Hello Members, what are your views about the over-crowding issue facing management and governments.

Here is a fallout from this issue:

The governor of the female centre, Kathleen McMahon, has now resigned because of a lack of consultation and official preparation for what she sees as long-term overcrowding and a reduction in rehabilitation services.

Thank you

Adrian.

This is a subject that needs open and honest debate.

What do we want the justice and prison system to achieve. Incarceration or rehabilitaion.

It would take a strong leader to debate this fairly.

Is there anyone there capable of leading it presently?

Mike, you are spot on with your comment. I guess the politicans do not have the stomach to take this to the public as they are not ready to listen to these arguments.

There are always crimes that need jail and and a small number which have no hope of rehabilitation. I have been involved in taking Toastmasters to those in prison and found that it works in many ways. The problem was that the system did not want it as it did work and they could see that their jobs could be at risk if too many were rehabilitated and failed to return. Statisticts here in Australia are currently, 87% return within two years. the operation of the jail system is a big business and they do not like rehabilitation to rock the boat.

In order to avoid repeat offenders, some of the inmates could probably be rehabilitated. Here in Arizona, in order to avoid overcrowding, we have Tent City. Being in Tent city in the summertime is not very nice. Some of the people commit a crime once because of Tent city. I think only the habitual people should stay in jail. First time or even second time offenders should be rehabilited. There would be no loss of jobs due to some of the people working for the jail system could be taught how to rehabilitate inmates.

It seems even with this social issue, business is driving the direction our justice system is moving

The United States has officially given up rehabilitation as a goal of incarceration. Of course, it should come as no surprise that we lock up the greatest percentage of our population of any country in the world.

While I suppose the morality of it all is open to debate, the fact is, prisons are expensive.