Okay, even though I'm away from the Volunteer State, I still get perturbed with some of the idiocy that periodically erupts there. Maybe it's clowns like Stacey Campfield, Joe Armstrong, and some of the other politicos do something utterly amazing.
But this one now comes from Anderson County, just northwest of Knoxville.
It seems that the county wants to charge prisoners in the county jail for personal items: toilet paper, razor blades, shaving cream, sanitary napkins, and even jailbird clothing.
Now I'm not one for coddling lawbreakers, but it seems to me that this is going too far! Consider that most prisoners are strapped for funds, anyway. Where's this toilet paper money going to come from?
Prisoners' families, that's who. And if a prisoner has no one, then he's literally s*** out of luck.
Jesus, how stupid can this get? Does this count as cruel and unusual punishment?
Where does the concept of being nice come in?
Damn, that's a foreign idea.
So what's going to happen when a guy gets the trots, or a woman has her monthlies? Will they charge for showers next?
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/aug/13/anderson-county-ponders-charging-inmates-for/
The best I can say is: don't screw up in Anderson County.
This is perhaps not as moronic as it sounds. In most prisons, the average inmate has a job for which he or she earns a small wage credit which can be exchanged at a prison commissary for things like cigarettes and toiletries. I don't see a problem with charging inmates for things as long as the charges are not exorbitant and they have a way to earn most of the funds.
ReplyDeleteIt would force them to choose between real necessities and cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to take control of someones life you need to provide certain basics.
ReplyDeleteBy requiring prisoners to come up with the cash for that stuff, they're going to get smellier and smellier.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, they get paid for working in prison. Why not make them pay? We had to buy our uniforms in the Navy. A new prisoner could get a $50 credit chit that he's have to repay. I think it's a good idea.
ReplyDelete