I'm sitting in a classroom in Detroit, Michigan, at a conference of people talking about media and how we can use it to make the world a better place. The people from Between the Bars are here talking to us about the site and the bloggers who use it, and they gave us some time to sit and read people's posts. I found your posts and thought I would say hello.
I was struck that you mentioned feeding the birds, just after a post in which you mention how hungry you yourself are. I have been thinking that I should get a birdfeeder to stick on my window at my apartment, and I think you have inspired me to finally do that. If you can use your scarce resources to feed the birds, I probably should too.
I also worry a lot about the changes in our climate, the melting ice caps and the implications for future generations. I heard on the radio today that there are big rainstorms in India right now, with floods that are destroying rural communities, and the rains are unseasonably heavy. I think that's probably the new normal. I wonder if you get to go outside in the rain ever, in prison. Or are you mostly stuck inside if the weather is bad? I know I'm often annoyed when I get caught in a rainstorm, but if I could never feel the rain again I know I'd miss it.
It's strange writing to someone I don't know, but I hope this letter finds you well. It's really interesting to see this tiny window into the life of someone incarcerated.
This comment is in response to a July 18th post by Paul.
Paul,
You are grossly oversimplifying crime and punishment (and human nature period).
Ideally, a prison system should not only impose punishment on offenders, but seek to rehabilitate them, as well. As Daniel pointed out, "the only true justice is a truly rehabilitated offender."
Retributive justice aside, you are aware that these imprisoned "criminals" have release dates, yes? Would you prefer to have an "educated" ex-con as your next door neighbor (one who attended vocational classes and has job skills, one who received decent mental health care or addiction counseling if necessary), or would you prefer a ticking time bomb (someone who, just days before their release and reentry into society, has been subjected to excessively punitive measures for months, years, even decades)?
On this topic, the American Psychological Association quotes criminal justice expert Joel Dvoskin, PhD, of the University of Arizona, in a press release (see http://bit.ly/11ujVch):
"The current design of prison systems don't work. Overly punitive approaches used on violent, angry criminals only provide a breeding ground for more anger and more violence."
That said, we have to set aside any perverse pleasure derived from retributive justice and think beyond the "good old 'I don't want to come back here so I won't engage in the activity that sent me here in the first place.'"
Aggression BREEDS aggression. It EXACERBATES the problem.
Daniel's ideas are on the money.
Lisa
“Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons.” -Richard Wright
Tracy, I have now read some of your other posts, and I see that you are a very thoughtful, intelligent person. Perhaps you have already done some psychological reading on preventing a recurrence of your crime. Again, I wish you well.
Thank you for writing. Perhaps you can supplement the sex offender programming that you have received with books that are aimed at changing thought, or by attending sessions with a sex therapist after you get out. When you get out, I wish you self-control, empathy, and good friends.
Hi daddy ur gona hav a lot of thes from me. It so easy 2 write u lik this. So guess wht. We r goin 2 st.Louis Saturday at 2 or 3 n the mornin. I'm so excited. I get 2 c Braden and everybody. We r bringin malorie, samuel, siara, Papi,and hopefully Braden will b able 2 com if his stupid dad will let him com. If he don't it goin break my heart. I want a nickname like u gav Lauren but not the same 1 :) I LOV u vry much. I will write u mor n a little bit. daughter and friend always and 4evr
RSS
I'm sitting in a classroom in Detroit, Michigan, at a conference of people talking about media and how we can use it to make the world a better place. The people from Between the Bars are here talking to us about the site and the bloggers who use it, and they gave us some time to sit and read people's posts. I found your posts and thought I would say hello.
I was struck that you mentioned feeding the birds, just after a post in which you mention how hungry you yourself are. I have been thinking that I should get a birdfeeder to stick on my window at my apartment, and I think you have inspired me to finally do that. If you can use your scarce resources to feed the birds, I probably should too.
I also worry a lot about the changes in our climate, the melting ice caps and the implications for future generations. I heard on the radio today that there are big rainstorms in India right now, with floods that are destroying rural communities, and the rains are unseasonably heavy. I think that's probably the new normal. I wonder if you get to go outside in the rain ever, in prison. Or are you mostly stuck inside if the weather is bad? I know I'm often annoyed when I get caught in a rainstorm, but if I could never feel the rain again I know I'd miss it.
It's strange writing to someone I don't know, but I hope this letter finds you well. It's really interesting to see this tiny window into the life of someone incarcerated.
Best,
Kat
love ya!
C
This comment is in response to a July 18th post by Paul.
Paul,
You are grossly oversimplifying crime and punishment (and human nature period).
Ideally, a prison system should not only impose punishment on offenders, but seek to rehabilitate them, as well. As Daniel pointed out, "the only true justice is a truly rehabilitated offender."
Retributive justice aside, you are aware that these imprisoned "criminals" have release dates, yes? Would you prefer to have an "educated" ex-con as your next door neighbor (one who attended vocational classes and has job skills, one who received decent mental health care or addiction counseling if necessary), or would you prefer a ticking time bomb (someone who, just days before their release and reentry into society, has been subjected to excessively punitive measures for months, years, even decades)?
On this topic, the American Psychological Association quotes criminal justice expert Joel Dvoskin, PhD, of the University of Arizona, in a press release (see http://bit.ly/11ujVch):
"The current design of prison systems don't work. Overly punitive approaches used on violent, angry criminals only provide a breeding ground for more anger and more violence."
That said, we have to set aside any perverse pleasure derived from retributive justice and think beyond the "good old 'I don't want to come back here so I won't engage in the activity that sent me here in the first place.'"
Aggression BREEDS aggression. It EXACERBATES the problem.
Daniel's ideas are on the money.
Lisa
“Men simply copied the realities of their hearts when they built prisons.” -Richard Wright
I think your goals are really admirable and I wish you all the best for your parole.
Elizabeth-Anne