Just look at that picture on the signature page. This is one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. Putting human beings in such a crowded space.

Of course, it was that way when I was in prison also.

This is why I am a huge advocate for prison reform in this country.

No wonder many young men come out of prison angry and bitter and commit more crimes. If inmates are treated like animals and they know nobody cares about them, then why should they care about anyone? Not saying that is the right attitude, but it is understandable that that thinking is prevalent among inmates.

I signed the petition, but that picture really disturbed me, even though I saw that same thing in person many times.

rewdaizepam

Signed!

Yes, that is a very disturbing photograph. The more I learn about the system, the more I want to share with people who have either preconceived and totally misguided ideas about inmates, or no clue whatsoever. The fact that corporations are being built up around this makes me want to do whatever I can to educate people about what's really going on. The pictures are upsetting, but they are reality, and people need to know.

rew, I couldn't agree with you more are prisons are far to overcrowded.
Angela , Thank you for bringing this petition to our attention, I hope everyone signs.
Hugs,
Pat

When I first went to prison in 1992, I went to a medium. Medium security prison are almost always two man cells, since cells offer more security as far as the prison is concerned.

When I finally got shipped to lower security, a minimum, the prison was again a two man cell situation. The cells at the medium security prison were a little larger, as they had a sink and toilet and the minimum security prison did not. At the minimum, there was a central bathroom and shower for all the inmates to use.

At the minimum, the cells were arranged in a circle, with a very large day room in the middle. About 1997, they filled up the day room with bunks just like you see in that disgusting picture. When they filled up the day room, it just became a sea of humanity out there.

After they filled up all the day rooms and all the vacant closets with inmates, they ran out of space. At that point, they started using private prison space.
And we all know the story since.

This picture most likely came from a minimum security facility where most of the inmates are not inherently evil, but just petty thieves or young men caught doing drugs----not exactly the Jack The Ripper or the Ted Bundys of the world. Yet these conditions are deplorable and void of any human compassion.

I fully understand the need to punish the people who break the law and hurt other people, but I also understand that an arrangement like I see in that picture helps no one. Our country should be ashamed that we incarcerate people in such conditions.

Wouldn't this be a better world if we all learned how to treat our fellow human beings as real people and give them the respect and dignity that they deserve?

rewdiazepam

Signed!

signed

I've read about these, and my son was actually in a private prison for awhile in MN. He said it was the worst place he'd ever been in. Just terrible.

Yes I signed the peititon too. I hope it can make a difference, but truly I don't think our government cares about what we think, or what is right or wrong. Our state run prisons are businesses too. They improve the economies of the cities they are in by employing the staff for the prison in that area, the prison's also contribute to many other industries in the area for what they need. We as visitor spend money in those towns, we stay in hotels, buy gas and other things we need, so those state run prisons are very much a needed entity in those towns. And so it is just as beneficial to keep them filled at all times as it is to fill up the private ones. Don't be fooled by any politician that he is voting for changes in the prison system. They can't vote that way. It is not politically correct to show understanding and sympathy for the injustices to inmates.

The New York Civil Liberties Union recently abolished solitary for inmates with special needs and women. While it is true that change is both difficult and slow, it can happen.

I signed.