Tom Barrett, editor of ConservativeTruth.org writes on his website in a well-reasoned article in support of faith-based prison rehabilitation programs:
"Many people re-offend over and over. Some adults in this country have spent far more time behind bars than on the outside. The costs to society are incalculable. Prison costs are staggering. We can't build prisons fast enough, so liberal judges release violent offenders before they have served their sentences."
What?
Prisons are not being built fast enough, so liberal judges release violent offenders before they have served their sentences?"
Prisons are not being fast enough because legislatures are not doling out enough taxpayer funds to build them. Maybe we're thinking of ways to actually prevent crime, or other ways to deal with those who are not actually "criminals," but drug addicts (just kidding).
Legislatures are made up of Conservatives and Liberals. Here in Florida, where Mr. Barrett lives, there's plenty of room in the prisons - we can't convict people fast enough and sentence them to prison for such offenses as habitually driving with a suspended license, and possession of whatever minor amount of drug to which they are addicted.
But the problem is liberal judges?
No conservative judge has ever released a prisoner prior to the completion of their sentence according to Mr. Barrett.
We hear over and over again that prisoners are flying out of prison after serving small portions of their sentences. That is not true. Most prisoners today serve 85% of their sentence, and there is no evidence that letting someone out early is the reason they re-offend.
The problem is us. We simply don't care what goes on in prisons. We spent the 80's whining about prisoners receiving education, cable TV and playing basketball. We'd rather have them sit in their cell and "think about their crime," all the while becoming more adverse to society and ready to emit their anger on us when they are released.
Here's another fact - most people in prison are NOT sentenced to life. Regardless of the "throw away the key mentality," the key is available to MOST inmates. I know you don't care - but you should - because it is OUR problem once they are released.
I say let them become educated, watch CNN, and interact with others - THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL NEED WHEN THEY MOVE INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK AT THE BUSINESS YOUR PATRONIZE!
And by the way - don't you think a prisoner is more likely to behave in prison knowing that if they accomplish something while inside - they can go home earlier, rather than knowing that no matter what they do positively - it won't matter?
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1 day ago
I find it interesting that someone reads an article that was supposedly about faith based programs in prisons. Finds a statement about "liberal" judges, and then says that we are to blame for criminals remaining criminals. First, I never could find the article Mr. Tannebaum quoted. I did find one that seemed to have a similiar subject dated May 12, 2002 titled "The Prison Revolving Door". That article had no mention of "liberal" judges, though it does talk about the issue of recidivism. Mr. Barrett goes on to talk about how the government has had horrible results with turingin criminals around. He points out faith based programs as a alternative. I have to assume, that if the article Tannebaum refers to did exist, that Mr. Barrett was again pointing out how faith based programs might be an answer whenre govenment programs have not worked. If Mr. Tannebaum thinks that all punishment, and no rehabilitation programs in prisons are a problem, then maybe he should support Mr. Barrett and faith based programs. That might be a little more productive than looking for "liberal judges" comments.
ReplyDeletePaul - thanks for your comments. I quoted directly from the article you referred to and there is a comment about liberal judges, the easy target for conservatives for all problems in the criminal justice system. I find no fault with the success of faith based programs, and nothing in my post criticized this effort.
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