Why dont they break rocks?

Renegade_Archer

After reading the Dunne thread, several others on "scumbags" over my time in After Hours, Ive been thinking(yeah, dangerous, I know); part of the tax we pay goes to keeping these scum in food and clothing whilst they watch tv and do leaving cert courses*. My question is, why dont we have chain gangs? They took away from society, now they get to give back. Make them break rocks, clean roads, **** work, whatever, but they should at least contribute to their keep. If you leave em in there all their going to do is learn from more experienced criminals, I bet 4 years in the Joy is equivalent to Masters in being an uber-scumbag. Keep em busy with hard labour for 4 years, and they most definately will think harder the next time they feel the desire to commit a crime.

Opinions?


Regards


Ewan

*I think. I could be wrong.

Badly Drunk Boy

How often is your newsletter published? I'll probably subscribe... Nice Idea


And if they worked shiftwork, cells could be used by more inmates. While one is working on the chain gang (or whatever), another could be sleeping.

But you'd probably get some liberal pressure group saying that it's inhumane...

SantaHoe

Yeah that's exactly what you want... hardened criminals who're not only pissed off at having to crack rocks for hours that a machine could do in seconds but also built like brick-shít houses by the time they get out from all the hours of swinging the pick.
I think literally cracking rocks is a bit antiquated, but the general idea of giving something back is good... for example, a cleanup crew that visits otherwise beautiful areas destroyed by 'people' dumping their bits of broken cars and garbage... I've seen a few lovely scenic areas in tatters with all the litter and junk, I'd almost clean it up myself if I lived near said areas.
But knowing this government, it'd probably take a five year, multi-million euro, fact-finding mission to Texas to get a general idea of how it's done... and even then they'll f**k it up and have people escaping left right and center. :rolleyes:

dangerman

interesting reading on this subject.

Like the military/industrial complex, the prison industrial complex is an interweaving of private business and government interests. Its twofold purpose is profit and social control. Its public rationale is the fight against crime.

An American worker who once upon a time made $8/hour, loses his job when the company relocates to Thailand where workers are paid only $2/day. Unemployed, and alienated from a society indifferent to his needs, he becomes involved in the drug economy or some other outlawed means of survival. He is arrested, put in prison, and put to work. His new salary: 22 cents/hour.

From worker, to unemployed, to criminal, to convict laborer, the cycle has come full circle. And the only victor is big business.

it's talking about america of course, but there's lots of interesting stuff.

http://www.prisonactivist.org/crisis/evans-goldberg.html

homerhop

They dont break rocks because the do good brigade will tell you that nobody loved them as kids so we all should be nice to them. Makes me sick. Repeat offenders and hardcore criminals should all be prevented from ever reproducing.

MrPinK

I'm sure the prison officers union wouldn't be happy about having to supervise prisoners working outside in our weather. Maybe some other indoors, Irish equivalent. Knitting jumpers or something.

SantaHoe

MrPinK wrote:

I'm sure the prison officers union wouldn't be happy about having to supervise prisoners working outside in our weather.

Yeah it's never gonna happen is it?
In light of the recent plans to introduce drug testing for prisoners, you hear people talking about prison officers liking the fact that drugs are so available in prison because it keeps the prisoners sedated... wouldn't cold-turkey serve as some kind of deterant?
tbh prison should be a place to clean up your act, not ride it out by staying constantly stoned/high.

NotMe

MrPinK wrote:

I'm sure the prison officers union wouldn't be happy about having to supervise prisoners working outside in our weather. Maybe some other indoors, Irish equivalent. Knitting jumpers or something.

Put them all on the Aran Islands knitting Aran sweaters for tourists. Now that's an idea!

Ruffty^

It wouldn`t work here because in Texas if a prisoner was escaping the cop just shoots him. This means you`d only need 1 guard : 5 prisoners. However here you`d need 3 guards : 1 prisoner. Since our guards would have to be able to run-down and tackle the escaping prisoner; half the prison guard force wouldn`t even be physically eligible for this. (large guts)

NotMe

Ruffty^ wrote:

It wouldn`t work here because in Texas if a prisoner was escaping the cop just shoots him. This means you`d only need 1 guard : 5 prisoners. However here you`d need 3 guards : 1 prisoner. Since our guards would have to be able to run-down and tackle the escaping prisoner; half the prison guard force wouldn`t even be physically eligible for this. (large guts)

That's why you chain them all together.

Corruptedmorals

That's a great idea.

Rozabeez

It is actually a good idea, would surely decrease pathetic scummer crimes and stuff.

Blisterman

I think they should give them Ironic punishments.

Rozabeez

Such as.........?

Ruffty^

NotMe wrote:

That's why you chain them all together.

Oh yea; "well i`m an idiot"

Hmm let me see an ironic punishment for a rapist; cell b-4 with Xtra large cellmate "BUBBA" beckons /(bitch duty)

Victor

So who would actually do the cleaning / cooking / whatever in prison then? Would we hire people to do this?

NotMe wrote:

That's why you chain them all together.

And then give them large tools ...

NotMe

Seriously though, won't someone please think of the road cleaners/ rock breakers. They'll all lose their jobs to the criminals. It's just not right.

homerhop

NotMe wrote:

Seriously though, won't someone please think of the road cleaners/ rock breakers. They'll all lose their jobs to the criminals. It's just not right.

Ya they are doing such a good job our road quality is the evny of europe

Sleepy

I've been calling for this kind of thing for years. Surely they could do some kind of work whilst in prison? It costs more to keep a prisoner in Mountjoy than in a five star hotel, they should contribute towards this cost, not the law abiding taxpayers of this nation.

Kingsize

As far as im aware they make used to make those free buns & sandwiches
that we used to get in school, which would explain a lot of things

Kingsize

why dont we send prisoners to 5 star hotels if its cheaper than sending them to the joy?

skywalker_208

Or you could chop something off... little finger for a first offence.... big toe for second....

ferdi

I'm in favour of the idea as long as i can be this guy:

http://www.prisonflicks.com/images/CHLGodfrey.jpg

NotMe

skywalker_208 wrote:

Or you could chop something off... little finger for a first offence.... big toe for second....

I like where this is going....

Corruptedmorals

I went to Mountjoy on a tour. They do actually work. A bit, like sewing and stuff.

pickarooney

NotMe wrote:

I like where this is going....

towards excision, prohibition and a ban on short skirts?

NotMe

pickarooney wrote:

towards excision, prohibition and a ban on short skirts?

Well not what I was thinking but sure if it works for the Arabs then why not?

simu

I think it would do prisoners good to do some work but making them do hard labour that can be done more efficiently by machines would only give them a greater grudge against the system.

monument

Rozabeez wrote:

It is actually a good idea, would surely decrease pathetic scummer crimes and stuff.

What makes you think that?