Upvote for the admittance that our prison system is the new "sanitariums" of the 1800's. People go in and never come out, irregardless of the "crime" that sent them there to begin with.

Thanks You, Senator Webb. A long needed discussion.

regardless

Rapists, murderers and other violent offenders should, just about, never come out. The problem, imo, is when you lock away small time pot dealers, or even cocaine dealers, for as long as rapists and murderers.

But there's a clear conflict of interest. From my understanding there is motive to incarcerate as many people as possible, since prisons are a private industry and prisoners are subject to slave labour while in prison. This sounds all well and good, the guy's a rapist, put him to work while he's locked up and maybe he can actually pay off that debt to society by building things.

But then the conflict of interest arises...

http://texastough.com/

>> ^Matthu:

Rapists, murderers and other violent offenders should, just about, never come out. The problem, imo, is when you lock away small time pot dealers, or even cocaine dealers, for as long as rapists and murderers.
But there's a clear conflict of interest. From my understanding there is motive to incarcerate as many people as possible, since prisons are a private industry and prisoners are subject to slave labour while in prison. This sounds all well and good, the guy's a rapist, put him to work while he's locked up and maybe he can actually pay off that debt to society by building things.
But then the conflict of interest arises...

The prison industry lobby will get the final decision.

Here's a US incarceration infographic...
http://www.criminology.net/the-facts-on-incarceration/

Hopefully Senator Web wiil not be wasted!