First Maine inmate enrolled in graduate school conducts research in prison

Re:First Maine inmate enrolled in graduate school conducts r... by tropo on Wednesday January 29, 2020 @12:12AM (#22177657)

I wasn't trying to justify the prison system based on anything. We use incapacitation, but that doesn't justify anything.

I wasn't trying to don some faultless, sterile, harmless guise. To eliminate your suspicion: my preference is for a combination of retribution, deterrence, and restitution. I'm in no way ashamed to say that I prefer those over incapacitation. Sadly, the USA mainly uses incapacitation, probably because it causes the least outrage.

BTW, you left some items off your list:

- restitution: the criminal must pay back the victim or the society for the harm caused (with money, organs, etc.)

- religion: we must do something (crucifixion, stoning, amputation, etc.) demanded by God

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Re:First Maine inmate enrolled in graduate school conducts r... by sterlind on Wednesday January 29, 2020 @04:38AM (#22178876)

Perhaps it is useful to separate means from ends. Of course, we both agree that we want less crime (as an end), but I might favor rehabilitation as an end - I want prisoners to find their way back to productive society because I care - but not as a means - I might not think rehabilitating inmates reduces crime.

Do you favor retribution as a end, or a means?

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