Val
Ok. so we are agreed that letting crimnals pump iron is not in societies best interests.....so its really just a question of methodology now not goals.
Also kinda depends on exactly what kind of criminals were talking about as well......to me a non-violent criminal might be little different than a violentone and might call for different handleing.
How many calories are needed for vigourious activity such as pumping iron compard to simply studing for a possible trade when one gets out?
I would guess that is where one might start.
As a general statement people in the usa eat to much anyway...better diet and less calories might improve peoples health all the way around...thus leading to less cost by prevention.
In the "caftiteria" example---everyone just gets less--AGAIN, violent criminals are in a different catagory and presumably could be handled differently.
Like I said, hadn't really given it much thought....maybe further reaseach would enable us to do so in a safer manner.
They get an hour a day to run around alone on a track---people need some exercise.
If I was in a prison for a bascially non-violent crime--surrounded by such violent people that might abuse me---I think I'd really like being in "solitary lockdown."
Think about from the INMATES POV for a second----we don't sentence non-violent ebezzalers to a punishement of rape or beatings for their crimes--doing so would be considard henious and brutal and unsual----yet we lock them in places where we KNOW that such happens.
Don't we own THEM some kind of duty to protect them from being assaulted and raped even killed?
If I was serious about getting my life back on track the more distince I could out between me and the gangs and what have you the better off I am going to be.
"basic amenites"
So weight rooms and DVD's are "basic amenities" now???
Like AC and heat and running water???
Damn, I better call my landlord and demand a refund----such "basic amenites" are not be provided to ME.
A-You also ducked the question---why should a seriel rapist be give such "basic amenites" when there are law abiding, tax paying citzens that can't afford them????
B-Prison is, in part, PUNISHMENT, they can always be shut up in soliatary if they refeuse to be civil and quiet.....their choice.
I think, were one not OCD'ing over making sure that that brutal and savage predators are provided every possible luxuary---essentially paid for by their vicems BTW--that one could save a considerable amount of money.
Besides, like I was trying to tell IJ---you guys are the LAST people that should be bringing up fiscial arguements in a discusiion that ALSO invloves principles.......I can assure you that if one were to apply such a "cost" ONLY approach you would NOT like were it goes.