BΔd Blood

This is a response to the article U.S. Prisons: Myth Vs. Mayhem from Time Magazine. In this article, the author, Frank Trippett, talks about the failure of the U.S. prison system and what little steps are being taken to improve it. Although this article was published in 1980, the problems he talks about are still going on today. I feel like the reason why prisons aren't being changed or improved are because people don’t think about what’s going on in there and owners of prisons are making money off of the current system. They are taking our tax money and aren't doing anything to help prisoners. Also with the more prisoners they get, the more money they make. An overlooked fact this article stated and I didn't realize, is that prisons, instead of helping people, makes some prisoners more damaged. Someone can go in for a small crime and end up doing much worse when they get out because of all of the harsh abuse they go through in there. Prison isn't the best solution to dealing with gang members, but if paired with other things it can ultimately help. I think we should force prisoners to learn in prisons, just like we force kids to go to school. I know prisons have optional classes, but only a few actually go into these classes. Obviously many aren't going to want to learn and not all will, but there is a possibility that some, who normally wouldn't go, might actually get better and like to learn. This education can also be useful to prisoners after they are released from jail. They can use what they learned to prepare for and get jobs. I really liked the alternative punishments that some states were using, especially the one in Mississippi. When someone steals in this state, they are taken to a restitution center, which they pay five dollars a day to stay in, and must pay back those who they stole from. The questions I have are why is it taking so long for prisons to be changed and how are we going to determine who should be let out?