probably find a way to charge me another fee or two for it. Ha !”
The Prisoner stretched and yawned. “Anyway, Truth’s an elusive Energy. It’s like chasin’ molecules here, there and everywhere. No end to that Chase either, once you’ve had a taste of it. Holds onto you forever in one form or another. Leastwise, that’s been my Experience with it.”
“Of course, I can only speak to my own Truths. You’ll have to find your own little molecular Truths for yourself. They’re floatin’ Out There somewhere.”
“So, fire away with your Questions, dude. “ ‘Cause another one of those many little molecular Truths is that we’re all Prisoners of one kind or another. All on a Quest against Gravity toward Freedom. We All just do the best we can with the Prisons, Truths and Freedoms we find ourselves Livin’ with and Livin’ within.”
“Oh, by the way. There’s a Truth zippin’ past ya’ right now. If I were you, I’d take a Chance, and grab it.”
If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of Gideon's Trumpet over the clanging of cell doors...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/131415238/Gideon-s-Trumpet-A-Blast-from-the-Past