How many people die each year in jails and prisons? No one knows(latimes.com)
latimes.com
How many people die each year in jails and prisons? No one knows
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-02/death-in-custody-interview
10 comments
At the start of the article there is this statement:
"There were at least nine drug-related deaths"
I can't wrap my head around this, I know that smuggling drugs into jails is relatively common practice in the US but it seems like we have just normalised this when we shouldn't have. A jail is a facility that the government has complete control over and even more relaxed restrictions on what they can subject people to, so how does this happen? Aren't their CCTV cameras everywhere? Microphones? Surely these incidents should be so well tracked and then some sort plan formed to prevent this, or if the guards are corrupt and enabling this maximal punishment.
Don't even get me started on allowing prisoners to control the food supply of other prisoners... just seems like such an obviously bad idea.
"There were at least nine drug-related deaths"
I can't wrap my head around this, I know that smuggling drugs into jails is relatively common practice in the US but it seems like we have just normalised this when we shouldn't have. A jail is a facility that the government has complete control over and even more relaxed restrictions on what they can subject people to, so how does this happen? Aren't their CCTV cameras everywhere? Microphones? Surely these incidents should be so well tracked and then some sort plan formed to prevent this, or if the guards are corrupt and enabling this maximal punishment.
Don't even get me started on allowing prisoners to control the food supply of other prisoners... just seems like such an obviously bad idea.
Keep in mind that the correctional officers are often underpaid, overworked, and constantly traumatized. Some of the stories that they tell are enough to curdle your blood. It's not surprising that the less scrupulous ones are happy to make extra money importing illicit substances. There is also the fact that most of the prison is run by prisoners themselves. This provides tons of opportunity for bringing in contraband.
> we have just normalised this when we shouldn't have
Yes, also the fact that prison rape is just assumed to be a thing that happens, and people seem to be OK with it--see thousands of comments when anybody is sent to prison along the lines of, "have fun getting raped in prison!"
Yes, also the fact that prison rape is just assumed to be a thing that happens, and people seem to be OK with it--see thousands of comments when anybody is sent to prison along the lines of, "have fun getting raped in prison!"
This is inexcusable in a supposedly first-world country. It also puts the lie to statements like "racism is over." It isn't even attenuated in police and prison guard culture. It you want a fright, go look at cop forums, groups, channels, etc. online.
On top of all that, prison food, commissary, media, and phone calls are all farming prisoners and their families for money.
On top of all that, prison food, commissary, media, and phone calls are all farming prisoners and their families for money.
Counterpoint to consider.
According to the CDC the USA death rate is 1.04% - i.e. for every 100K people, 1043 will die in any given year.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm
The LA jails (referenced in this article) has most recently had a population of approx 15,000 'residents' at any givern time in the last few years.
So statistically, you are more likely (by many times) to die outside this prison, than inside it.
According to the CDC the USA death rate is 1.04% - i.e. for every 100K people, 1043 will die in any given year.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm
The LA jails (referenced in this article) has most recently had a population of approx 15,000 'residents' at any givern time in the last few years.
So statistically, you are more likely (by many times) to die outside this prison, than inside it.
Any government agency that does not answer every request for information is hopelessly corrupt and must be defunded.
In exactly the same way, no one knows how many Americans are killed by law enforcement officers, either.
A cynical person might believe that this was deliberate, and wonder why these various "corrections" and law organizations get to police themselves.
A cynical person might believe that this was deliberate, and wonder why these various "corrections" and law organizations get to police themselves.
Considering I participated in thread where there were many people who held the position ~”inmates get what they deserve” I think one issue is education and perception.
Also, you are absolutely correct, and when missing inmates show up in shallow graves with missing organs cynicism is wholly justified.
When has self policing led to anything but corruption?
https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/01/15/alabama-inmates-bodi...
Also, you are absolutely correct, and when missing inmates show up in shallow graves with missing organs cynicism is wholly justified.
When has self policing led to anything but corruption?
https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/01/15/alabama-inmates-bodi...
The idea that people get out of prison and their life goes on is largely Hollywood. Mostly prison means life is over. They may get out but they won't be long for the world.
Point is that people just don't care about anything related to prisons, everyone just assumes it's all guilty trash.