olomus asked this question on 3/22/2000:
I understand why the legal system feels it necessary to place people in jail for certain "crimes". However, I also believe there should be programs available to help rehabilitate them, educate them, and prepare them for "changing their ways".
My husband is currently service a jail sentance for a DWI. There are no AA meetings, no alcohol/drug counseling (1-on-1 or group), no church services, no education classes for drug and/or alcohol abuse, at this jail. He merely has to play a waiting game until his sentance is over and will be no more the wiser for "paying his dues to society" upon his release.
Why doesn't the justice system "see" that this method isn't rehabilitating (educating or helping) these people who (and most of them in jail are) in for alcohol/drug abuse situations? Is there anything in the works to change this?
blue_eyes_33 gave this response on 3/24/2000:
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE WENT AWAY FROM REHABILITATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SOCIETY WANTS THE "CRIMINALS" TO BE PUNISHED AND THEY ALSO DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AN EASY TIME WHILE THEY ARE IN JAIL/PRISON. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE FEDERAL LAWS WHICH MANDATE CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR INMATES. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD FIT THE CRIME FOR WHICH THEY ARE LOCKED UP FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. EDUCATION IS NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK BECAUSE IN UATH AT LEAST 70% OF THE INMATES ARE ILLERATE AND NEED THAT EDUCATION SO WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED THEY WILL BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE AS WELL AS FILL OUTA A JOB APPLICATION. ILLERATE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO PRISON/JAIL HAVE A HARD TIME AS IT IS BUT WHEN YOU ADD A CONVICTION FOR A CRIME ITS DOUBLY HARD FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET A FAIR SHAKE IN LIFE. MY MAJOR IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITH AN EMPHASIS IN CORRECTIONS AND WE ALWAYS ARE DEBATING WHETHER WE NEED REHABILITATION OR NOT. WE ARE MOVING BACK TO REHABILITATION IN PRISONS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A.A. AND N.A. HIGH SCHOOL, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND COLLEGE COURSES IN OUR PRISONS. EVEN IN THE COUNTY JAILS WE HAVE A.A. AND N.A. AND CHURCH SERVICES. COUNSELING IS INVALUABLE TO AN INMATE. SOME PEOPLE ARE SENTENCED TO COMPLETE X AMOUNT OF HOURS OF COUNSELING INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL. DRUG AND ALCOHOL CLASSES AND ANGER MANGEMENT ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS. CALIFORNIA IS BASICALLY THE SAME WAY. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT LET INMATES HAVE THEIR OWN T.V. AND RADIO BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING REWARDED AND I DISAGREE. IF YOU LOCK SOMEONE UP FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT ANY OUTLET FOR THEM THEY WILL COME OUT BITTER AND ANGERY WHICH LEADS TO MORE CRIME THUS REINCARCERATION. LASTLY WE HAVE ALSO EXAMINES CONJUCAL VISITS FOR THE MARRIED INMATES. THE PEOPLE OF SOCIETY SAY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE VISITS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING REWARDED FOR THEIR CRIME WHEN IN ACTUALITY IT GIVES THE INMATE A CHANCE TO BOND WITH NOT ONLY THEIR SPOUSE BUT ALSO THEIR CHILDREN. I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I DO NOT AGREE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GOING TO PRISONS TO SEE THEIR PARENT ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE OLDER. WE DO HAVE SUPREME COURT CASES THAT SAY THE INMATES ARE INTITLED TO CERTAIN REHABILITATION PROGRAMS BUT HEN WE HAVE LAWS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STAE THAT THE STATES THINK ALLOWS THEM TO DISREGUARD THE DECISION OF THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND. INMATES ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE RIGHTS THAN WE DO UNDER SECTION 1983 WHICH IS CIVIL RIGHTS PASSED IN THE EARLY 1800`S. I HOPE I HAVE HELPED YOU AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO KNOW AND I WILL DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON IT. WHAT STATE DO YOU LIVE IN?
BLUE_EYES_33
The average rating for this answer is 5.
olomus rated this answer a 5.
Great answer!! I'm glad to hear that things are changing (for the better) in this matter. Thanks!