Response to Julia's question regarding prison in the US

 Do you think that prisons are a beneficial way of punishing criminals?


 First of all, that was a shocking fact about the cost of keeping someone in prison in that article. It really lays out just how much money goes into our prisons. It's a good question to ask of America, why do we put so much of our resources, time, and money (money that we certainly do not have) into imprisoning? Regarding if I feel they are beneficial, well I am not so sure. Our court system seems really strict, but when you think about it maybe it's not. Maybe the reason for people committing so many crimes and going to jail on more than one occasion during their life has something to do with this. Is our system of law and punishment not strict enough? We do not implement torture and only a few places still allow the death penalty. When you think out it, the worst that will happen to a person is that they will spend their life in a concrete building. Of course prison comes with awful things such as violence and other related behavior, but at least they have a place to eat and sleep! I remember watching an episode of this show that brings "troubled" teens into a prison and they learn what it is like and hear from some of the inmates. They kids looked scared yes but one teenage boy actually said something like, "well at least if I get in here I will have a meal everyday." Can you believe that? He thought prison would be easier than his life now. That really out stands me, here was this huge man who was going to be spending his life in prison for multiple murders, basically yelling at these kids and this boy doesn't even blink an eye. The idea of prison does not scare a lot of people apparently. Otherwise people would not continuously commit crimes and return. It's something to think about.


Question: Is our system of law and punishment not strict enough?