I have come to the conclusion that incarceration and even the death penalty are not deterrents to minor infractions of the laws up to murder in the first degree. It seems that release to a responsible person, release under parole, release for therapy, plea bargaining, lawyer delays, court delays and, sometimes, even witnesses, do not show up, and legitimate cases disappear.
Once incarcerated, the prisoners are cared for like guests, including meals, medical and psychological treatment, exercise equipment, entertainment and other perks. You might say it’s assisted living or nursing-home care for free, without significant sacrifices. The only downers are some isolation, and the attendants may be crabby and armed. The clincher of my criticism is the allowance of conjugal visits.
Come on, prison is supposed to be an environment that one avoids because of at least some discomfort. Not chain gangs, but at least some punishment that discourages the return to prison because it is an atmosphere that one wants to avoid.
It’s no surprise that concealed carry and other protections are becoming popular. People are losing confidence in the penalties associated with the laws. This is not a criticism of law enforcement officers but of what happens after arrests.
Robert Wilde
Durango
