Does the statistic that 80% of our prison populations are non-violent offenders alarm you?

Just wondering how tax paying citizens feel about this?

80% of the people in the United States prisons are there for non-violent offenses primarily drug/alcohol related offenses.

Does it concern you that the bulk of our prison tax dollars are going towards people who are more of a harm to themselves then to Society?

Crime has went down and the number of prisoners has risen.
Additional Details
So crime has went down and we incarcerated more people.

Is there ever a chance we'll switch back a rehabilitative judicial system with regards to non-violent offenders?

Or is there no chance since the prisons get huge work contracts put honest people out of jobs and pay their slaves 25 cents an hour with no fear of civil recourse?

trooper3316

Prisons lose money. It is not about keeping them full for financial reasons because it would be much cheaper to close them.

Amy

As a PO, I know that people who end up in PRISON for non-violent offenses, such as drinking and driving, etc., have been given several opportunities for rehabilitation before they end up there. Hardly anyone goes to prison for a first time offense. One thing that you have to remember too is that just because its not considered a violent offense, doesn't mean there aren't victims. Many people are killed every year by non-violent offenses (DUIs, Drug OD, etc)
So, I am perfectly fine with my tax dollars used to house people who aren't violent offenders.

racer123

I believe it's true that private contractors are being given an inside track,to house law-breakers, at an extraordinary profit. These folks,at the top echelons, are offered opportunities that should not morally exist. They see nothing but money , to do what is legislated as the correct thing to do, by a small group of legislators. I believe that the majority of senate legislators are a group that is morally bankrupt. They pander to big interests, who's moral code is wholly and completely corrupt! These two faced electors, charged with protecting the people, time and time again chose to take corparate 'gifts' in exchange for thier loyalties. The people are expendable nusanses, easily disuaded by annoucements of yet another hollow promise of benefit.

sloppy dan

Prove this 80%. Alcohol related incidents are questionable, but where have you been? People who are incarcerated for drug related offenses are causing harm to society.

Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe the DEA, state, and county officials are wasting their time busting drug dealers...

|â–’â–’Kebert Xelaâ–’â–’|

Ok, so it's no secret I think most of what you say is dribble.
But this one I find interesting.

So I'll answer your questions and ask a couple of my own.

- Trooper is very right....I don't know why you think running a prison is big business for governments, but it is quite the opposite.

I'm not alarmed. First of all, you can skew stats however you want them. These people are locked up for "non-violent crimes"...that doesn't mean they don't regurlarly commit violent crimes. And that certainly doesn't mean that the crime they've been found guilty of can't/won't lead to non-violent crimes. Secondly, non-violent criminals are still criminals....What do you propose we do with them?

Couldn't you argue that more people being in prison has something to do with crime going down?

Was the judicial system ever truely rehabilitative?
Maybe I'm just too young to remember those times, but I can think of a bunch of reasons why that isn't in the forseeable future.

"Slaves" is harsh. What should we do? Let them read/watch TV/hang out with their new buddies all day? Why not stick them at a job they hate so they don't want to go back to prison?

psychosolodiver

Yes, but law enforcement and prisons are bug business.

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