Thursday, April 20, 2006

Americans for more rehab and less punishment.

Well, it seems damned clear to me, on many levels, that vengeance and harsh punishment; treating people like animals, isn't working for the betterment of our society.

It is amazing to me that anyone ever thought that it would.

We pay, on average, $47,000/ year to keep a pot head in prison, where he or she learns to be a real criminal and all about methamphetamine and crack cocaine.

Sometime, our stupidity just simply amazes me.

Zogby International:

"National survey by Zogby International reveals 'striking support' for rehabilitation both in and after prison

From every age, gender, economic, political, cultural and ethnic group and every geographic area, Americans overwhelmingly support the rehabilitation of non-violent criminals both before and after they leave prison, a new poll by Zogby International shows.

Three out of four Americans expressed either fear or concern about the 700,000 prisoners who are leaving U.S. prisons each year, and the fact that 60% of them are likely to commit crimes that send them back to prison, Zogby International�s national survey showed. The poll explored what people think ought to be done about the situation.

The survey, sponsored by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, a leading criminal justice research organization, reveals that by almost an 8 to 1 margin (87% to 11%), the U.S. voting public is in favor of rehabilitative services for prisoners as opposed to a punishment only system. Of those polled, 70% favored these services both during incarceration and after release from prison.

Likely voters appear to recognize that our current correctional system does not help the problem of crime, the survey indicates. By strong majorities, Americans said they feel that a lack of life skills, the experience of being in prison, and the many obstacles faced upon reentry are major factors in the crimes that prisoners commit following their release."

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