04-15-2006, 05:14 PM
Occhidiangela,Apr 15 2006, 06:37 AM Wrote:Who isn't? ;) Trouble is, we are back to very subjective criterion in bounding "needless" and "suffering."
Punishment by itself is a limited form of vengeance. The issue of personal reform, or re education, or transformation in prison, is at best a work in progress, and at worst a complete failure.
Let's look at one of the more insidious hazards of incarceration: Being gang raped by other men in prison. You don't have to be very liberal to call that needless suffering, vigilante activity, or simply assault.
Why is that put up with? It wasn't part of the sentence. An assault like that outside the wire is handled with some severity, sexual assault and rape.
How is felonious sexual assault, a sentence not handed down by a jury or a judge, an accepted "bonus" punishment. Hell, let's just flog them, formally, and take control of the process! (Sarcasm intended)
I don't have the answer for untying that Gordian Knot, but I'll ask you how that fits into your context of "needless suffering."
Occhi
Exactly how you would think: it's needless suffering. I don't approve of such behavior. I don't think it should be allowed. And it saddens me that such things are actually almost encouraged in prison. A prison sentence in itself should be enough, especially if it includes the death penalty. Personally, I think criminals get out of jail too easily. 20 years for murder? Sorry, but that should be life, as in "life without parole". There should be no chance to come back. Of course, I'm referring to 2nd and 1st degree. Manslaughter always stuck me as more of an accidental type of thing, and I don't think someone should be put to death simply for that. 20 years for manslaughter doesn't strike me as very unfair.
I'm not going to touch your comments on reform. That's a tangled knot that I want no part of, at least right now. Somehow, I don't think much of any of us have enough answers to figure that one out.
Roland *The Gunslinger*