groups

I guess we should just kill all prisoners, then they can't be repeat offenders. Or we could just put people in prison for life. Okay, I'm not serious, but this is a serious issue that gets discussed in my field (criminal defense law) quite often -- how do you prevent someone form committing crimes AFTER they've paid their debt to society? We've tried registration of sex offenders and felons, and we've tried parole and probation, and we've tried stricter sentencing as a deterrent to committing more crimes, we've tried strict repeat offender sentences for the same reason -- here in Florida if you're convicted of committing a crime within three years of being release from prison, you automatically get the maximum sentence for that new crime. Nothing so far has worked, obviously.

So, I don't know if it's a failure of the system that convicts, punishes, and keeps track of offenders, as much as it's a failure of our system that raises and educates our children. I believe if we had less teenage pregnancy, as an example, we'd have fewer crimes. Maybe we need to focus on our children for a change rather than waiting until they are older and commit crimes and then think we can fix the problem.

What a radical idea, eh?

Sex offenders, especially after children under the age of 16, put them on a barge and let them clean up the garbage whirlpools in the middle of the oceans. yes I know it is a dangerous job, but somebody has to do it.

Turn prison into places of disgust. eliminate cable, librarys, holidays. Form work details. Make them pay for their meals. Want to read? Read the bible. No A/C, no tempurpedic mattress. Make prisons as uncomfortable as they made life for their victims

Mike - ???? pay their debt to society - there is no way they can ever do that. What about the county that was to be checking on this guy. Never went into the house. What kind of parole officer does that ? Just come to the door and says "Hi how are you, have a nice day" that is BS. Check their computers - to see what they are up to etc. What ever it takes. These creeps have it way to easy.

Joe - I agree with you.

If the law says that you do so much time for such and such crime, when you're done with the time, you've paid your debt to society. I'm just the messenger here, don't shoot me.

I understand that, but it does make me p.o.'d. So many children missing - murdered, I am sick of it. If I were a parent my child would never be alone, even in our own yard. Things have changed so much and not for the better. Ourselves and our children lived better lives of freedom and less fear. We had fun to do the things kid's should be able to do. I am so glad my son had the opportunity to enjoy his childhood. Yeah I always checked on him, but we did not have to be attached to each other by a cord 24/7.

We have to educate the kids, and parents need to keep their eyes open. Not all predators are registered, jailed or living with ankle bracelets...sadly, some will be sitting at Thanksgiving tables across the land this month...and some family member will still be keeping the secret ...instead of protecting the next generation. Sick!

You are so right Lily. You have given us another take on this sad situation.

What's wrong with our system? In a word....money, or better yet, budgets. Since I work in a jail, I would agree with all who say to make it uncomfortable, but you all need to talk to the ACLU first as it is these banes to society who insist on making jail a place where one is educated, (yea right), rehabilitated (sure), and allowed access to nearly all the things you and I have. Also, since I brought up budgets, do you have any idea what is spent on these programs and the fact that should too many inmates fail, the funding and programs are out? That being said, you can imagine how many are "passed" to continue funding.
Lastly, with the states and counties in financial ruin (don't talk to me about parental responsibilities or feeding kids breakfast, lunch and dinner at school!) many jails and prisons are releasing inmates way before their sentences are done. Simply too expensive to keep, that and staffing problems, not wanting to hire or pay overtime. Hire more officers? Can't get them! Anyway, I'm off my soapbox , I just wish more people had a clue as to what the average correctional officer faces daily. Then maybe offenders would stay behind bars as they should.

Yankee..again, parole agents have caseloads that would make your head spin. They simply do not have the time to do what you would think should be done. In a real system, it would work that way, but until citizens want to realize that tax dollars pay for these services, and are WILLING to pay for it, nothing will be done to rectify the real problem.......money!

Another problem that needs to be addressed in this country is the loss of any sense of morality. Kids having kids, and more so they can collect more from freebies.
We are raising a generation who believe they are entitled to everything...look around you, free breakfast, lunch, dinner, backpacks, school supplies, private schools, need I go on? So what happens when these kids grow up and are standing with their hands out and saying...where's my stuff? Now they have to go and actually work for it....uh-oh....problems....mix that with the "self-esteem" problem and there you go.....no accountability....anywhere! Parents? I use that term very, very loosely....

Wow....these posts seem to have hit a nerve!!