Lorena wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:50 AM:What can we do to help get parole reform?

Concerned-1 wrote on Nov 24, 2008 11:29 AM:Here's a thought, put them to work. Hard work. Yank the TVs, yank the gym, yank their free time. Tough love baby.

leo wrote on Nov 24, 2008 12:04 PM:no sympathy here.we need more prisons to keep them off the streets.

Willy E wrote on Nov 24, 2008 12:24 PM:What a heartwarming story. I feel like I missed out, Having spent my youth going to college and all. At least these fine gentlemen will be let out soon, so I can maybe make friends with them then. I can't wait to get beaten up for not wearing my shoes.

Bleeding Heart wrote on Nov 24, 2008 1:16 PM:I feel so terrible for all of these people. Someone should really step up and help these people get out in to society to live free. I mean, it's not like they did anything wrong...

Carlos wrote on Nov 24, 2008 2:12 PM:Agree with concerned-1. Take them out, put them to clean the freeways, cut brushes to prevent fires, paint over graffiti walls. Work heals a troubled mind.

Frank Courser wrote on Nov 24, 2008 2:28 PM:Your reporters should visit a womens prison,it appears you tried very hard to show the dark side of the prison system. Not all inmates are in gangs and not all are violent.Most are men and women just like those you see on the street in any town or city.Even those convicted of murder.

FTM wrote on Nov 24, 2008 3:56 PM:We readers are not capable of understanding your article because your average NCT reader has never been to jail or been in a gang. Why do these silly newspaper writers go though the trouble to research these prison stories just to reveal information to a public that not only can not empathise but honestly does not care.

To make matters worse - the silly writers at the North County Times don't even mention the only programs that have ever worked on the problem!

Only ONE program have EVER worked to turn lives in prison enviroments and those programs always dirive from ex-cons who got religion. It could be Christianity, or Islam, or some other, but the bottom line is that faith in GOD is the ONLY thing that has EVER had a consistient pattern of succsess with prison communities, and they need to hear it from THIER OWN, otherwise they don't listen. It's the only change from within that works. Change from outside does not work so all you average readers can stop wringing your hands and playing into the writers silly game to foll himself into thinking he's helping in some way.

I'm not espousing any religion or even belief in God, I'm merly stating FACTS. If you really want to do anything about this problem - the answer lies there, (in FAITH).

In the meantime - LOCK THEM UP! (They deserve it).

between wrote on Nov 24, 2008 4:12 PM:to: Frank Courser

Please tell me how your "half way house" for returning to society your "just like those you see on the street in any town or city. Even those convicted of murder." people turns out. You ARE sponsoring such a house aren't you? At your house? Or are you just a Liberal Bleeding Heart? No follow through? Hope you don't have kids.

between wrote on Nov 24, 2008 5:21 PM:To FTM: I would agree with trying your suggestion first, but with no success with your way, gotta go with lobotomy.

Cardiffian wrote on Nov 24, 2008 5:35 PM:I have to agree with FTM. Being an athiest, I understand completely why this works. If one believes in an omipotent and omiscient being, then their particular circumstance is not their fault - they are not to blame. This does not absolve them of their crime in the temporal world but it does give them the opportunity to strive for "unconditional acceptance" in the spiritual world. It's classic forgiveness. The beauty is that the acceptance is given or taken away from the con by the con himself - based on whether "in his heart" he has been deserving of god's love. This also works for alcoholics and drug addicts. This is also why I am an athiest. Other than dire circumstances such as these, I just can't fathom how people believe this kind of stuff. Whatever floats your boat!

Correction to NCTimes wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:21 PM:there are 176000 inmates statewide in facilities which are to hold 10,000 that is 1000 per housing unit times 4.5 yards with the overflow in the gyms.

to Carlos wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:23 PM:The minimum inmates (low risk) are cleaning freeways -- what you do not want are the inmates who are incarcerated who are high risk out cleaning freeways.

Change Priorities wrote on Nov 24, 2008 8:16 PM:Build roads and schools - not more prisons and fences. Legalize pot and stop drug testing. Let people work, be free and contribute. We spend way too much time and money busting and micro-managing low level drug offenders. Now we are running low on cash, it's time to change priorities and save prisons for the serious threats to society - like Bush, Cheney and Charles Manson.

jvc wrote on Nov 24, 2008 8:58 PM:Yes, let's have a bleeding heart and show some compassion!

cooter wrote on Nov 24, 2008 9:52 PM:Gee thanks NC Times for letting the "homeboys" from Vista represent on the front page of your Sunday paper. That really sends the right message to their brother gangsters in Vista. Make it to prison and make it on the front page. Thanks also for the pictures showing their faces later in the article, oh yeah and the one throwing gang signs. That way maybe the homies can recognize them and give them their much earned respect. You really think they are ready to be released from custody and back into productive society. All those tattoos they have placed so prominately upon themselves are merely advertising for their varrio. Tattoos earned by these yahoos for doing who knows what and probably put on them while in prison. Sorry but I have zero sympathy for gang bangers like these and frankly they way they look I hope they are never released from prison. Once again, thanks for giving the Vista Homeboys (VHB) the free publicity. That sure sends the right message to the community. NICE!

Its not funny wrote on Nov 25, 2008 12:59 AM:You all crack jokes, make 'funny' of this story...will you laugh when the parolee rapes your daughter, pilfers your car, invades your home, drives drunk and smashes into your stopped car? Do you think YOU are immune from the millions released from prison with, as the article states, no way to get a job, no food to eat, no WAY to survive without violence, gangs and racial rules? Parole Officers, armed prison guards, 'counselors' and recovery workers MUST care, but when 7 out of 10 'criminals' (who say they did nothing wrong) RETURN within months to the 'sweaty gym' stating 'it's better in here, at least I get 3 square meals." Oops a new tax coming to the working honest folks - you know, gotta pay for better meals for the prisoners; I mean food prices are going through the roof. Let them drink water - oops that's pretty expensive too. What's with the 'must wear shoes to get out of bed deal? Afraid of 'athlete's foot' - now that's not really funny at all. And, it's not funny that hundreds of thousands of our 'neighbors' are low life criminals. I know another country that had just ONE Murder last year, NO rapes, no home invasions and only 1 drunk driving arrest. Wanna know which country and WHY everyone there feels safe, receives the BEST education, and the police don't carry guns! Seriously, we are such slow learners.

Elroy wrote on Nov 25, 2008 3:31 AM:No air conditioning? That's great! Now get rid of the televisions and let 'em READ instead. Take out all the body building stuff. We don't need stronger criminals. They can do push-ups if they like. Now let's change the menu. Feed them ... ( mmm, McDonald's) four times a day. Put some flab on these clowns. With more weight, they can be caught easier next time they pull a stickup! Now these ideas are GENUINE reform that will benefit us all!

Tough wrote on Nov 25, 2008 4:58 AM:Lets send them to the Sheriff in Az where they wear pink and live in tents, no AC there, and work. The majority don't come back. Gee I am so sad the recreational facility at Donovan has beds and no air and it smells. ITS A PRISON. Lets take the beds out so prisoners can play and then release all those gang prisoners that don't have a bed. For all of you that feel sorry for anyone in prison wait till you or family is a victim because of one of these loosers then tell me how bad you think it is. If it is that bad the loosers wouldn't do the "LITTLE' things they do when they get out, like violate their parole conditions.

No Sympathy wrote on Nov 25, 2008 6:43 AM:"crushed by overcrowding born in part of a parole system that returns seven of every 10 prisoners within months of their release and does little to prepare them for re-entry into society."

The forth paragraph sets the tone for the article. It's not their fault they're back, it's the parole system. We need to understand their pain.
Excuse me while I barf.

TCM wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:08 AM:Under no circumstances should any of these animals be allowed to walk our streets where they can prey on our community. If anything, cut the parole budget and give it to the guys who build new prisons and expand our existing facilities. Like the wall says - no warning shot.

Who pays wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:14 AM:Economy in meltdown. Tax base drying up. How can we keep feeding a growing prison system? Who pockets will the cash come from? There are sure bad people that belong in jail - but something is wrong with California's prison boom. Way too much money going to punishment and profit and the results are failure.

ray wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:23 AM:The answer is hard labor out in a desert location, that is their excersise

Connie wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:33 AM:Let's worry about hungry kids, poor schools and health insurance. These criminals forfeited the sympathy card when they victimized others. Boo Hoo.

Morris1 wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:59 AM:Boy, most of you just don't get it. 97% of these people are released into your neighborhoods. Smart on crime advocates actually would rather they come back with at least job skills, education and some services that will give them a chance at survival outside the walls. Our prisons are filled with those that were not born into the family with the white pickett fence. Most will tell you they had "maybe" one parent around. Many learned to survive on the streets. Americans have become calous and uncaring about their fellow man and actually enjoy seeing people fail. I would think that you people would rather NOT have to support these people for the rest of their lives, but apparently it means more to you to see them in prison. We now spend more money on prisons than higher education. Who do you think backs prisons? It is a money making, job secuirty issue. It has little to do with public safety. Have you not noticed the only job growth in the country is "Corrections". Wake up or pay up. When it eventually affects your life you will see the reality of our Justice system. Don't think you are immune. If not you, someone you know will end up incarcerated. You would be very surprised how easy it is. Once you are in the system, the system will not let you go. Every attempt to get you back into the system is made. You are a cash cow to the system. Citizens of this state are fools. Law enforcement doesn't give a darn about your safety. They care about their paychecks. Have you noticed the climb in tickets being handed out? Here the sucking sounds of money being drained from you. That is law enforcement justifying their jobs. Paint a big target on yourself. You are their bread and butter inside and outside the walls. Oh, but they are protecting your safety, right?

Suzie wrote on Nov 25, 2008 8:20 AM:I say do like Islam dictates, if you steal cut the hand off that did the stealing, if you kill, you die, etc. etc. You get the picture! That will certainly clean out the prisons and get rid of all the people who are habitual criminals and have no business breathing.....

TopHat wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:10 AM:I say, Elroy, capital notions you have there. Splendid indeed! You should run for office! We have an awful Mayor here in Vista, perhaps you'd consider running to replace him...???

ShawnP wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:15 AM:Another wimpy, namby-pamby, bleeding-heart story---"Oh, boo-hoo-hoo, those poor misunderstood and mistreated victims."
What happened to, if you commit crime/crimes harsh enough to warrant hard time in prison, you've given up your freedom and any rights you've had? You know, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time"?
All the perks (air conditioning, cable TV, free medical and dental) cost a lot of money, money that would be better spent on our schools/education or roads. We don't need to throw more money toward these ...; how about bringing back the chain gangs, so they can really contribute to society?

RandyR wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:17 AM:Some liberal minded people wold like to see their tax dollars at work...providing an education, free health care to those who are in prisons. The expenditures are seemingly endless. Interesting enough, I have to work in order to pay my cable bill, inter-net system. In order to feed my family...I choose to work for a living. And trust me when I say this...I had a choice to make when it came time to attending school. Those in the prison system had an opportunity to attend school, therefore receive an education. Interesting enough, I have to pay my health club dues in order to work out.
In short, people make decisions throughout their lives...those in the prison system can cry foul because of their upbringing, the city in which they live in...that song and dance seems rather endless. Still, they made a decision and at the time when the decision was made...they knew they were making the wrong decision. Now they are paying the consequence. More to the point, the tax payers are paying for their consequences, poor choices. Imagine if they had to work in order to pay for the amenities that I work for?

Ignorance wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:28 AM:You people post comments without knowing what your talking about or how easy it would be for you to end up in our system. I have never even had a speeding ticket in 40 years and yet imagine my surprise when I got pulled over for my very first ticket and instead I was arrested and spent time in jail because I had a warrant for my arrest. I went to jail for failing to register my dog...I didn't even have a dog...but I still spent time in jail for it....and you think it couldn't happen to you. You people need to think before you speak!

Joser wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:39 AM:The pictures of these 2 gang members is only promoting their gang affiliation.Right now all of the homies are getting a big kick out seeing thei carnales in the news, and VHB is recieving a little advertisment.
100 more kids just decided they want big tatoos on thier backs too.

Billy wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:59 AM:Respect in society is earned by accepting responsibility. In being there for your family. Earning respect in society is easy. One must have a good understanding of right and wrong and have the will to act on the side of right and put aside the desire to act on the side of wrong. One must take pride in doing a good job and understand that at times our work may be very boring and dull. In society one earns respect by building a bank of experience that one can rely on to better ones position.
Having the respect of ones wife or husband and children is about the best a man or women can have in their lifetime. Taking pride in, and building for ones family, results in personal growth and success. There is nothing wrong with pride if it is properly placed in ones life. Family, work, voting, support of church and charities. And above all making a home.
It takes a lot for an adult to recover from a failure in ones behavior. And we all do it to different degrees.
I wonder sometimes if people really understand how and why this country is organized the way it is. In considering this, one must understand that if you are looking for perfection you must look to providence, you will not find it here on earth.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, - - -." That passage is from The Declaration of Independence, second paragraph. It is the foundation of our US Constitution, which protects our Creator granted rights. This next is very important - our Constitution is the law of the land, and it makes plain, among other things, how we should treat each other as equal citizens with equal rights. No one can take our rights from us. Others can prevent us from exercising our rights here on earth, but no one can take them from us. When a crime is committed in our country, someone’s rights have been tampered with or denied, and that makes the person doing the tampering a criminal.
Yes, it is all about how we treat each other.

Space God wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:03 AM:There is way too much Space God forgiveness in our society. If we would simply exterminate the perpetrators of violence including rape , murder, molestations & agregious assaults society would be a lot better off. Implement a 2 strikes & your dead program. This may sound harsh but it would make our society a lot safer. All in favor say I .

JJ wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:07 AM:Feed them a strict, bland Vegan diet. Solitary confinement for all. No need for "prison gangs" as there should be no prisoner interaction whatsoever. No weight lifting,just yoga and meditation. Religious programming would be the only use for TV, other than say, The Super Bowl for well behaved inmates/convicts. When we make it is miserable as possible, trust me, they won't be back.

Frank C. wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:19 AM:between- You show your ignorance in your statements. I have 5 children and two grandchildren. I have studied the California Prison system for 10 years now and visit prisons each week. What you seem to know about the prison system would fit in a match box.Your Soviet style idea of a prison system shows just how unamerican your are!America makes up just 4.5% of the worlds population but incarcerates 25% of the worlds prisoners.California with the help of the prison guards union has built the largest and most broken prison system in the world. With the toughest laws in the nation!Morris1 is right on the money,97% are coming home someday!Do you want these people educated and trained or as the system is now, a finishing school for felons?Being smart on crime, should we waste billions of tax dollars metting out life sentences for drug users and shoplifters? Or should we reserve our prison space for only those that are a threat to public safety or as you would have it, those we are just mad at!In 1980 we had 12 prisons and 22,500 inmates.Today we have 33 prisons and 171,000 inmates!Our population grew from 23 million to 35 million.Did Californians become more criminally incline! Not at all, we just created more laws with longer sentences!We built 21 new prisons and 1 new college! Is this what you want for the future of your children-between?

Willy E wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:25 AM:I do not agree, Watson. Many of these people had every chance, just like anyone else. They had school available, churches, couselors, and maybe even more if they were in welfare programs,etc. The point is, they eschew all of that because they wanted to rip it up and have a good time with "they homies". These aren't victims. They make victims, and enjoy it.

Now, I agree not everyone in the system is a hateful, violent person. But when you are talking gang-bangers, you are speaking of a breed that loves to bash it up on the streets. That is, until they get old and introspective, and then they wonder why their lives are such a mess.

FTM wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:36 AM:Now, as for Mr Morris1's blog, he has every reason to be VERY angry - he's just misplacing his anger on the wrong people, but in defense of Mr. Morris1 let me say:
Overcrowding is a MYTH that was created by the PRISON INDUSTRY to make people feel GUILTY so they would poney up MONEY for MORE PRISONS! FTM YOU GUYS! (F)ollow (T)he (M)oney!

Hey Morris1, you feel better now? It's okay man, you don't need to hate law enforcemnt. I know we people here in Oceanside used to live side by side with these gang bangers for years and the people here just got fed up. These losers never get any better, they just get worse, and then they start to kill our kids. We tried to help them and we let them live with us here in freedom and all it did was get us a lot of dead children. I don't care if it cost more to lock these guys up where they can be fed and housed, because they can't feed and house themselves withour stealing from me anyway! So I pay either way! I can pay the State to house these guys or I pay these guys directly by letting them rob my house or sell drugs to my kids! I'll take the lockup for them even if it's more expensive just for the sake saving MY kids life! You want callous? How bout we DON'T feed or house them? How bout that? Lot's of these guys eat better than some of the people in our barrios that live lawful lives yet I'm supposed to feel sorry for the prisoners in jail because thier gyms are hot and sweaty??? We got illegal aliens living in tents in Carlsbad that don't eat as well as these guys yet they still stand on El Camino Real every day hoping to get a few hours of work so they can go to the market and buy food. We got homeless people in Vista that push a shopping cart all day from one dumpster to the other yet they don't resort to stealing or violence but I'm supposed to feel sorry for a criminal getting three squares a day and NEW SHOES to boot!?? We have honest people of every kind and shape and race eeking out a living without resorting to stealing or violence or gangs, those people should come FIRST, NOT the lawbreakers. Your just getting sucked in by some stupid newspaper writer trying to get an award from the press club. That's all they care about is thier prestegious press awards - these writers don't give a rat's behind for these prisoners and they are just trying to make honest citizens feel guilty for thier own selfish reasons.
Life in jail has NEVER BEEN GOOD! They think it's bad now? Try 30 years ago! It was WAY worse back then. As far as I'm concerned a story on the prisons is a PUFF PIECE compared to hitting the streets and getting a real story about honest people struggling and NOT breaking the law.
How bout helping my fellow man? Sure, I'll feed him, cloth him, and put a roof over his head but the rest is up to him. If he is incapable of taking care of himself without harming my OTHER fellow man then he should stay LOCKED UP! I have to consider the other HONEST people too.

Christine wrote on Nov 25, 2008 10:57 AM:I'm conservative, but this is just wrong! Why can't we have working factories that manufacture products in the prisons where these people learn skills. Letting them out into our world without job skills will insure they'll be back to prison. I didn't know about this treatment of prisoners and will think differently when I vote. This is just repeating a crime for crime.

Wayne wrote on Nov 25, 2008 11:13 AM:Let's round up all the gang bangers, rapists, child molesters, murderers and put them on a deserted island. All the weapons that are confiscated from this trash and the drugs they use, give it back to them as they reach their island. They get no amenities and no comforts of home. They can fight and throw gang sings at each other for the rest of their lives. They can fish and eat coconuts and build sand castles for entertainment. That should free up the prisons. Anybody in prison for non violent crimes, dress them up in black and white striped prison attire, chain them up and they can fix the roads and dig ditches. I have no sympathy for these low life gang bangers. They had a tough life. They didn't come from a stable family. No "white picket fence". "Maybe 'one parent'". Who cares!! I was a latch key kid growing up most of my years. I was home alone most of the time and I turned out fine. I didn't buy into my "homies" looking out after me because I had nobody else. I saw violence on TV, the glamorization of gang life, drugs, popularity with the "chicks", being respected because I fight good. That lifestyle never had me. I was smart enough and had enough morales and sense to stay away. We all have the sense of what is right and wrong. Especially when it comes to hurting others for the pleasure and respect of another. All those gang bangers and those that have sympathy for them can go blow it out their.....

Space God wrote on Nov 25, 2008 11:24 AM:Implement a two strikes & your dead law. Exterminate the perpetrators of violence. Rapists, Murderes,child molestors & violent people don`t deserve to live.

NIMBY wrote on Nov 25, 2008 11:51 AM:"Most are men and women just like those you see on the street in any town or city.Even those convicted of murder."

Except for the trivial little fact that they've murdered someone. Yeah, just like the average citizen. Maybe in YOUR neighborhood.

Maybe wrote on Nov 25, 2008 12:20 PM:We have 25% of the worlds prisoners, because they dont mind going back..... get Draconian on em.... hard labor.... make em do the jobs Americans wont do.... that will also cut down on another little problem we have... and this article left out that 1 in 10 prisoners are illegal.... guess that wasnt important.

Brian wrote on Nov 25, 2008 1:00 PM:To Ignorance, You are a liar. If you had a warrant for your arrest it wasn't for failing to register a non existent dog! You are like countless others that have problems with law enforcement, you commit a minor offense that results in contact with an officer. Then you throw a tantrum about it and generally make the whole situation worse. You fight, you run, you spit, you act like an idiot and in the end you claim it was only because I was speeding, or jaywalking, or whatever minor offense would have meant a ticket at worse if you just accepted it and pled your case at court.

Girls rule wrote on Nov 25, 2008 2:50 PM:Who cares if they're cramped on top of each other? If some think they have it so much better in prison, leave 'em there to rot. They can't control themselves on the street, so let them control themselves in prison. Who cares who's makin' the rules. You don't want to be there - don't break the law. Duh.

You can all wrote on Nov 25, 2008 3:21 PM:thank the ACLU for the "good" treatment the prisoners receive. Gym equipment, free schooling, a/c and everything else. You see if falls into the civil rights acts that EVERYONE is throwing into the system. I agree with the above posters. We need to be like AZ. Get these people to re-think their crime. Make their punishments and time horrible and MAYBE they won't be back. There is a reason why people call doing federal time CLUB FED or some of the other prisions by luxery names. It's too easy in there. By the way, they do manage to get their drugs still while in there.

Chester M wrote on Nov 25, 2008 4:16 PM:Yes!! Elroy for Mayor of Vista!! Recal Mr Vance!

Work4Peace wrote on Nov 25, 2008 4:56 PM:I am amazed at the hateful, mean-spirited responses to this article. Someone even said overcrowding is a myth! It is actually so bad the courts declared our prison's conditions unconstitutional. What has become of our nation?! I suppose when the government lowered our standards at Guantanamo, many in our society lost their own humanity. Listen to Morris. He told it like it is.

Which dog would you rather have loose in your neighborhood, a well-treated pet or the junkyard dog that was mistreated to make him mean? Most inmates will be released at some point. We will all be safer, and we will save lots of money, if we pay the cost of vocational training, rehabilitation, and support until they get on their feet. That would not cost the $50K a year it takes to keep them locked up.

We should never have replaced mental hospitals with prison time. As a volunteer, I meet many returning soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS, we don’t use the D for Disorder because the condition is a normal response to abnormal conditions.) Many will be sentenced for crimes committed because of their illness. They may have to be locked up, but after their sacrifices for us, do you really want them imprisoned in the horrible conditions of our prisons? Once they are released, do you want them to be denied jobs and housing and a chance to make it outside as most ex-felons are?

Frank wrote on Nov 25, 2008 5:11 PM:It is telling how little most that post here know about the California prison system or the ciminal justice system.It is insane to hate those you know nothing about.Bet you all go to church each Sunday and feel good about yourselves.All the love and Christian good seems to get lost by Monday morning.Concerned-1 all inmates must work,it is part of prison programing.leo- what your address so we can send the 10.2 billion dollar bill to operate our prison system to you!Willy E- this might be the guy that repairs your car someday!Bleeding Heart-most all are coming home! Do you want them to return to crime or have skills to support their families?between- will most likely live his life in fear!No Sympathy- has no idea how the parole system works,but he pays for it!TCM- At the rate we incarcerate people in this state,we could not build enough prison nor could we afford to!Connie- the prison system steals it funds from education and health care.So the fewer inmates we warehouse the more money we will have to educate!And educated people are less likely to go to prison!ShawnP-Exactly why we should question who goes to prison and why! Do you want to pay for prison cost because of simple drug possession?Billy- when the crime is a victimless crime like drug possession,will each defendent be treated the same? No it is a wheel of fortune in California, which DA in which county you are in.Space God- only about half the inmates are doing for crimes aginest persons. The others are property crimes and drug offences.FTM- Morris1 know more than you will ever know about prison & the criminal justice system!NIMBY-Many of those that murder come home someday!And they look just like you!Maybe-You are wrong-1 in 10 inmates are not illegal.California dept of Corrections- 38% are Latino, maybe thats what you mean!Brian-How the hell do you know this persons case?Girls rule- Go visit a womens prison!

Ignorance wrote on Nov 25, 2008 6:08 PM:Brian...as I stated before...think before you speak. I did not have a tantrum as you so kindly put it. I went to court and pleaded my case and proved my innocence and the charges were dropped. As for having issues with law enforcement...I respect law enforcement officials and have several friends who are police officers as well as having loved ones within our system....but it does sound to me like you have some serious anger issues.
The point is...not all people who are serving time in our system deserve to be there...some are innocent and others would benefit better from a drug program because the only victim they have is themselves and their families. There are no gyms or exercise equipment in prison and if you think they are eating better then someone else, again you are wrong. Unless you have been through the system or have a loved one in the system, you have no idea what is truly going on within the system.

FTM to Frank wrote on Nov 25, 2008 7:10 PM:Don't you see the point?

NONE of us "get it".

That's the point!

We all live in the real world. All these inmates live in a different world that we will never experience. That's what I said in the first place and why I said these articles are POINTLESS!

That's the point!

How can you justify that these inmates belong out here in the real world with all these people who have NO CLUE about thier situation! (It's simple: THEY DON'T!) Don't ask ME, ASK THEM!

Can't you read? These inmate have NO DESIRE to be part of the "white picket fence" crowd so why should they be put here???

You are the one who "does not get it".

This whole concept amongst the ex-con crowd that 'society is out to get them' is what's really behind the failure of the prisoners to change and your blog is a perfect testement to that fact! It's typical of someone who honestly believes it's SOCIETIES' fault that they are a failure instead of looking at THEMSELF!
We all go through this in out lives at some time especially in our teenage years but eventualy adults learn that life is not 'out to get us' and society is not the enemy.
Those who never figure this out are what is defined as "anti-social". It's an accurate description of the problem but a bad word because it sends a negative message to struggling people. (I think that's why they stopped using the word: "anti-social", but I assure you I am trained in the DSMR-5 and have administered the WAIS-R to a fair amount of people and I have more education in this than I care to reveal.
I know enough to know that I don't want the average person to be well schooled in the problems of ex-cons. I would rather live in a well-adjusted society that is not so pre-occupied.
Just be thankful our society is willing to feed and cloth the prisoners - they don't treated as well in other countries.