Meh.

Our system is deeply flawed, on all sides, and it's amazing it works as well as it does.

And - there is far, far, far too much profit-motive on the enforcement/detention side of things. End it all.

Also, the 13th Amendment needs amending to end the slavery loophole once and for all. It's long overdue.

Then let's talk.

quote:

the 13th Amendment needs amending to end the slavery loophole once and for all. It's long overdue.

?
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
Meh.

Our system is deeply flawed, on all sides, and it's amazing it works as well as it does.

And - there is far, far, far too much profit-motive on the enforcement/detention side of things. End it all.

Also, the 13th Amendment needs amending to end the slavery loophole once and for all. It's long overdue.

Then let's talk.

This is about as broad (and probably intentionally so) as saying, “Everything should just be free.”

End what all?
What don’t you like about the 13th?

You can’t just say, “Do <INSERT SOMETHING VAGUE> and then we can talk.” and expect to sound profound.

I think every felony should have a "to life" sentence. A minor felony might have a 6 month to life sentence. Once inside the term should have three phases, and punishment phase, a rehabilitation phase and a reintroduction phase. The initial length of each phase would be determined by the minimum sentence.

Punishment may be full on solitary or some sort of chain gang situation. I like solitary, because it should interfere with the gang dynamic for new prisoners. Breaking up the prison gangs should be a prime goal of the prison system (yes, I know, very difficult.)

After that, would be a rehabilitation phase. Here the convict would be in a less restrictive setting with programming (basic education, trade education, prison jobs, etc.) available.

Finally there's be a controlled reintroduction phase. Think halfway house. The prisoners reside in a controlled environment, but can get (and really are required to get) jobs.

If in any of these phases, the prisoner has disciplinary issues, the phase can be extended, or they can be put back to any of prior phases, and for any period the prison disciplinary system decides. Since the term is to life, they never have to be released. If the convict continues to violate the rules, they just never get released.

Once these phases are completed successfully, they can be paroled. Parole is for an indefinite period. Initially closely supervised. As the convict shows success reintegrating into society, supervision can be slowly reduced until they go off supervision. But they're permanently on parole. If they commit an act at any point that violates the term of their parole, they can, be immediately violated back to prison, starting at the first phase, and having to work they way out again.

Anyone who gets a life without parole sentence spends their entire sentence in the punishment phase. Of course generally this would be murderers. But they should be give the death penalty. I'd rework that so that if a convict is given the death penalty, the execution can happen in a timely manner and get drawn out for decades. And I'd likely have death be the mandatory punishment for murder, hot just "special situation" murders.