Mandatory sentencing is an issue that has caused a lot of problems. It was originally a concept to limit discretion and bring fairness to the criminal justice system.Let's face it, some judges abused their power in sentencing (usually racially biased) and did not sentence criminals fairly. Mandatory sentencing was to make sentencing equal for all when charged with the same crime. This article did touch on mentally ill criminals and how the environment of prison can escalate behaviors. One good study of how mental illness can effect a person is the case of Carl "CJ"J. Dane. Illinois Case number 201-CF-81. CJ was convicted of first degree murder for killing his girlfriend in the summer of 2010. CJ had not been diagnosed as having mental health issues to my knowledge. CJ was sentenced to 60 years in prison. The morning of CJ's transfer to a prison facility, CJ was found dead in his Perry County jail cell. CJ's crime was very bad and did deserve punishment. I think that a sentence that is given should include a way of treating conditions people have what ever mental, or medical, or learning disabilities. CJ's history of abuse from his father and other factors may have helped at least get him the help he needed. Had CJ served his 60 years and been returned to society I would not know if he had gotten the help he needed or eventually came to his resolve of suicide. I do wonder if his childhood abuse had lead to the murder of Sidnee Stephens. I do believe a mandatory sentence should fit the crime, but also it should be fair and consider the person by getting them the help they need when they return to society. Tackleberry789
Tackleberry789 I agree with you on your response to mandatory sentencing and corrections and the courts. I agree that should have some sort of way of treating conditions that people may have like mental,medical, and learning disabilities while they are incarcerated. I also agree with you about case 2010-CF-81 i do believe that if he would of been reentered into society he would of got the help he needed and would of been able to live out his life ButterCup789
I believe that mandatory sentencing has caused some issues in our justice system. I believe that some judges now a days let their bias (normally racial bias) get in the way of their judgement when they are hearing cases in their court rooms. Sometimes even leading some criminals being sentenced wrongly. Mandatory sentencing is supposed to be where criminals were sentenced fairly. In 2010 case 2010-CF-81 was brought into attention. Cj was sentenced to sixty years in prison for killing his girlfriend in 2010. He was found dead in his cell the day of his transfer in Perry County Jail. I believe that they should have ways of treating conditions that people may have like mental,medical, and learning disabilities. I believe that if he would of been able to be re entered into society he would of got the help he needed. ButterCup789
The point about judges being bias nowadays is a good point in the reasoning behind population problems in prisons. The 2010 case really emphasizes the importance of why medical treatment is conducive of helping offenders with mental disabilities be reintegrated for the purpose of making them fit enough to be put back into society or if they deem the patient irremediable for society then they would have the upper hand of taking away a dangerous threat to society. Arnis789
I agree with you that there should be a way that prisons would help prisoners get treatment or help for there disabilities so that the problems don't escalate especially during reintegration into society. Also we have to remember that judges are human as well. They have bias and they always will. There needs to be stricter sentencing structure that helps get rid of bias.
The United States prison system is having problems nowadays rehabilitating their prisoners. Just because they are sentenced to be in prison does not mean they have waived all of their rights of being human beings. The article helps explain that there are some offenders who are mentally ill and should be treated accordingly in order to control or rehabilitate their state. It was not surprising to me that California's correctional system is facing problems of its own especially for its officers. The officers have to always watch their backs when handling their prisoners because the rehabilitation is not present thus giving the prisoners more reason not to respect them because they do not see them as helping refurbish their way of life, but to just keep them away from society locked up in a box where the majority of their activities are limited and closely watched upon. The European rule was a great comparison of how prisons should be for offenders deserving rehabilitation instead of being left alone to fend for themselves every day. Prisons and hard time should be reserved for the hardened criminals who are an imminent threat to society with the goal of aiming to rehabilitate them in order to shape their ways into ones that society will benefit from. Arnis789
I agree with you that they are having problem nowadays rehabilitating their prisoners.I mean something its not the prisons fault. The prisoners behave like animals, they don't know that it gonna hurt them. So if there are not following orders, they gonna take some serious action and can hurt the prisoners or the officers. So i think rehabilitation can change some prisoners not all especially when they don't want to change at all.Mostwanted789
I agree with this article that prisons have become more of a punishment than a place that people go to be rehabilitated. This is a serious issue. I though it was interesting how after many prison guards had been killed in the 70s and instead of helping to rehab the prisoners the guards now felt as though they were under attack and began to see themselves as being on a war front as the article puts it. The prison guards were no longer looking at there job as a job to help prisoners but instead to punish prisoners. I believe that is a huge part of why the prisons are in a state that they are today. Prisoners are not ready to go back into society after there sentence they are viewed as outcasts and don't think that they fit therefore they don't work in society. If we made them feel like they fit back into society after the sentence then maybe they would have an easier reintegration into society. TrucksAreGreat789
I completely agree with you, it's starts on the outside as well! If more cops took their job as a opportunity to help the people and steer them the right way I think that would also help the guards on the inside deal with the war feeling. But at the same time, look at the number of line of duty deaths for policemen, I think it's kind of hard to go to work looking forward to helping people when you're a target just because of the uniform you wear. Great post! GreenOnions789
Mandatory Sentencing, as I see it, was put in place to make the courts run smoother and to try to get rid of unfair sentencing. One example, a young woman and a young man have committed the same crime, who do you think will get a lighter sentence? Another example, how about a young black man and a young white man both committed the same crime? By no means is this system perfect, I do see the purpose though. The bigger problem I see with corrections is mental illness. If an inmate does have a problem they really do need special treatment if they have a mental illness, and the way the prison system is set up, it can’t treat them properly. They could be in there because they didn't get the treatment before it became a problem. Why did the public mental health system get abandoned? Why not reform the public mental health system to work closer with the prison system? REDWINE789
I agree with what you said. Mandatory sentencing does help get rid of bias sentencing, and your examples of the man or woman, or the white or black person are accurate. Also, I agree with your statement of people not getting help in prison, and winding up in prison because they probably couldn't get the treatment before. While it would cost more, I believe that there is so much more that we could do for prisoners to improve their chances of not going back. Ocho789
I agree with your statement stating people with mental illnesses are not getting the right treatment. I do believe everyone has a different mental illness that takes a certain treatment but if you are able to find someone to help you get through it properly it is defiantly a must and needs to be done. GEMINI789
I see Mandatory sentencing as a way of politicians passing laws that make sentences for crimes longer than normal in a hope to deter crime and keep money out of prison rehabilitation programs but failed. I'd say mandatory sentencing has failed due to the mass incarceration rates as well as the time spent in prison dollars not doing anything with these prisoners and then releasing them back into the wild. It's like having a pet snake for 10 years and feeding it daily and then releasing it into the wild one day out of the blue and expecting it to feed itself, it'll end up in trouble. I loved the part of the article where the author asks if judges should have to routinely visit prisons. I think that would be awesome, make them think about it before they sentence, I'd even go as far to say throw the judges and all other elected officials in a squad with an officer every month and let them see what happens on the street and what occurs due to their mandatory sentencing and non rehabilitation programs. I honestly think that prisons not being rehabilitative is what leads to so many repeat offenders. Granted that most of them are set in their ways and will continue to reoffend. GreenOnions789
You hit the main point right on. For some offenders, not having that rehabilitation factor to play a part of their experience is what in most cases causes them to repeat offenses. I think as of now, it’s all about elected officials not wanting to invest in rehabilitation for inmates because it would not be doing them any justice only because prisons need these inmates. I agree that possibly getting those in power the chance to experience what it is like to be an inmate, would result in drastic changes being seen. KingMinaj789
GreenOnions your post is right on. Anyone can go to the Illinois Department of Corrections website and actually see online how much a year is spent on an inmate to be housed at any particular prison. The sad part is that the last time I looked at Pontiac Prison, it was around the figure of 45,000 dollars a year. It does not give a breakdown of rehabilitation services or anything like that. When you compare that price to around 17,000 dollars at Sheridan Prison (a type of rehabilitation prison) it really makes you wonder what the deal really is. Granted the contrast between the two prisons is Pontiac has a lot of Death row or lifers and very violent offenders compared to Sheridan that houses mostly short timers that have 18 months or less on their sentence. The sad part is that mandatory sentencing does tie Judges hands in some ways of using discretion for those that just messed up compared to someone that messed up by actually choosing to do so.Tacklberry789
The article just about sums up the entire incarceration system all over our country. We see everyday how people who have nonviolent offenses are being incarcerated and being given mandatory sentences. It seems as though our country has grown to ignore or become numb to those problems that these offenders are facing may be deeper than what is on the surface of that person. I agree with this article that mental illness has become so much more than just what solitary confinement can fix. Just from reading what is being said about the state of California and their correctional system, makes me wonder how many more systems across the U.S. are just as worse? Rehabilitation is something that in my opinion would do wonders for those that need it. If set in motion the correct way and actually put to use, we could make progress in lowering the numbers o f offenders who get incarcerated regularly. KingMinaj789
KingMinaj I agree with your post. Because each person has individual needs and issues it would make it hard to sentence for a rehabilitation term I think. Most sex offenders do have a history of sexual abuse and mental illness or addiction. Many offenders go in and out of the corrections system. Some really need rehabilitation that is more than a one time period. Some do need the rehabilitation to be on going throughout life to help them. It does make me wonder what other systems are worse as well. Tackleberry789
Mandatory sentencing can be said to have its ups and downs. Some "ups" that can be said came from mandatory sentencing would be the elimination of bias sentences. Some judges more than likely abused their powers when it came to sentencing people. Examples could include things like a white person and a black person being convicted of the same crime, or a man and a woman, as some of my fellow students have stated. However, when it comes to mandatory sentences for drug possesion, that can get out of hand. Basically people that possesed some Marijuana are being held in a prison with people that murdered one or more people. And sometimes the people being convicted of drug charges have a mental issue, which they get minimal help for in prisons for the most part. Super max prisons and even maximum security prisons do little in the way of rehabilitating people in my opinion. They are more concerned with locking them up and keeping them there than trying to help them and prevent them from coming back. Ocho789
I agree Ocho789 that mandatory sentencing does get out of hand despite it's intent. There was an article I read years ago about a man a judge sentenced (as s juvenile) to 35 years in prison for stealing a candy bar. There were no mandatory sentences at the time he was sentenced, but the judge "made an example out of him" when he sentenced him. Tacklberry789
A lot of this article makes sense. I believe that the three strike punishment is good for the society because of the criminals around us, I know that majority of the people will do crimes more then once and then later get brought up against their third strike and become incarcerated due to them not finding the right help. Mental illness is a lot of the problem there is something wrong with someone mentally if they cannot control themselves and attempt to make the same mistakes especially a mistake that can lead into prison for life. Those criminals are still humans and being in prison need to be treated like others but carefully, if not i am sure it can get a lot worse as proven. Prisons need inmates to continue making money sad but true. There are also a lot more laws that are in effect, mostly due to an individual doing a crime that no one else had done or been caught doing. Rehab is defiantly important and should be treated more highly then some people treat it, if used the right way rehab can save lots of peoples lives. GEMINI789
I agree with the article tasty prisons have become more of a place for strict punishment. I believe this is a problem in the US prison systems. I also agree with the others. just because one became incarcerated doesn't mean that they have lost all their night off being a human being. Blue789
I agree with the article that prisons have become more of a place for strict punishments. The three strike rule is a good thing but could also be a bad thing. The good part about it is that it helps get the people that keep committing crimes. The bad part is that it's the person that keeps committing a crime to find there own help once there set free. I think that's so backwards. They need to help them before so they want make the same mistakes again. I also agree that just because one is incarcerated doesn't mean they have lost all rights of being a human begin. I think the way they treat mental illness people is ridiculous. Locking them up and treating them like animals will only make things worse. Blue789
I agree with the mental illness people. I would like to see way more emphasis on the rehab part and to find out people's problems and find a good (hopefully inexpensive) solution to what is their issue. I would hope that as the future continues that we would start to figure out better ways to treat our fellow man. We have done and gone through a lot over the past 150 years and most has been pretty positive. I hope we continue that route. xsjado789
I have quickly began to realize how messed up the system really is. I even spoke to a friend over the weekend who is a Public Defender in the city of Chicago and the stories he told and what some of his clients were set to be going to prison for were insane. I would like to see an overhaul of the system and also see more emphasis on the rehabilitation part of it more than the lock up part of it. I do think that this subject should and eventually will become a major point in our society and that more and more people will figure out how broken the system is. I also found it funny that the Gov. added the rehabilitation part back on almost in hopes of changing it in the future or at least to maybe make it look like he was doing something to better the corrections in California. (Late but it feels like Sunday…xsjado789)
I totally agree with you that we need to put more emphasis on the rehabilitation process in our prisons.. those being diagnosed as mentally ill are being thrown into solitary confinement instead of offered professional help. I would like to see the prison system make major changes in the way they deal with prisoners. Heisenburg789
After viewing this article, reading that the california corrections system had the biggest increase in incarceration at a staggering 500% and that corrections and rehabilitation is essentially no longer part of the process in prisons... It is truly sad that our corrections system doesn't do all they can to rehabilitate those incarcerated and not even viewing them as human beings. Sure, they didn't have to commit that crime that ended up sending them to prison, but it doesn't take away their humanity and their right to correct themselves. Prisons are holding those mentally ill in solitary confinement for years, giving them no exposure to the outside world with the fear that they may act up.. when keeping them in confinement is actually doing nothing but make their mental illness worse... I really llike the european prison rule, It gives those incarcerated the opportunity to better themselves and rewarded for good behavior. I believe that if more prisons took this same approach, there would be less returning inmates and a lower national incarceration rate. Heisenburg789
After reading this articles, I think that our system is pretty messed up. Some judges are moody it’s like if they are in good mood, there is chances that the person would get less sentences. And some are like they would ignore some of the facts and they would just get straight to the order and put him in to the jail or prison, even though there are chances where person is not guilty and they get the punishment. And that where metal issues came in he would beg for justices people would ignore them because he was proven guilty, and after a while that could led to suicide situation or something they would hate the system so much they would come out and start committing serious crimes. EX: They would hurt some government employees, rob the banks, start killing police officers, and sometimes bomb blast too because they are obsessed with the system they pretty much hate the system. Mostwanted789
MostWanted789 (if there's two comments of mine I'm sorry I can't see whether it posted or not) I agree with you 100% about judges being moody. All in all the case depends on the judges mood, obviouslt the jurry gets a say but even then. If he/she is in a good mood things will go well, if they're in a bad mood they wont. I don't think their attitude should determine the punishment if there is any, but sadly and un-fairly, it does. Suicide is an optin for alot of people especially mentally ill people and sometimes they really do turn to that. And if it isn't suicide it's getting "revenge" on the person(s) that got them in trouble. 612BIRD789
After reading this article I gained a lot of knowledge about the prison in California. I learned that it has 100,000 incarcerated people. The fact that they target southern states such as Texas and Mississippi makes sense because they always have had issues with race and equality and things like that. I also think it's crazy that there has been a 500% increase between the 1970's and 1990's. I think it was a good idea on Governor Schwarzenegger's part to bring back rehabilitation to the name of their prison. I think it's a great idea for prisons to also be like rehabs because you put them in prison to punish them anyway and while they're there you may as well try to help them as much as you possibly can instead of just having them serve their sentence and sending them home. When the reporter stated that they rarely ever lose officers in the prison then all of the sudden they lost 11 then rethought things, I just think it shouldn't have taken them to lose 11 officers for them to rethink things... I feel like they should've thought ahead and considered the fact that they can lose officers in the first place and changed things then. I think that calling mentally ill people "walking dead" is a good idea but it's also singling the mental ill people out which is never right, but if doing that helps then so be it. I liked how he said calling them that is better than killing them because it is. They really can't help the fact that they're mentally ill so you shouldn't penalize them for that. 612BIRD789
Mandatory sentencing is an issue that has caused a lot of problems. It was originally a concept to limit discretion and bring fairness to the criminal justice system.Let's face it, some judges abused their power in sentencing (usually racially biased) and did not sentence criminals fairly. Mandatory sentencing was to make sentencing equal for all when charged with the same crime. This article did touch on mentally ill criminals and how the environment of prison can escalate behaviors. One good study of how mental illness can effect a person is the case of Carl "CJ"J. Dane. Illinois Case number 201-CF-81. CJ was convicted of first degree murder for killing his girlfriend in the summer of 2010. CJ had not been diagnosed as having mental health issues to my knowledge. CJ was sentenced to 60 years in prison. The morning of CJ's transfer to a prison facility, CJ was found dead in his Perry County jail cell. CJ's crime was very bad and did deserve punishment. I think that a sentence that is given should include a way of treating conditions people have what ever mental, or medical, or learning disabilities. CJ's history of abuse from his father and other factors may have helped at least get him the help he needed. Had CJ served his 60 years and been returned to society I would not know if he had gotten the help he needed or eventually came to his resolve of suicide. I do wonder if his childhood abuse had lead to the murder of Sidnee Stephens. I do believe a mandatory sentence should fit the crime, but also it should be fair and consider the person by getting them the help they need when they return to society. Tackleberry789
ReplyDeleteTypo 2010-CF-81
Deletesorry Tackleberry789
Tackleberry789 I agree with you on your response to mandatory sentencing and corrections and the courts. I agree that should have some sort of way of treating conditions that people may have like mental,medical, and learning disabilities while they are incarcerated. I also agree with you about case 2010-CF-81 i do believe that if he would of been reentered into society he would of got the help he needed and would of been able to live out his life ButterCup789
DeleteI believe that mandatory sentencing has caused some issues in our justice system. I believe that some judges now a days let their bias (normally racial bias) get in the way of their judgement when they are hearing cases in their court rooms. Sometimes even leading some criminals being sentenced wrongly. Mandatory sentencing is supposed to be where criminals were sentenced fairly. In 2010 case 2010-CF-81 was brought into attention. Cj was sentenced to sixty years in prison for killing his girlfriend in 2010. He was found dead in his cell the day of his transfer in Perry County Jail. I believe that they should have ways of treating conditions that people may have like mental,medical, and learning disabilities. I believe that if he would of been able to be re entered into society he would of got the help he needed. ButterCup789
ReplyDeleteThe point about judges being bias nowadays is a good point in the reasoning behind population problems in prisons. The 2010 case really emphasizes the importance of why medical treatment is conducive of helping offenders with mental disabilities be reintegrated for the purpose of making them fit enough to be put back into society or if they deem the patient irremediable for society then they would have the upper hand of taking away a dangerous threat to society. Arnis789
DeleteI agree with you that there should be a way that prisons would help prisoners get treatment or help for there disabilities so that the problems don't escalate especially during reintegration into society. Also we have to remember that judges are human as well. They have bias and they always will. There needs to be stricter sentencing structure that helps get rid of bias.
DeleteOops the one above with out the tag is TrucksAreGreat789
DeleteThe United States prison system is having problems nowadays rehabilitating their prisoners. Just because they are sentenced to be in prison does not mean they have waived all of their rights of being human beings. The article helps explain that there are some offenders who are mentally ill and should be treated accordingly in order to control or rehabilitate their state. It was not surprising to me that California's correctional system is facing problems of its own especially for its officers. The officers have to always watch their backs when handling their prisoners because the rehabilitation is not present thus giving the prisoners more reason not to respect them because they do not see them as helping refurbish their way of life, but to just keep them away from society locked up in a box where the majority of their activities are limited and closely watched upon. The European rule was a great comparison of how prisons should be for offenders deserving rehabilitation instead of being left alone to fend for themselves every day. Prisons and hard time should be reserved for the hardened criminals who are an imminent threat to society with the goal of aiming to rehabilitate them in order to shape their ways into ones that society will benefit from. Arnis789
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that they are having problem nowadays rehabilitating their prisoners.I mean something its not the prisons fault. The prisoners behave like animals, they don't know that it gonna hurt them. So if there are not following orders, they gonna take some serious action and can hurt the prisoners or the officers. So i think rehabilitation can change some prisoners not all especially when they don't want to change at all.Mostwanted789
DeleteI agree with this article that prisons have become more of a punishment than a place that people go to be rehabilitated. This is a serious issue. I though it was interesting how after many prison guards had been killed in the 70s and instead of helping to rehab the prisoners the guards now felt as though they were under attack and began to see themselves as being on a war front as the article puts it. The prison guards were no longer looking at there job as a job to help prisoners but instead to punish prisoners. I believe that is a huge part of why the prisons are in a state that they are today. Prisoners are not ready to go back into society after there sentence they are viewed as outcasts and don't think that they fit therefore they don't work in society. If we made them feel like they fit back into society after the sentence then maybe they would have an easier reintegration into society. TrucksAreGreat789
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, it's starts on the outside as well! If more cops took their job as a opportunity to help the people and steer them the right way I think that would also help the guards on the inside deal with the war feeling. But at the same time, look at the number of line of duty deaths for policemen, I think it's kind of hard to go to work looking forward to helping people when you're a target just because of the uniform you wear. Great post! GreenOnions789
DeleteMandatory Sentencing, as I see it, was put in place to make the courts run smoother and to try to get rid of unfair sentencing. One example, a young woman and a young man have committed the same crime, who do you think will get a lighter sentence? Another example, how about a young black man and a young white man both committed the same crime? By no means is this system perfect, I do see the purpose though. The bigger problem I see with corrections is mental illness. If an inmate does have a problem they really do need special treatment if they have a mental illness, and the way the prison system is set up, it can’t treat them properly. They could be in there because they didn't get the treatment before it became a problem. Why did the public mental health system get abandoned? Why not reform the public mental health system to work closer with the prison system? REDWINE789
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said. Mandatory sentencing does help get rid of bias sentencing, and your examples of the man or woman, or the white or black person are accurate. Also, I agree with your statement of people not getting help in prison, and winding up in prison because they probably couldn't get the treatment before. While it would cost more, I believe that there is so much more that we could do for prisoners to improve their chances of not going back. Ocho789
DeleteI agree with your statement stating people with mental illnesses are not getting the right treatment. I do believe everyone has a different mental illness that takes a certain treatment but if you are able to find someone to help you get through it properly it is defiantly a must and needs to be done. GEMINI789
DeleteI see Mandatory sentencing as a way of politicians passing laws that make sentences for crimes longer than normal in a hope to deter crime and keep money out of prison rehabilitation programs but failed. I'd say mandatory sentencing has failed due to the mass incarceration rates as well as the time spent in prison dollars not doing anything with these prisoners and then releasing them back into the wild. It's like having a pet snake for 10 years and feeding it daily and then releasing it into the wild one day out of the blue and expecting it to feed itself, it'll end up in trouble. I loved the part of the article where the author asks if judges should have to routinely visit prisons. I think that would be awesome, make them think about it before they sentence, I'd even go as far to say throw the judges and all other elected officials in a squad with an officer every month and let them see what happens on the street and what occurs due to their mandatory sentencing and non rehabilitation programs. I honestly think that prisons not being rehabilitative is what leads to so many repeat offenders. Granted that most of them are set in their ways and will continue to reoffend. GreenOnions789
ReplyDeleteYou hit the main point right on. For some offenders, not having that rehabilitation factor to play a part of their experience is what in most cases causes them to repeat offenses. I think as of now, it’s all about elected officials not wanting to invest in rehabilitation for inmates because it would not be doing them any justice only because prisons need these inmates. I agree that possibly getting those in power the chance to experience what it is like to be an inmate, would result in drastic changes being seen. KingMinaj789
DeleteGreenOnions your post is right on. Anyone can go to the Illinois Department of Corrections website and actually see online how much a year is spent on an inmate to be housed at any particular prison. The sad part is that the last time I looked at Pontiac Prison, it was around the figure of 45,000 dollars a year. It does not give a breakdown of rehabilitation services or anything like that. When you compare that price to around 17,000 dollars at Sheridan Prison (a type of rehabilitation prison) it really makes you wonder what the deal really is. Granted the contrast between the two prisons is Pontiac has a lot of Death row or lifers and very violent offenders compared to Sheridan that houses mostly short timers that have 18 months or less on their sentence. The sad part is that mandatory sentencing does tie Judges hands in some ways of using discretion for those that just messed up compared to someone that messed up by actually choosing to do so.Tacklberry789
DeleteThe article just about sums up the entire incarceration system all over our country. We see everyday how people who have nonviolent offenses are being incarcerated and being given mandatory sentences. It seems as though our country has grown to ignore or become numb to those problems that these offenders are facing may be deeper than what is on the surface of that person. I agree with this article that mental illness has become so much more than just what solitary confinement can fix. Just from reading what is being said about the state of California and their correctional system, makes me wonder how many more systems across the U.S. are just as worse? Rehabilitation is something that in my opinion would do wonders for those that need it. If set in motion the correct way and actually put to use, we could make progress in lowering the numbers o f offenders who get incarcerated regularly. KingMinaj789
ReplyDeleteKingMinaj I agree with your post. Because each person has individual needs and issues it would make it hard to sentence for a rehabilitation term I think. Most sex offenders do have a history of sexual abuse and mental illness or addiction. Many offenders go in and out of the corrections system. Some really need rehabilitation that is more than a one time period. Some do need the rehabilitation to be on going throughout life to help them. It does make me wonder what other systems are worse as well. Tackleberry789
DeleteMandatory sentencing can be said to have its ups and downs. Some "ups" that can be said came from mandatory sentencing would be the elimination of bias sentences. Some judges more than likely abused their powers when it came to sentencing people. Examples could include things like a white person and a black person being convicted of the same crime, or a man and a woman, as some of my fellow students have stated. However, when it comes to mandatory sentences for drug possesion, that can get out of hand. Basically people that possesed some Marijuana are being held in a prison with people that murdered one or more people. And sometimes the people being convicted of drug charges have a mental issue, which they get minimal help for in prisons for the most part. Super max prisons and even maximum security prisons do little in the way of rehabilitating people in my opinion. They are more concerned with locking them up and keeping them there than trying to help them and prevent them from coming back. Ocho789
ReplyDeleteI agree Ocho789 that mandatory sentencing does get out of hand despite it's intent. There was an article I read years ago about a man a judge sentenced (as s juvenile) to 35 years in prison for stealing a candy bar. There were no mandatory sentences at the time he was sentenced, but the judge "made an example out of him" when he sentenced him. Tacklberry789
DeleteA lot of this article makes sense. I believe that the three strike punishment is good for the society because of the criminals around us, I know that majority of the people will do crimes more then once and then later get brought up against their third strike and become incarcerated due to them not finding the right help. Mental illness is a lot of the problem there is something wrong with someone mentally if they cannot control themselves and attempt to make the same mistakes especially a mistake that can lead into prison for life. Those criminals are still humans and being in prison need to be treated like others but carefully, if not i am sure it can get a lot worse as proven. Prisons need inmates to continue making money sad but true. There are also a lot more laws that are in effect, mostly due to an individual doing a crime that no one else had done or been caught doing. Rehab is defiantly important and should be treated more highly then some people treat it, if used the right way rehab can save lots of peoples lives. GEMINI789
ReplyDeleteI agree with the article tasty prisons have become more of a place for strict punishment. I believe this is a problem in the US prison systems. I also agree with the others. just because one became incarcerated doesn't mean that they have lost all their night off being a human being. Blue789
DeleteTasty=that sorry about that blue789
DeleteThat*
DeleteI agree with the article that prisons have become more of a place for strict punishments. The three strike rule is a good thing but could also be a bad thing. The good part about it is that it helps get the people that keep committing crimes. The bad part is that it's the person that keeps committing a crime to find there own help once there set free. I think that's so backwards. They need to help them before so they want make the same mistakes again. I also agree that just because one is incarcerated doesn't mean they have lost all rights of being a human begin. I think the way they treat mental illness people is ridiculous. Locking them up and treating them like animals will only make things worse. Blue789
ReplyDeleteI agree with the mental illness people. I would like to see way more emphasis on the rehab part and to find out people's problems and find a good (hopefully inexpensive) solution to what is their issue. I would hope that as the future continues that we would start to figure out better ways to treat our fellow man. We have done and gone through a lot over the past 150 years and most has been pretty positive. I hope we continue that route. xsjado789
DeleteI have quickly began to realize how messed up the system really is. I even spoke to a friend over the weekend who is a Public Defender in the city of Chicago and the stories he told and what some of his clients were set to be going to prison for were insane. I would like to see an overhaul of the system and also see more emphasis on the rehabilitation part of it more than the lock up part of it. I do think that this subject should and eventually will become a major point in our society and that more and more people will figure out how broken the system is. I also found it funny that the Gov. added the rehabilitation part back on almost in hopes of changing it in the future or at least to maybe make it look like he was doing something to better the corrections in California. (Late but it feels like Sunday…xsjado789)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that we need to put more emphasis on the rehabilitation process in our prisons.. those being diagnosed as mentally ill are being thrown into solitary confinement instead of offered professional help. I would like to see the prison system make major changes in the way they deal with prisoners. Heisenburg789
DeleteAfter viewing this article, reading that the california corrections system had the biggest increase in incarceration at a staggering 500% and that corrections and rehabilitation is essentially no longer part of the process in prisons... It is truly sad that our corrections system doesn't do all they can to rehabilitate those incarcerated and not even viewing them as human beings. Sure, they didn't have to commit that crime that ended up sending them to prison, but it doesn't take away their humanity and their right to correct themselves. Prisons are holding those mentally ill in solitary confinement for years, giving them no exposure to the outside world with the fear that they may act up.. when keeping them in confinement is actually doing nothing but make their mental illness worse... I really llike the european prison rule, It gives those incarcerated the opportunity to better themselves and rewarded for good behavior. I believe that if more prisons took this same approach, there would be less returning inmates and a lower national incarceration rate. Heisenburg789
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this articles, I think that our system is pretty messed up. Some judges are moody it’s like if they are in good mood, there is chances that the person would get less sentences. And some are like they would ignore some of the facts and they would just get straight to the order and put him in to the jail or prison, even though there are chances where person is not guilty and they get the punishment. And that where metal issues came in he would beg for justices people would ignore them because he was proven guilty, and after a while that could led to suicide situation or something they would hate the system so much they would come out and start committing serious crimes. EX: They would hurt some government employees, rob the banks, start killing police officers, and sometimes bomb blast too because they are obsessed with the system they pretty much hate the system. Mostwanted789
ReplyDeleteMostWanted789 (if there's two comments of mine I'm sorry I can't see whether it posted or not) I agree with you 100% about judges being moody. All in all the case depends on the judges mood, obviouslt the jurry gets a say but even then. If he/she is in a good mood things will go well, if they're in a bad mood they wont. I don't think their attitude should determine the punishment if there is any, but sadly and un-fairly, it does. Suicide is an optin for alot of people especially mentally ill people and sometimes they really do turn to that. And if it isn't suicide it's getting "revenge" on the person(s) that got them in trouble. 612BIRD789
DeleteAfter reading this article I gained a lot of knowledge about the prison in California. I learned that it has 100,000 incarcerated people. The fact that they target southern states such as Texas and Mississippi makes sense because they always have had issues with race and equality and things like that. I also think it's crazy that there has been a 500% increase between the 1970's and 1990's. I think it was a good idea on Governor Schwarzenegger's part to bring back rehabilitation to the name of their prison. I think it's a great idea for prisons to also be like rehabs because you put them in prison to punish them anyway and while they're there you may as well try to help them as much as you possibly can instead of just having them serve their sentence and sending them home. When the reporter stated that they rarely ever lose officers in the prison then all of the sudden they lost 11 then rethought things, I just think it shouldn't have taken them to lose 11 officers for them to rethink things... I feel like they should've thought ahead and considered the fact that they can lose officers in the first place and changed things then. I think that calling mentally ill people "walking dead" is a good idea but it's also singling the mental ill people out which is never right, but if doing that helps then so be it. I liked how he said calling them that is better than killing them because it is. They really can't help the fact that they're mentally ill so you shouldn't penalize them for that. 612BIRD789
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