The U.S. is facing a rising problem with its prison system.
The total annual cost of American prisons is $39 billion with an average annual cost of $31,286 per inmate. Source: Vera Institute of Justice - What Incarceration Costs Tax Payers
I'd like to pick your brain on this issue, since I've been thoroughly impressed with some of the writing on this platform.
What if:
- Inmates could be offered the choice to work out using gym equipment that is able to capture the kinetic energy from their workout.
- The energy produced could be fed back into the grid and used to pay for some of the cost of incarcerating the inmates, in this way inmates would voluntarily contribute to lowering the cost to society for their incarceration.
- As an incentive for inmates to participate, their participation could be taken into account when applying for parole and the reduction of sentence.
- As an added benefit the inmates would be able to improve their physical and mental health, as exercise is known to improve both. Source: American Psychological Association
Hear me out on why I think this might be a good idea.
A few months ago my friends and I were talking about ways that we can increase the quality of life for everyone while having to change as few things as possible about the way people live their lives now, given that it seems that most people are reluctant to change.
We all want a better world, but we are reluctant to change
One of the things we discussed is the penal system and how various countries approach the problem in different ways, some focus more on punishment and some more on rehabilitation. People seem more likely to create positive change if they are incentivised to create change. That's the notion that SteemIt is also built on; good content bubbles to the top as more people upvote it as they show their appreciation, which again benefits the entire community.
Another benefit of a platform like SteemIt is that it's great for learning how people feel about some of the larger systemic problems in society, and to test and discuss potential solutions for those problems.
In the Netherlands there is currently a different problem with crime. Crime rate has decreased by such a large amount through
shorter sentences, more electronic tagging, programmes on job skills and re-entering the community
that there are not enough convicts to fill the cells, something they are creatively addressing by leasing out cell space to Belgium and Norway. Source: The Telegraph
"Everyone got their badges but they got noone to apprehend" from Wanted Criminals by the Evens.
What if we would give convicts the choice to live a more comfortable life in prison or reenter in society sooner by incentivising them to financially invest in their own rehabilitation, and physical and mental health?
Which model do you think would be most effective?
Do you think a model like this would work? And if not, why do you think it wouldn't?
And when do you think someone should be given the opportunity to prove they deserve a second chance?
I'd really like to hear your thoughts and learn from you.
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