Comments on: Jails for Jesus?

By: TXatheist

TXatheist — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:31:05 +0000

J B, I agree but a trait or skill and lack of substance addiction are really good for keeping them free. In my talks with the homeless and giving them toiletries I haven’t met an “atheist” but I’ve met some spiritual people. We routinely are told “god bless you” even with the atheist shirt on. I personally think that when they get that low in their life many turn to religion cause they have nothing else to trust/rely on.

By: J B Tait

J B Tait — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:31:52 +0000

I am curious about the low relative proportion of atheists incarcerated. Being locked up has racial inequalities, but they could be accounted for by looking at poverty in the communities of origin.

Has anyone found statistics of how atheism correlates with poverty?

If there isn’t an external factor, then wouldn’t it make more sense to try to reduce the recidivism rate by converting the convicts OUT of religion?

By: TXatheist

TXatheist — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:26:26 +0000

Miko, I”m not sure I see your point. When a group of guys are paid by the prisoner what possible incentive are you giving them to reduce the number of prisoners? If it’s gov’t run I’m not as troubled with providing jobs for guards as I am for giving money to some xians to disperse as they see fit. Goodwill? Yeah, like most texans good will means bread and water, no tv, no rehabilitation costs and death penalty on demand so I’m not following how a private prison has good will. I’m not disagreeing gov’t can do everything great but my view is libertarianism thinks if it makes money then it’s ok and to me that’s not a good mindset.

By: muggle

muggle — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:47:13 +0000

Sigh. Will I ever see a time I’m not forced through my taxes to support other people’s organized religion? Sadly, I don’t expect to see it in my lifetime. I have a dim (very dim) hope that my grandson may in his.

I hope this gets nipped in the bud because I don’t give a flying fig if it is privately run. It violates rights all around of both the citizenry at large and the prisioners. Failing that, let the lawsuits begin.

Oh, go to motherjones.com and check out their stories on the prision system if you want a chill up your spine.

I hate all this privatization. Government should be government, not run by private interests. We are too ruled by corporate interests even when the daily workings of government doesn’t turn the reins over to them.

Anybody watch the series “Max Headroom” in the ’80′s? Basically, a dystopia where there were only the very poor (living on the streets with TV’s everywhere constantly mandating, brainwashing) and the very rich and the corporations were the government. I loved that show and even then thought I could see that scenario (unfortunately minus Max). Now adays, it seems to be creeping ever closer and closer to reality.

By: hoverFrog

hoverFrog — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:15:03 +0000

What a brilliant idea. Now we’ll be able to compare recidivism rates for religiously reformed prisoners compared to state reformed prisoners.

By: Edmond

Edmond — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:16:38 +0000

OH let them do it, letthemletthemLETTHEM! This is RIFE with problems waiting to emerge! This is EXACTLY the kind of rope they should be given plenty of. Just waiting for the discrimination lawsuits and abuse allegations is making foam at the mouth!

By: mkb

mkb — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:35 +0000

Maybe Americans United will take this on. They won a case in the Eighth Circuit against a Christian prison program at an Iowa prison. Many of the same arguments would apply to a private prison.

By: Autumnal Harvest

Autumnal Harvest — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:37:34 +0000

Miko, your claims (A-C) may mesh well with your libertarian philosophy, but they are all incorrect as claims about actual American law. (A) The freedom of association does not include the right to discriminate on whatever grounds you wish (although organizations can discriminate on the basis of religion for jobs for which religious beliefs are a relevant job requirement, such as priests). (B) States cannot enter into whatever contracts with religious organizations they wish; there are many cases (primarily involving schools) where courts have held that such contracts cause excessive entanglements between the government and the church. (C) Offering people extra choices can indeed violate their rights, both because offering people choices can be coupled with other incentives that make that choice hard for them to reject, and because the way in which those choices are offered may be discriminatory. Perhaps you meant to say that you have to problem with these private prisons, because they mesh well with your libertarian beliefs. However, actual American law is entirely different than what you have claimed.

By: Revyloution

Revyloution — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:22:36 +0000

We make up only a tiny fraction (less than 1%) of the prison population to begin with,

I doubt that we commit less crimes. I think were just too smart to get caught

By: ckitching

ckitching — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:14:07 +0000

The entire idea of privately operated prisons is a little scary to me. It seems to me a little too much like indentured servitude or legalized slavery. I used to wonder why the US imprisoned so many people, but I guess it’s a little more obvious now.