The 'pay-to-stay' prison system in California

[Earth_First]

99%ers need not apply...

There are two criminal justice systems in the United States. One is for people with wealth, fame or influence who can afford to hire top-notch attorneys and public relations firms, who make campaign contributions to sheriffs, legislators and other elected officials, and who enjoy certain privileges due to their celebrity status or the size of their bank accounts. The other justice system is for everybody else.

As one example of this dichotomy, for over a decade suburban jails in Southern California have been renting upscale cells to affluent people convicted of crimes in Los Angeles County. These pay-to-stay programs, also called self-pay jails, cost wealthy prisoners between $45 and $175 a day and include such amenities as iPods, cell phones, computers, private cells and work release programs. Some even let prisoners (who are referred to as “clients”) bring in their own food.

This nicer-jail-stay-for-pay scheme not only allows the rich and famous – as well as the more modestly affluent – to avoid the brutality, squalor, abysmal medical care and other unpleasant conditions typical in public jail systems. It also highlights the inequities of a two-track system of justice in the United States in which the wealthy enjoy privileges and perks behind bars while the poor are resigned to less comfortable and more dangerous conditions of confinement.

The jail has advertised its program with a pamphlet that echoes holiday resort language. “Serve your time in our clean, safe secure facility! ... We are the finest jail in Southern California,” the brochure proclaims.

https://www.prisonlegalnews.org

I'm not even sure what to say about this one...

[FarCenter]

1. What is the purpose of putting people in jail anyway?

It is pretty clear that the original idea that locking a man in a cell with a Bible would correct his behavior is wrong.

Most should be publically flogged and released.

[Tsiyu]

2. A little thing called profit

You make money off each person incarcerated; then you and the corporations make even more when they exploit your labor by paying you a bit for each worker and you pay each inmate only $0.22/hour.

It's a growth industry, but only if we keep making up reasons to jail a large percentage of our population.

California, like mosts states, spends more on incarceration than on education, with a large portion of those in detention incarcerated for non-violent, vitimless crime.

It's a fun world. If you own the prisons.

[FarCenter]

3. True, we have to keep the Prison Industrial Complex in business

Punishment plus probation wouldn't make them as much money.

[Tsiyu]

6. Nope. It's like stealing candy from a baby

Pass a whole bunch of laws making virtually everything the little guy does a "felony."

Arrest a bunch of little guys.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Who cares if you're destroying lives and society and tearing fathers and mothers away from their children and jobs and communities?
There's a dollar to be made, so don't feel the least bit guilty.


Like I said. Life is fun. If you own the prisons.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Wow and I should be shocked how?

This is common in third world countries. And these amenities are nothing by the way.

[shanti]

5. this is sick....

:(