California bans private prisons and immigration detention centers (2019)

Post by jobigoud » Fri, Jun 12, 2020, 5:17 PM UTC

notRobot wrote: post #40

jobigoud wrote: post #34

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I'm not sure but I think inmates can have special "conjugal visits" where sex with a visitor is allowed. I assume that when a female inmate has a baby, she keeps it with her until the child reaches a certain age like 3 years old or something, maybe with special accommodations. This is based on a video I saw about Mexican prisons but I assume it could be the same in the US.

> This is based on a documentary about Mexican prisons but I assume it could be the same in the US. Assuming stuff like this isn't a good idea. They're completely different countries.

Post by dahfizz » Fri, Jun 12, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

Gustomaximus wrote: post #46

ogre_codes wrote: post #32

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Private prisons have a financial incentive to detain inmates for as long as possible. The prison has some input into when a detainee is released (good behavior, etc) and private prisons have been observed abusing this power. Private prisons also have incentives to find ways to cut costs and often do so in ways which harm detainees. Private prisons also have incentive to lobby for longer mandatory prison terms regardl…

It doesnt have to be. Why don't they do something like pay private prisons the bare minimum per diem but then offer a trailing commission for every year an ex-con is out of jail past a certain date. Do the statistics for average time to return to prison, and pay them a bonus every year a prisoner is over that average date for 10 years type thing. So jails make little money for the incarceration but earn profits from…

Post by GoodJokes » Fri, Jun 12, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

flatline wrote: post #53

thebean11 wrote: post #20

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I disagree, private prisons are a moral hazard by nature. Pointing out a separate failure by state prisons is a straw man I think.

The operator of the first private prison in the US came to speak at a class of mine back in the 90s. They provided a minimum-security facility in an old hotel in Denver. The owner was very sincere, they honestly believed that they could provide a better experience for the prisoners, and they did. The focus was actually on rehabilitation, they were able to relax a lot of the rules for good prisoners that state and fed…

Post by catalogia » Fri, Jun 12, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

clairity wrote: post #44

Tomte wrote: post #17

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Isn't California southwest? I mean it borders on Mexico and the Pacific ocean. Or is "southwest" in American usage synonymous with Texas?

many of us consider southern califoria part of the southwest, but not so much the central and northern parts. similarly with texas, the southwestern parts, less so with the rest. that's because that's what borders mexico, and we have a politico-cultural fascination with that border in particular.

Post by drdeca » Fri, Jun 12, 2020, 5:19 PM UTC

newacct583 wrote: post #49

eagsalazar2 wrote: post #33

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It's not a straw man, it is fact. Parent post wasn't saying this was no big deal, just pointing out correctly that there are more fundamental issues in play - like qualified immunity and the cultural racist cancers we suffer from that demonize poor and brown people and fetishize the military and police. Private prisons are awful . Any sane ethical person must agree with that. But calling out that it isn't the root of…

A strawman argument can be true, but still be a strawman. The essential point is that it's a distraction. Saying "we have to fix state prisons too!" is not an argument against "private prisons are a moral hazard". We should do both!