Prisoners end up getting released and indebted, which is a terrible recipe for recidivism.
The cost of imprisonment is a public service to keep society safe and functioning. And it should be kept to a minimum, which means ensuring that inmates actually have a chance of leading a good life once released. They can’t do that if they are starting from scratch or debt.
I understand that prisons are part of the costs of government, but if you are wanting them to get paid fairly then I dont want people that have done bad to get free room and board.
“People who have done bad” is incredibly subjective.
And regardless of what you want, it is better for society that people have a good chance of starting a better life when they get out of prison. Not only is that cheaper in the long run, but it’s also a matter of safety. The cheapest and safest move is to release them debt free with their earnings from their work.
And it isn’t free room and board, it’s imprisonment.
By and large that is already how it works, and it is fundamentally broken:
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/paying-your-time-how-charging-inmates-fees-behind-bars-may-violate
Prisoners end up getting released and indebted, which is a terrible recipe for recidivism.
The cost of imprisonment is a public service to keep society safe and functioning. And it should be kept to a minimum, which means ensuring that inmates actually have a chance of leading a good life once released. They can’t do that if they are starting from scratch or debt.
I understand that prisons are part of the costs of government, but if you are wanting them to get paid fairly then I dont want people that have done bad to get free room and board.
“People who have done bad” is incredibly subjective.
And regardless of what you want, it is better for society that people have a good chance of starting a better life when they get out of prison. Not only is that cheaper in the long run, but it’s also a matter of safety. The cheapest and safest move is to release them debt free with their earnings from their work.
And it isn’t free room and board, it’s imprisonment.