Are our prisons and jails failing? - Breaking News - BreakingNewsTeam's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Aug 31, 2008 at 02:08 PM : Prisoners are out of...

Prisoners are out of control and kill, because they know damn well that California hasn't the guts to push the death penalty and start the line a going.

As far as those that believe the death penalty is unfair, I'd rather be put to death, than to remain in prison for the rest of my life. Living in prison is just another form of a slow death.

Get those needles ready and form a single line.

Aug 31, 2008 at 02:08 PM : This whole...

This whole society's penal system is a failure. It has been every since they changed the criteria from rehabilitaion to just plain old punishment. Now you have created animals. The 3 strike law would be a good law if it was used properly, in other words, 25 years for stealing a pizza is just plain wrong. Another animal created.

I mean really folks, the justice system is dire need of changes, we have prosecutors that over charge people, they don't care about the truth, they just want a conviction. When I was going to College, I was taught the DA's office main and really own job was to get to the truth. We have DA's throughout the state, and especially in this county that will lie to get convictions.

Aug 31, 2008 at 03:08 PM : Our criminal justice...

Our criminal justice system manufacturers more criminals than rehabilitates them. About 65% of prison inmates return to prison for reoffending; compared to about 21% of criminals released from state hospitals. Clearly, the nut houses are doing something right. Prisons are also a billion dollar cottage industry. Special interests and lobbies will never let go of that kind of loot for changes that can better the public safety and salvage human lives.

You're right, culver: Once a defendant is charged, guilt or innocence is not a consideration. Getting a conviction is. Anyone who thinks a cop or DA would not stoop to lying or concealing the truth does not know the justice system.

Aug 31, 2008 at 03:08 PM : Our justice system is...

Our justice system is anything but just. I agree with culvermoon. It is anything but humane to have someone boxed up for the rest of their lives. This may sound sinister, but I think people should be put to death in the same manner that they took a life, if it was intentional. If we enforced the death penalty, swiftly, certainly the murder rate would go down. The overcrowding is horrendous. Most everyone on here has had at least one surgery where you were put to sleep. Lethal injection is not what the so called do-gooders would have us believe. If they would secure the dang borders like they should, we could deport the illegals, and not have to worry about them coming right back to re-offend. That would be a huge reduction in the number of inmates the taxpayers pay to feed, and house. IMHO the people they have jailed for pot smoking is ridiculous. Make real criminals do hard time, not let them sit on their butts all day playing cards, dominoes, watch tv, etc. Put them on chain gangs. Have them harvest our food. Do something productive while they are doing their time. If it were hard time, they wouldn't be so quick to re offend. If our Government was serious about this problem it could be handled. Seems we have a society of little thugs that for some strange reason look up to their criminal parents. Think it's cool to say, beat an old man to death!

Aug 31, 2008 at 04:08 PM : proam, you say people...

proam, you say people are jailed for smoking pot? Please tell me where that is a crime in California. Unless you are referring to possession of less than one oz. of marijuana, which only results in a fine, not jail time.

Aug 31, 2008 at 04:08 PM : OB; More than an oz?...

OB; More than an oz? Yes! So long as they are not selling, I don't think they should be criminalized for it.

Aug 31, 2008 at 05:08 PM : proam, you still...

proam, you still didn't explain why you said people are jailed for SMOKING marijuana. That is a false statement.

Aug 31, 2008 at 05:08 PM : I guess I didn't...

I guess I didn't make my self clear enough for you OB. I don't think marijuana should be criminalized, unless people are selling it..

Aug 31, 2008 at 07:08 PM : Proam, any amount of...

Proam, any amount of marijuana is a violation of federal law. Federal law does not recognize Prop. 215 or "medical marijuana", period. As you know, federal law trumps state law in cases such as these; it called Federalism.

Are our prisons and jails failing?

Haven't they always? "Corrections" is no more than a euphemism; most convicts don't want to be "corrected," since the whole thang be sumbody else fault, anyway...

Aug 31, 2008 at 08:08 PM : well maybe the...

well maybe the Californian ought to actually pay some attention to the Sheriff's effort to build a new jail ... the county's jails are old, filled to capacity, and used to only house primarily violent offenders .... most pretrial misdemeanants are released within a few hours of booking on a promise to appear and THOUSANDS of sentenced priosoners serve only a third of their sentences due to overcrowding. The county jail system is in big trouble ... the new jail is desparately needed and would be a big step towards improving security. The Sheriff recently did a jail needs assessment study that spelled out the problems and fixes ... might be fodder for a good story.

Aug 31, 2008 at 08:08 PM : proam, I understand...

proam, I understand that you don't think mj should be against the law unless people are selling it. But you said in your post that people are locked up for SMOKING mj. What law allows people to be locked up for SMOKING mj? You are avoiding the question.

And do you think it's okay for people to destroy parts of our National forests by having large mj gardens? They personally aren't selling it, they are growing it. So that's okay?

Aug 31, 2008 at 09:08 PM : Blue,...

Blue,

you're not aware that it is common for the Kern DA to over charge defendants in an effort to get a plea or otherwise conviction? It's a practice that is not secret and, in fact, has been reported as such in the local media.

Drug war politics or just plain 'ol hick-ville venality. Take your pick - it does not make much difference. The result is the same, and it may look something like this: A guy is profiled and is stopped. PD find a bag of weed and he is not charged with possession, he is charged with transporting, packaging and intent to sale. Don't tell me it does not happen.

So, when a guy talks about getting time for smoking weed - that's what he is talking about.

Law enforcement should not have the authority to intervene in marijuana and hemp related activities. In fact, as an individual in the local law enforcement community, give me a reason why marijuana should be scheduled and prohibited the way it has been the last seventy five years.

--virgil

Aug 31, 2008 at 09:08 PM : Blue, about growing...

Blue,

about growing marijuana in our national forest you're dead on. It should not happen and it's a travesty it does happen.

It just as disgusting, though, to see law enforcement agents dressed like G.I. Joe repelling from helicopters to cut marijuana plants down. You have to agree that sort of thing is absolutely inane.

--virigil

Aug 31, 2008 at 09:08 PM : It should instead be...

It should instead be grown in irrigated fields owned (or at least leased) by the growers.

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : That's an idea,...

That's an idea, Randomfactor.

I see it this way: Marijuana grows fast and in any hemisphere. Decriminalize the stuff and those who use will grow themselves or know someone who does.

--virgil

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : virgil; Thanks for...

virgil; Thanks for explaining to OB. I had other things to do after my last post, so therefore didn't answer him. I wasn't avoiding your question. Had i have been on here to read your last entry, my thought would have been, your smarter than that. You knew what I was talking about!

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : Proam ,...

Proam ,

someone(s) who has an issue with smoking, drinking or anything else it's not productive nor humane to criminalize them.

there are are other and better ways to deal with those issues. I get the feeling I'm preaching to choir when I say this, but the only thing we get from prohibition and Drug war is violence and a criminal justice system made weak of integrity.

...and guys like Blue

--virgil

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : proam, virgil did not...

proam, virgil did not answer the question I asked you. What law allows people to be locked up for SMOKING mj? So you didn't mean what you wrote? Do you expect us to read your mind?

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : Hey Blue,...

Hey Blue,

I did...It's in the last paragraph of the post (9:39).

--virgil

Aug 31, 2008 at 10:08 PM : virgil, are you...

virgil, are you proam's spokesperson? Let him/her answer the question themself.

Aug 31, 2008 at 11:08 PM : Alright, Blue....

Alright, Blue. Goodnite......

--virgil

Sep 1, 2008 at 12:09 AM : If cultivating,...

If cultivating, processing, and possessing pot for sale is a crime and a danger to the public safety, does it not follow that smoking it is complicity of the crime? You potheads are consistant. You don't change the subject or your mind. You keep parroting that pot should be legalized. That would make it a commercial product. Yet you don't mention who gets to profit off it. Who grows it? What age limits? How much consumption until one is under the influence? What are the liabilities of someone who is high and in public? Are there any safeguards or monitors?

As always, your argument of choice ignores the very real liklihood that the choice may not be an informed one or the one making the choice doesn't have a capacity to do so. All you do sing the virtues of being a pothead. That and getting indignant about going to jail "for just smoking marijuana."

Sep 1, 2008 at 05:09 AM : wow...a topic tailored...

wow...a topic tailored for me LOL

where do i start.......

PRISONERS RIGHTS has got to be the biggest example of an oxymoron that their is. Look at it this way. The people in jail broke a law, possibly multiple laws, to wind up where they are. Also chances are a victim was involved. What about the victims rights?

another point to ponder. A criminal commits a crime against an ordinary citizen. If the criminal gets caught, well the criminal will go to jail. in the sick and demented scheme of things..the VICTIM, through taxes, ends up paying fore the SUBSISTANCE of the criminal that committed a crime against that person. HOW WRONG IS THAT???

do any of you remember a couple years ago, where a prisoner sought out a sex change operation WHILE IN JAIL???? and who paid for it??? THE TAX PAYERS (you and me)

for the last 50+ years, we have seen the libs virtually destroy our prision system here in the US. Prison is actually a destination sought out by many criminals. in jail they offer:

three meals a day
air conditioned/heated living quarters
opportunities for showering
clean restrooms
free health care
free dental
recreation
visitation
telephone calls

how is all of that a punishment? it seems the taxpayers are being punished, imo.

you want the criminal element in our society to get the point that they need to straighten out? make jail an aweful place to go.

start with no restrooms....just a hole in the ground, out in plain sight of everybody
1 meal a day, of whatever the cheapest food there is.....just enough to sustain them with their eyes open throughout the day. this would also help cut down on riots and violence behind bars, as no one would have the energy to do it
no showers...let the stink
no air conditioning/heating... hey Airapio has a good idea...it needs to be implemented nationwide, imo
no visitation....the number one way drugs get into prisions happens on visitation day.
make the prisioners actually benefit society....i see graffitti everywhere in bakersfield, they can clean it up. some roadsides look really bad...make the prisoners clean it up...use them as a FREE labor force...fires...let them help fight them. any projects, like overpasses and road improvements that require manual labor..MAKE THE PRISONERS DO IT. hell, it even gives them experience, so they could possibly get a job when they get out
BEGIN APPLYING THE DEATH PENALTY IMMEDIATELY...why do we have prisoners on death row for over 20 years?? WHAT IS THAT>>> its not justice, thats for sure.......2 appeals, and bye bye

oh, one more thing...the number one reason that i can point to as to our prison system being broke......GANGS THRIVE IN PRISON.

Sep 1, 2008 at 08:09 AM : Just because...

Just because you're in jail does not mean that you have committed a crime (see Lerdo). Also, the rights of the victim have little, if anything, to do with the convicting, sentencing, and putting people behind bars.

Sep 1, 2008 at 09:09 AM : Catpaw,...

Catpaw,

Marijuana should not be legal. It should be decriminalized completely. That's it!

Give me a reason Marijuana is a public safety threat, presumptively the reason for its criminalization in the first place.

I have a few resources on this if you're e really that interested..."pothead", indeed.

--virgil

Sep 1, 2008 at 10:09 AM : Learnem,...

Learnem,

I just finished your post. I think you're a genius!

--virgil

Sep 1, 2008 at 10:09 AM : has the "War on...

has the "War on Drugs" been successful in curbing the demand for illegal drugs in this country? seems like the jails and prisons are full of drug offenders ... yet demand for drugs keeps on growing ... law enforcement has shown it can arrest tons of drug offenders ... but have their enforcement efforts turned the tide? not really .. maybe it is time to put more emphasis on prevention and treatment ... some wars just are not winnable .. time perhaps to come to grips with reality

Sep 1, 2008 at 11:09 AM : Yes! For...

Yes! For sure, Fred -

The reality is that my children do not use "drugs" not because they are inaccessible; and, no doubt, not because we have faith in good o'l sheriff youngblood (law enforcement community) to trust his word when he tells them, "DARE to say no...".

Law enforcement in B-town, with respect to illicit drug interdiction, has no integrity....

The reality is that my children do not chose that lifestyle. It gets in the way of the more important stuff, like learning to be an adult, responsible and honest, not because of law enforcement's efforts in the community.

--virgil

Sep 1, 2008 at 01:09 PM : Marijuana certainly...

Marijuana certainly should be legalized! I hate pot! I hate the smell of pot! I hate the taste of pot! I think people act dumb when they are on pot! I wouldnt buy pot or smoke it if it were legal.......BUT......I also hate alcohol. Alcohol on the otherhand is LEGAL and a FAR WORSE drug than marijuna could ever dream of being! I defy anyone to ask a cop when the last time they arrested someone for domestic violoence that was stoned!! What harm are they??? They sit around playing video games and eating pop tarts!! BIG DEAL!!