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?
clarka gave this response on 3/23/2000:
As your question has been answered in its practical aspects, I will address the more general "WHY" of your question. The justice system operates on its own internal logic which is oriented towards meeting specific, often political goals. These goals are sometimes not obvious. A classic example is the economic benefit many rural communities experience from having a prison nearby as a major employer.
The prevailing opinion in the criminal justice community is that rehabilitation as a concept "does not work" and that incapacitation, or "warehousing" such as your husband is experiencing, is the only effective way to reduce crime. Incapacitation reduces crime through deterrence (or fear) and through physically separating potential criminals from society. It is also extremely expensive. However, it dominates because it provides its limited benefits all the time.
Rehabilitation is probably more cost-effective, and many small programs with successes exist, but rehab does not provide consistent benefits to all persons experiencing it. Current theory suggests that offenders must experience a "moment of clarity" to take advantage of rehabilitative opportunities, and that this psychological experience may or may not take place during rehab.
From the political and economic side, money for jails "works" because it has measurable (if expensive) benefits and creates jobs. Money for rehab "doesn't work" because it creates fewer jobs, does not have easily measurable impacts and last but not least, may trigger a political backlash if the program experiences a failure.
The largely beneficial program of prison furloughs has been curtailed nationwide due to the adroit use of the "Willie Horton" furlough-related murder case against Dukakis by President Bush in the 1988 elections.
Your husband can use his time to read, write and develop certain types of skills. You can help him in this by making sure he has access to as much reading material as the jail will allow him.
One practical step you could take is to organize a prison outreach program through either a church or an AA group. You may also be interested in linking up with fellow-minded people and working to change the political climate that prefers prisons to rehabilitation.
The average rating for this answer is 5.
olomus rated this answer a 5.
Great and different insite to my question. What you said does make good sense and thank you!