This right here

[Dave's Not Here Man]

wset.com/news/local/inmates-parents-worry-about-conditions-inside-lynchburg-jail

is why things are the way they are. "Justice" for my baby he ain't do nothin.

[minx]

I'm not thinking that life in jail should be a picnic, but at the same time, I would expect some basics:

1) Inmates have access to clean bathrooms and showers
2) Inmates have adequate food (I'm thinking along the lines of a school lunch - a protein, vegetables and fruit with a drink)
3) Inmates have timely access to medical care, and receive any needed medications on time
4) Inmates with disabilities have needed accommodations
5) Inmates have access to educational or vocational opportunities along with counseling

So, you're behind bars, but still treated as a human being. Because a lot of those folks are going to be released at some point, and being realistic, some of them are also sitting there for crimes they didn't commit because they didn't have enough money for a decent lawyer.


The conditions at the RRJ were supposedly on par with Lynchburg. I think one mom put it best - "My son is 100% guilty of the crime he's behind bars for. But that doesn't mean he deserves to die from COVID, or that he should be denied medical care - we're just asking for basic human decency."

But if we do allow basic human decency, then many of the for-profit prisons may lose repeat visitors, and we can't have that!

All joking aside, the first place I would start is with correctional workers - give them a shit ton more in pay and benefits, and a LOT more training. Make the job something a person might actually want to do, so you get a better pool of applicants. Then staff the prison properly so the guards aren't living in terror of uprisings.


Join me in Utopia Unlimited for more world-saving tips

[Dave's Not Here Man]

My point: Mommies and daddies, or biologic birthing parties if that is more current, need to be "concerned" about the conditions and environments they raise their children in so that they don't have to be "concerned" about the conditions at the jail. THAT STARTS IN THE HOME! No, it's not a nice place and it shouldn't be. Are the conditions in these places of incarceration better or worse than the conditions the incarcerated come from? Should they be? We'll leave that to the conscience.

I actually agree with you on your points. Well, for the most part anyway just probably not as generous with the giving out of everything everyone needs and sadly those that don't crime go without on a daily basis (adequate food, medicine, etc). But for the sake of being a somewhat decent human being, I would not be opposed to these facilities being operated in a highly professional manner and staffed by highly competent professionals rather than the many who are themselves walking a fine line between the sides of the doors that lock from the outside.

[minx]

I agree with you on things starting in the home believe it or not.

Problem is what do you do when you can't provide that stability? Too many people working multiple jobs to make ends meet, leaving too many kids unsupervised.
And we won't even touch the amount of kids being raised by grandparents because mommy and daddy are too fucked up to do their job.

Friend is in that position.
Kid got pregnant at 17, and wanted to keep the baby because she was pro-life. First she was going to give the baby up for adoption, then changed her mind, cause baby daddy refused to sign the paperwork.
So she was living at home with mom (her dad deserted the family the year before for another woman).
Met a new guy (baby daddy was out of the picture by then - walked out as soon as he made sure she wasn't giving the baby up for adoption).
New guy was great, and treated the baby like it was his own (yay!).
Then she decided it was a good idea to have another kid - everyone told her no, but boyfriend was on-board 100%
Baby #2 is beautiful, but momma realized that two babies are a lot of work (who knew?)
Mom and dad started fighting, and broke up
Now she's with guy #3 (and yes, got pregnant by him, but finally had an abortion, because friend told her she couldn't handle 3 kids)

All of them are back living with my friend. Momma is supposed to be taking care of the kids, but spends most of her time getting high.

Friend is doing her best (and was a very good mom - other kids are doing great), but those kids are screwed IMO.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Obviously there are going to be vast numbers of variables, exceptions, aberrations, etc to the standards. I would never dispute that. But I firmly believe that when a child is brought up in a stable family environment that values their children's total upbringing and everything that comes along with it, stands a far greater chance of avoiding the pitfalls of risky behaviors and falling into patterns of trouble. And if/when those kids do, most of them will still grow out of it as they mature.

[bobathon]

Stable family environment is a myth.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

I say it's not and I'd almost be willing to betya that the data solidly supports me. But I'm willing to read anything you have that proves the contrary.

[minx]

I think that the stable family picture of a nuclear family is fading out, but a stable family is still essential to raising a child I believe. Here is what I define as 'stable'

Adults who are actively involved in the child's life, and who will stay actively involved. Multiple studies have shown that withdrawing adults who have been stable presences has a negative (and sometimes traumatic) effect on a child.
Adequate and safe housing. Constant moves undermine a child's sense of stability. One of the reasons why the military gives assistance to families who are transferring duty stations BTW.
Plentiful food, personal care items and clothing. Doesn't have to be fancy or name-brand, but kids need the reassurance that they'll be able to eat, they will be able to clean themselves, and wear clean clothes to school
Finally, access to safe activities. Hard to grow developmentally when you have to worry about playing outside, or walking to a friend's house.

My second cousin works with children who are entering the foster care system. Her job is to work with foster families to help these children start recovering from that trauma - none of them have known a stable home, and some of their behaviors are simply horrifying because they don't know any better, or are terrified. And many of them are not coming from situations where they've been beaten - just ones of total neglect. Parents who are addicts, parents who simply don't want to care for them, or parents who have died and no one else wants the kids. The kids have to re-learn how to relax and be kids again, and it's not an easy process. Couple that with the lack of adults available for fostering, and it's a true catastrophe.