Isn't it about time we got our prisoners to work and earn their keep?

dSTAR · 26-02-2009 12:46AM

Nehaxak wrote: »

Send them all to Australia...

Bugger off we are full

unnameduser · 26-02-2009 12:47AM

i watched a documentary where some people purposely get arrested so that they can get properly fed and get some decent sleep in prisons so that they can build up their strength and health and then get out again after a few weeks / months. (to do "it" all over again)

surely it would be a good idea where these crooks have to pay their way by assembling goods or building something. surely a balanced day of work, education and play would be good for a prisoner. i'm aware its not as simple as it sounds but if inmates could work for rewards whether it be money / extra recreational time etc - it would be worth it.

dSTAR · 26-02-2009 01:17AM

One of my favorite journalists and all round nice chap Con Houlihan when he worked for the Irish Press once remarked ...

There is a lot of work that needs to be done.

Only thing is most people don't want to do this type of work. Why not set low risk / young offenders to these jobs that no-one seems to want to do such as sweeping the streets, picking up rubbish in parklands and other areas etc? These people might learn that Ireland is not just there for them to sh!t all over and take at will from without giving back.

delta_bravo · 26-02-2009 01:28AM

shamblertine wrote: »

No such thing as a free lunch and all that. Was watching a show the other night about a US prison where the inmates had to work and earn their keep. Can't we do the same or is there some EU legislation preventing us from doing so?

I dont think prison can be defined as a free lunch. And it probably does break some legislation. Sure it was only a few years ago that the prisoners were considering taking a case against the Department of Justice as they were forced to slop out and not provided with a toilet.

SoWatchaWant wrote: »

Oh my ****ing God . That's outrageous:eek:

Seriously, they might as well put them to use. They're no good to anyone rotting in their cells.

But what could we get them to do that's outside the prison? Working on the M50, I heard someone say. Would that not be dangerous, prisoners in contact with the public, possibility to escape etc...

Has anyone any ideas?

Ireland is such a small nation that there is no huge area of land that prisoners could work on, what would they even do? And it is a huge risk of escape and would probably double costs

Sam Kade wrote: »

Correct, thats the average cost of running the prison which is the total running costs of prisons/ number of prisoners. Portlaoise is the highest cost at €270,000 per prisoner per year.

There are so many costs involved in prisoners: wages for prison officers (remember theres going to be a group of staff working at all times), medical care, rehabilitation, training etc. And Portlaoise is so expensive as it is the highest security prison in Ireland and mainly populated by gangsters and terrorists

delta_bravo · 26-02-2009 01:30AM

dSTAR wrote: »

Only thing is most people don't want to do this type of work. Why not set low risk / young offenders to these jobs that no-one seems to want to do such as sweeping the streets, picking up rubbish in parklands and other areas etc? These people might learn that Ireland is not just there for them to sh!t all over and take at will from without giving back.

But the flipside of that would be the extra supervision costs of the prisoners and transport costs. Prison officers got a lot of flak a few years ago as their overtime bill ran into to something like €30m so I can only imagine it would jump far higher

kowloon · 26-02-2009 01:32AM

What he said ^
Prisoners aren't exactly going to work very hard either.
Maybe we could set them to work inside the prisons, manufacturing shivs or something.

dSTAR · 26-02-2009 01:48AM

delta_bravo wrote: »

But the flipside of that would be the extra supervision costs of the prisoners and transport costs. Prison officers got a lot of flak a few years ago as their overtime bill ran into to something like €30m so I can only imagine it would jump far higher

Maybe some kind of tagging system might work and if they do a runner they go into the 'big house' with a longer sentence.

Prisoners aren't exactly going to work very hard either.

Again some kind of punishment and reward system could be put into place. They perform so many hours and they have their sentence reduced. A bit like community service only they go back behind bars when they are done.

Just tossing out ideas...

wilson10 · 26-02-2009 01:51AM

A big problem at the moment seems to be that there are not enough prison places.
What about the new prison that Michael McDowell was supposed to get off the ground a few years back.
In the current economic climate thare's not much chance of it going ahead, unless

we had a plentiful supply of cheap labour.
Well, the build quality might be crap but would anyone care.

mollypop · 26-02-2009 01:53AM

Have them make stuff – toys etc. as someone mentioned. I was at a prison shop in Asia where they had lovely handcrafts that were really cheap, profits going towards the prison. All kinds of things, lamps, coasters and some quite nice art work. I’m sure you could motivate them, never been to prison but I’m sure you could et up a points system - make 10 lamps get 10 points = desert with you meal, an extra hour TV or whatever it is they want(that’s legal!)
Anything to make back some of the money they’re costing us!

Saying that they also had prisoner massage in womens prisons in Thailand. People say they’re great & really cheap. Not a chance! :eek:

Red Sleeping Beauty · 26-02-2009 02:29AM

shamblertine wrote: »

No such thing as a free lunch and all that. Was watching a show the other night about a US prison where the inmates had to work and earn their keep. Can't we do the same or is there some EU legislation preventing us from doing so?

Work ? What work ? There is no work!

Lirange · 26-02-2009 02:58AM

Turn them into Gladiators for Croke. It would create a whole new niche in the sports/entertainment industry.

passive · 26-02-2009 03:03AM

ha...read this as "pensioners" for a second. Amusing.

Leprachaun · 26-02-2009 09:32AM

Since gwantanamo bay is getting closed down,we could just send 'em there.

TripleAce · 26-02-2009 04:58PM

Here we go the article:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1219/breaking73.htm

Jaysus Christ.....so after 10 years in jail a prisoner would cost us 1M € :eek:

How much does 1 bullet cost? :mad:

Kernel · 26-02-2009 06:46PM

carrieb wrote: »

It would have to be something they could do in their cell alright......
My dad watched some docu about a prisoner, killed his wife, in for life and was going off his head. Started making this dolls house for his brothers grandchild or some1, was the most perfect detailed thing in the world. Was working on it all day every day for over 3 years, the little wardrobes even had little hangers! Anyway, something like that might work. Toys then donated to charity.

Only problem there Carrie is that the dollhouse would have to sell for €270,000 in order to break even.

dvpower · 26-02-2009 07:18PM

In the states they still make license plates in some prisons. Prisonors get paid a nominal wage for this.

Problem is that they would need extra supervision (more Prison Officers), so the cost of keeping them would go up probably by more than the contribution their work would bring in.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 26-02-2009 10:24PM

TripleAce wrote: »

Here we go the article:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1219/breaking73.htm

Jaysus Christ.....so after 10 years in jail a prisoner would cost us 1M € :eek:

How much does 1 bullet cost? :mad:

How much would it cost to address and attempt to solve the problems that lead to people breaking the law and ending up in jail ?

dvpower · 26-02-2009 11:19PM

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

How much would it cost to address and attempt to solve the problems that lead to people breaking the law and ending up in jail ?

Much more than 1 bullet.

Max Factor · 26-02-2009 11:25PM

yep

Red Sleeping Beauty · 26-02-2009 11:47PM

Very well. We shall execute anyone who breaks a window.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 26-02-2009 11:49PM

Putting the price on a life, is quite ignorant. Not all criminals are monsters...

dvpower · 26-02-2009 11:49PM

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

Very well. We shall execute anyone who breaks a window.

Now, I think that's going slightly too far.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 26-02-2009 11:54PM

dvpower wrote: »

Now, I think that's going slightly too far.

So do I , I think it's going way too far. I think even the notion of capital punishment in place of prison to save a few bob is sick.
I'm glad I was able to make my point , thank you

Isn't it about time we got our prisoners to work and earn their keep?

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