The Criminal Mind

[gagged_Louise]

Really intriguing discussion and I know I'll be returning to this thread, both for you guys' points of view and for the glimpses of your past and formative experiences. I do agree prisons don't really make people better and that it's a great failure of modern society that it's so hard for most people exiting a long jail term (or a long time of going without work) to be allowed in again, to launch a new life or return to the ordered life they once had.

I think there are a lot of people who ride the fine edge of law abiding because they don't want to do the time.

PS. I think being a criminal is harder work than being "gainfully" employed. I therefore think a lot of people who commit crimes feel they are forced to do so because they can't get gainful employment. (So I guess I addressed more than one concept.)

I agree, moving within crime is anything but a "safe" dayjob and it strikes me as utterly stupid when people compare life in prison to ordinary city life and say "hey look, these guys get their food and lodging and everything for free" Jail isn't a place where you can walk around and trust other people by default or believe it's a safe life; plus it's also often a place with no privacy.

[TomOfSweden]

I agree, moving within crime is anything but a "safe" dayjob and it strikes me as utterly stupid when people compare life in prison to ordinary city life and say "hey look, these guys get their food and lodging and everything for free" Jail isn't a place where you can walk around and trust other people by default or believe it's a safe life; plus it's also often a place with no privacy.

I've spoken to a few close friends who've been in jail. It's all the same story. The fact that they can't leave is the major trauma. I don't think it really matters how badly they're treated inside the prison. None of it can compare with the un-freedom inmates feel of being locked up. That feeling that freedom ends at the green door. Which is the colour of the exit door in Swedish prisons. Anybody saying that we treat prisoners too good and that it's a resort lack serious empathy skills. I'm willing to bet that nobody thinks life inside jail is better than outside no matter of how comfortable it is. There's plenty of stories of inmates escaping just to have a few days extra freedom.

Even if they'd have jacuzzis' and free massages each evening, I still don't think anybody would think it's worth it.

I do agree prisons don't really make people better and that it's a great failure of modern society that it's so hard for most people exiting a long jail term (or a long time of going without work) to be allowed in again, to launch a new life or return to the ordered life they once had.

...if they ever had it.