Norwegien Prison system: Could it work in USA?

[The Mastiff]

I have to agree with JAfromMN about the private prisons. I have yet to see one that didn't seem corrupt and and came any where near where they should be. They are dependant on the State system using them selecting only the easiest type of prisoners who essentially watch themselves and stay out of trouble. Ones who don't need medical or mental care, education or any of the other services normally run. They rent bed space to states like mine was that had court ordered caps and no whereto put people.

Too often the wrong type inmates were sent out and those units are just not set up for them. We also foe a time sent inmates to other states when they had extra beds and wanted to fill them for cash. Those states would quickly send back trouble prone inmates. Not so much with private companies. They needed max occupancy and so real life stepped in and they glossed over incidents to make things work. At times those units were **** for the inmates. The ones who really are trying to do their time and get back to their lives and familys. Our country often has people joking about "prison sex", and dropping soap. The reality is not funny at all. Not even a little.

Breivik is basically taking the mickey out of the Norwegian system, he walks around in his own clothes, does a university course, goes to the gym etc etc and he's able to keep espousing his evil right wing views.

I don't think it's his views that are a problem. It's the actions that go along with it. I feel just as strongly about the views of the leftists as you apparently do about the right. The young socialists he murdered were children yet to many of us their views are as bad as his .Socialist version of "Hitler youth"in a way. Both sides are completely obscene in my eyes yet they should be allowed to have whatever disgusting, repugnant thought process they want. One can't enforce opinions. Socialist or national socialist. All the same menace to the world IMO.

[TomAiello]

I just find not breaking the law really easy to comply with.

What's actually easy is getting away with it.

There are so many laws in the USA today, that the average US citizen breaks at least one law _every day_.

We are a nation composed entirely of criminals. It's just up to the (corruptible) "discretion" of law enforcement to decide who to arrest on any particular day.

When was the last time you drove over the speed limit? Walked across a street not in a cross walk? Checked a text while driving?

We are _all_ already criminals. I know I am. The thing that keeps me from being arrested is the questionable "goodwill" of whatever random law enforcement officer I'm near at any given moment. That and my "upper middle class white guy with a short haircut and children" appearance. In a society ostensibly based on the rule of law, shouldn't we be able to rely on more than that?

[Blerv]

It's a lame answer but I tend to think a people should approach their problem uniquely. Context, history of attempts, etc. Adapting a system directly often misses but being inspired is another matter.

The USA doesn't really have a good grip on prison systems by and large. Whether the system is to blame or the people who use it, the number of incarcerated and racial representation per volume is off compared to the rest of the world.

Basically anything can be better, few things are the best, and all people have to experiment and re-test frequently. :o

[twinboysdad]

I just find not breaking the law really easy to comply with.

What's actually easy is getting away with it.

There are so many laws in the USA today, that the average US citizen breaks at least one law _every day_.

We are a nation composed entirely of criminals. It's just up to the (corruptible) "discretion" of law enforcement to decide who to arrest on any particular day.

When was the last time you drove over the speed limit? Walked across a street not in a cross walk? Checked a text while driving?

We are _all_ already criminals. I know I am. The thing that keeps me from being arrested is the questionable "goodwill" of whatever random law enforcement officer I'm near at any given moment. That and my "upper middle class white guy with a short haircut and children" appearance. In a society ostensibly based on the rule of law, shouldn't we be able to rely on more than that?[/

I don't suffer from white privledge or guilt. My dad busted his *** coming from two mill worker parents to build his business. Every privledge I enjoyed growing up, and they were many, were because my father worked like crazy for his family. Same opportunities are available to everyone. Just like chosing not to kill people, play the knock out game, or sell drugs is a choice.

[TomAiello]

Just like chosing not to kill people, play the knock out game, or sell drugs is a choice.

Honest question (and you don't need to answer here): When was the last time your broke a law? Any law?

Maybe you never speed, but that puts you in a very tiny minority of American citizens.


And I seriously did laugh out loud at the white guilt thing. I think you're totally misreading me here. Most of my friends have labelled me as "ultra far right" for my (admittedly pretty fringe) libertarian views. I'm a huge believer in personal responsibility and I don't believe in any kind of group culpability. I've built a business that is unique in the history of the world and very successful, and no one else did it for me--least of all some politician who thinks I didn't do that. My belief in personal responsibility comes with an equally strong commitment to fairness, and the idea that two people can do exactly the same thing, and one of them will be arrested and incarcerated while the other will suffer no consequences, strikes squarely at my sense of fairness. In a more philosophical sense, it strikes squarely at the Rule of Law, upon which our nation is ostensibly based. I'm in favor of rule of law rather than rule of men, and it matters not to me if the "men" in question are walking a local beat or sitting in the oval office.

[twinboysdad]

^^all good Tom

[Camburt]

I don't think so it work in US prisons.

[Doc Dan]

Caning. That is a solution to overcrowding and repeat offenders.

Seriously, though, there is no cure for true socio/psychopathy. No amount of education or therapy will do it.