I've visited them many times... but I already told you that.  Why don't you explain to me what I don't understand?

PD, I have never been in prison, I have never even visited one.  However, there was a time in my life when I was homeless and very poor.  I was about 18 years old.  I sometimes wished I would get arrested for something so that I could have a decent meal, a safe place to sleep, watch some TV and have a cool breeze on my face, instead I went to a mission that had no A/C, a lack of food, Plus I had to sleep on the floor for several days until a pregnant woman moved out. (I'm not complaining)

Today I do quite well and would certainly not be comfortable in a prison, but I still don't have central A/C in my home. (grin)

Many people I have met from L.A. live in cockroach infested homes and  have a diet of rice and beans. They can't even live paycheck to paycheck.  Yes,  there are poor and homeless in America still today.   So, my question to you is why should criminals be treated better than the poor in America?

I wonder if  a larger percent of America's crime is done by the poor, anyone know?   Anyway, It doesn't seem like it would be much punishment at all to have A/C, heating, decent food and a safe place to sleep if you were a poor American.

I don't know much about his subject....  you tell me.. 

 I think we agree that disenfranchisement from the larger society results in criminal behavior.  Since we are a very materialistic society, poor people are almost automatically disenfranchised.  We don't seem to give a dam about it - I wouldn't be surprised if there is more vocational education available at CCI than at TUSD.  The attitude seems to be that we can import more mexicans or send more work to China forever.

As we out-source more and more tasks from this country, more and more lesser-skilled Americans (the same folks trying to live paycheck to paycheck on rice and beans, I'd guess) are forced onto welfare and stripped of the basic dignity and more importantly,  cultural engagement that comes from making your own way.  This is a cultural problem, not a prison construction or prison treatment problem.

I could go on, since culture covers everything - but  I'm sure you noticed my reference to "arbitrary court decisions".   Perhaps we agree that without cultural underpinnings that place value on something other than material success, we don't have a chance to outrun increases in criminal behavior.  

Effort has to be made on the "supply-side" of the equation, otherwise the cost of prisons, and their lack of success will lead people to join in calling for more and more brutal treatment and more and more incarcerations - which sounds like a very un-american way to go - as it will force everyone without the money to hire private guards and homes in gated communities to live in crappier and crappier conditions - and our prisons will have to be even worse?  Before long, our prisons turn into French labor camps, ala Papillion.

- ProgressoDasani, Bleeding Heart

 Sparks I think one reason that prisons have air conditioning is for the prison guards. They claim that there's a shortage of prison guards. Take the A/C away and there really will be. The Tent city in Arizona is a county jail not a state prison ....Big difference what they can get away with. Most people in county jail are doing less then one year so they will put up with no A/C in hopes of receiving good time and get out early. You take A/C away from state prisoners doing 10 -20 years or even life and those prisoners will act out often against guards. T.V's are also a tool to keep some inmates in line. I have to agree with PD that prison life is anything but comfortable. Living in constant fear doesn't sound very Serene to me. Have any of you ever watched the TV show locked up about life in prisons. The show takes cameras into prisons and reports what life is like inside the walls of prisons. I do agree that teaching education to the inmates is important. Most inmates do n't have a high school diploma and some studys shows that the inmate has a better chance of staying out of prison if he/she recieves their high school diploma.

Gube you are completely right on the TV issue.  It's odd, but you have give them privileges (things) in order to take them away as punishment.  If a lifer has nothing but walls to look and nothing to read or do,  then what keeps him/her from assaulting or killing guard.  They already are doing so who cares.  So yes, there has to be an incentive programs and tools work with.  My problem is that at some prisons it has become softer or easier, I'm not sure of the right word.  No, being locked up isn't a picnic, but the privileges should be just that.  You act right, you get things.  Not get things right off the bat.  Seeing what the other guys has in the next cell and wanting to same is a great incentive to act they way you need to to get for yourself.  Kind of like children.  Very big, and dangerous children, but children none the less.  I do however believe that all prisons at least within the same state should have the same rules and the same items allowed.  The expectation being of course clothing due to different climates.  Although I know how the systems works, I still believe that they shouldn't have individual TVs but maybe a one or two in the rec area or whatever it is called these days.  And if you are on a security level where there isn't an area where groups of inmates can gather, then that is there bad for being at that risk.  I know some levels and some prisons have this.  This is were I go back to all prisons should have the same rules....and trust me they don't.  I think that an inmate should be allowed to have a radio, reading material, writing material and "earned" food in their cells.  Not TVs.  Because now we get into cable because antennas are a security risk.  I know many hard working people who don't have cable.  That isn't a necessity in my opinion. 

Gube  OH, I see.  Well that certainly makes sense, I would hate to deny the guards a/c .   Colitas ..good point!  reading and writing material are great ideas.  

Individual TVs?   dang...SWEET!   

Nope...shouldn't happen for prisoners.