When I Come To Power, Part 1.
I’m sure this is something that many people have thought about at some time. Exactly what laws would you abolish, create or change if you had the power to do so?
Well, over a few posts, I’ll be describing some of the very specific changes I’d make. Let’s do this is categories. First, Prison.
I’m a firm believer of two things when it comes to inprisonment of criminals.
1. They are in prison to be punished.
2. By breaking the laws that are in place to protect society, they forego their right to almost all human rights.
So, first and foremost, prison should be the most terrible, depressing place anyone could possibly imagine. You talk about deterrants? Stopping people re-offending? Well, here’s a wacky notion: How about you make prison incredibly unpleasant? When criminals re-enter society after serving their time, they should feel the need to do everything in their power to never get sent down again! Not simply get reacquainted with their law-breaking ways and use their time inside as a kind of war wound with which they gain respect from their criminal friends!
Now, I’m not going to argue that anyone enjoys being in prison. And I’m not suggesting that being removed from society and deprived of spending time with your family and friends isn’t a punishment. But what I AM saying is that we should not be limiting the punishment to those two things!
For a start, there was nothing wrong with the old “Bread & Water” concept when it comes to feeding prisoners. Never mind special diets for the religious, the vegetarians or whever else they might claim. Try living on nothing but bread for a few years! See how you enjoy that.
Second, why do we feel it necessary to entertain our prisoners? They don’t need televisions, games consoles, movies, music … What they need is mind-numbing boredom the likes of which they would do anything to avoid enduring again! This idea of keeping criminals happy while they serve their time makes me want to retch!
OK, MAYBE people locked up for non-violent crime don’t deserve quite the same level of hell as the murderers and rapists, but surely ALL of them deserve punishment!?
While we’re on the subject, isn’t it completely obvious that there is a sure-fire way of stopping rapists re-offending? One simple castration later, they’ll be as timid as a kitten!
And murderers, well … that’s a whole other concept! Why do we cling to this ludicrous notion that all lives are of equal merit? OK, a guy kills an innocent man, he should be locked up until he dies. But I think that the reasons for murder should always be considered when doling out the punishment.
You killed a guy just because you don’t like him? Or because the voices in your head told you to?
OK, you’re clearly crazy. Life inprisonment.
But a guy kills a man that has broken into his home and is actually in the act of stealing his posessions?
Yeah, he committed murder, but he only killed some chavvy little cunt that thought the law was only there to be broken. 5 years at the most!
But I digress …
Whilst imprisoned, there should be no “time off for good behaviour”. Good behaviour is the MINIMUM to be assumed from prisoners. If they are “good” whilst inside, then they only serve the time they were given when sentenced. Prisoners failing to be “good” should have time ADDED to their existing sentence and MAYBE if they then calm down and act like humans once again, that added time can be taken back off. But people serving less than the sentences they were allocated during their trial makes a mockery of the whole legal system.
People say the law is an ass? No. The law is a spineless pussy that’s terrified of anyone getting upset or offended by it’s actions. If they really want to sort out the criminal elements of society, they need to grow some balls and start making criminal life a living hell.
MisterShouty 