Inmate "Rights"

[Withers]

Okay, I'm a Criminal Justice major with 5 years of Corrections experience and I've noticed that there's a hot debate among my co-workers about inmate rights. I've heard everything from "Inmates aren't real people, they deserve no rights at all" to "Inmates are people too, you shouldn't disrespect them at all."


My question to you all is, where do we draw the line for inmates' rights? When do we say enough is enough, they are being punished after all? I have some serious opinions on this subject, having worked in a maximum security prison for 4 years, but I want to know what everyone else thinks. I want to see if my personal experiences have maybe tarnished my good judgment.

 

[Springsteen]

If you commit a crime, a serious one, then by definition that means you have been removed from society and therefore have lost your rights as a citizen. It also, by definition, means you have commited a crime against society, be it murder, robbery, arson, whatever it is.

So no, inmates for me don't deserve rights.

 

[skyblue]

If you commit a crime, a serious one, then by definition that means you have been removed from society and therefore have lost your rights as a citizen. It also, by definition, means you have commited a crime against society, be it murder, robbery, arson, whatever it is.

So no, inmates for me don't deserve rights.

:homo:

 

[Withers]

I happen to agree with you both. It is absolutely STUPID and RIDICULOUS to me that in a maximum security prison, where inmates are serving sentences for murder, rape, child abuse, child molestation, etc., they have cable tv, a store to buy name brand clothing and shoes, cigarettes, all kinds of food and drink items, etc. WTF!! These guys aren't being punished!! Tax payers are running a damn hotel for these guys!! This is a topic that I get very heated about. Now, I don't believe that the inmates should in any way be mistreated or abused or neglected. That's not at all what I'm saying. But there was a man that ran a prison in Texas the way I feel a prison SHOULD be run....the inmates had only one change of clothing, they had basic toiletries, they were allowed to read books, but had no tv, they slept outside in tents during the summers so that they could work, and in the winter time they had a cot and a toilet in their rooms, they got one hot meal a day, and the other two meals were basic and nourishing. There were absolutely NO frills, nothing extra, only what they needed to survive.

 

[Springsteen]

If a child molester goes into prison I fully supprt the incorporation of a 'kick the shit out of the paedo' program.

 

[Withers]

In the institution I worked at we had to keep the sex offenders separate from other inmates because the oher inmates would literally try to kill them.

 

[Tim]

You have me confused...

First you ask if inmates should have rights, then you talk about their privileges... It's two different things.

If they get into trouble, can you take away their TV privileges? if so, then it's not a right.

Rights are more along the lines of life, health and well being.
If a prisoner gets sick, you cannot deny them medical treatment. That would be removing their "rights"

 

[Withers]

You have me confused...

First you ask if inmates should have rights, then you talk about their privileges... It's two different things.

If they get into trouble, can you take away their TV privileges? if so, then it's not a right.

Rights are more along the lines of life, health and well being.
If a prisoner gets sick, you cannot deny them medical treatment. That would be removing their "rights"

In the state I live in, these "privileges" are the same as their "rights." No matter what trouble an inmate got into, there was no way to take away the tv (it was for the whole block) and as long as they had money on their books they could utilize the store. Medical coverage is a right of theirs yes, but where do you draw the line for it? Inmates getting shots to have sex changes when they are released?? I mean seriously!!

 

[Mystic]

If you commit a crime, a serious one, then by definition that means you have been removed from society and therefore have lost your rights as a citizen. It also, by definition, means you have commited a crime against society, be it murder, robbery, arson, whatever it is.

So no, inmates for me don't deserve rights.

:homo::thumbup

 

[Kyle B]

We've had the debate on inmate priviledges multiple times on this forum. :willy_nilly:

But on your point about inmate rights, I believe that inmmates should be treated like human beings and be given basic necesities.

 

[HK]

They should get the bare minimum. No TV, no games rooms or shops. It's not a fucking holiday.

 

[Withers]

They should get the bare minimum. No TV, no games rooms or shops. It's not a fucking holiday.

:clap I totally agree.

 

[ganny]

They should get the bare minimum. No TV, no games rooms or shops. It's not a fucking holiday.

I agree.

 

[GoldDust Woman]

They deserve food, showers, a bed and medical attention. Spiritual guidance, too. Anything else... no.

 

[Zorak]

They're being punished?

I thought they were being rehabilitated?

 

[Dana]

If you commit a crime, a serious one, then by definition that means you have been removed from society and therefore have lost your rights as a citizen. It also, by definition, means you have commited a crime against society, be it murder, robbery, arson, whatever it is.

So no, inmates for me don't deserve rights.

:homo: He pretty much summed it up.

 

[Tim]

They deserve food, showers, a bed and medical attention. Spiritual guidance, too. Anything else... no.

Books as well. It's a good time for them to learn or expand their minds. Plus it has the bonus of keeping them distracted. :dunno

 

[Withers]

Not all inmates are in prison to be rehabilitated. It's a nice thought, but not a practical one. Let's be honest here, inmates go to prison for breaking the law. You tell me what part of them laying on their asses all day eating and watching cable is rehabilitating them? There are some that take advantage of the education and religion offered to them, but not because they are truly interested in bettering themselves, it's just a way to get off the unit and to get more privileges. It's pathetic.

 

[Dana]

Prison's nothing more than a extended daycare for conscience depraved. (Unless their crimes so heinous they get the lethal injection.)

 

[Thornless]

If you commit a crime, a serious one, then by definition that means you have been removed from society and therefore have lost your rights as a citizen. It also, by definition, means you have commited a crime against society, be it murder, robbery, arson, whatever it is.

So no, inmates for me don't deserve rights.

:homo:

If the criminal justice departments all followed this, and was well known to the public... I think we'd have less crime.