"Too Many Laws, Too Many Prisoners"

by shenna | August 5, 2010 - 10:37am On Friday, I went to the Maine State Prison to meet with the prisoners who are members of the NAACP Prison Chapter. The NAACP Prison Chapter is a well-organized, well-run group with over fifty members who asked me thoughtful questions over an hour and a half of questioning about prisoners' rights, the law, and possibilities of reform. Prisoners spoke of being maced and then not given showers for days. They spoke of being prescribed medication by a prison doctor but then denied the medication. We also discussed the practice of solitary confinement, total isolation for up to 24-hours a day that some pyschologists term "torture." Too often, we demonize prisoners, but as this article in the Economist points out, those prisoners may be our friends or family members. More than one in every hundred adults is currently behind bars. More importantly, prison is not just for the worst of the worst anymore. Far too many people are spending years in jail for relatively minor crimes.

http://www.economist.com/node/16636027

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This blogger's thoughts on prison:
http://thegetjusticecoalition.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-is-prison-really-like.html

http://thesrv.blogspot.com/2010/08/arrested-for-using-face-to-beat-police.html

http://judicialmisconduct.blogspot.com/2010/08/cia-retaliation-against-maxine-waters.html

http://thegetjusticecoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/slabpod-housing-economic-stimulus.html

http://thegetjusticecoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/harming-children-prolonging-divorce-is.html

http://thesrv.blogspot.com/2010/08/innocently-contacting-elected-officials.html

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Web Exclusive: US convicts receive no slack

Text with video:

RTAmerica | August 09, 2010

As jails and prisons in America are filling up, the US might want to re-think their policy towards throwing people into prison. Harold Cook says it is ironic that he is speaking from Texas who has the worst record in keeping people behind bars in the US. In Europe authorities work to reeducate and reintegrate the prison populations. Cook adds that there is a fine line between seeking revenge and seeking justice.

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http://thegetjusticecoalition.blogspot.com/2010/07/anatomy-of-blacklisting-in-usa-and-uk.html