US prison workers produce $11B worth of goods and services for little to no pay

Re:US prison workers produce $11B worth of goods and service... by FpUser on Saturday June 18, 2022 @01:21AM (#31787425)

Sweeping reforms are needed. The main one is to stop considering inmates as a source of income. Make rehabilitation a primary goal. The other one is to prohibit criminal background checks except very narrow cases. Sure there will be people who never reform. But the nature of their crimes will mostly keep them in prisons anyways.

And yes there will be some price to pay.

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Re:US prison workers produce $11B worth of goods and service... by dionidium on Saturday June 18, 2022 @12:02PM (#31791067)

Some price to pay is an understatement. Almost half of all released prisoners in the U.S. return to prison within the first year. You’re trying to experiment with people’s lives by taking away their totally normal and rational desire not to associate with such people and the effects are utterly predictable.

And as I mentioned in a previous post, eliminating background checks backfires anyway, because people simply stereotype more when you take away their ability to look at specifics.

If you care about reintegrating criminals, then be the change you want to see in the world, but don’t try to tell me there’s anything wrong with someone who chooses differently.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:US prison workers produce $11B worth of goods and service... by FpUser on Saturday June 18, 2022 @12:14PM (#31791194)

I did not say do everything in one year. As for experimenting with people's lives - this is exactly what Government does in general and "justice" system in particular. Nothing new in here.

[ Parent | on HN ]