2008 Woodie Awards
Prison isn't supposed to be paradise
By: Travis Holland
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Opinion
Texas prisons are too lax. If you disagree, ask Susan Canfield. Of course, you wouldn't get an answer because she was killed by two escaped inmates on Monday. If there was ever a time to change the Texas prison system, it's now.
Currently, good conduct in prison gets inmates freedom within the system. They are allowed lighter supervision and more outdoor activities. The problem is that their original crime and past criminal history have nothing to do with whether or not they are allowed these freedoms. This system has been proven ineffective even before this week.
Most Texans remember December 2000, when the infamous Texas Seven escaped a Texas prison and went on a crime spree across the state, robbing several stores and even killing a police officer. The inmates who participated in the escape were also under relaxed supervision for good behavior, despite the fact that they were convicted of violent crimes. The system has made minor changes since then, but they are obviously not enough.
With several prison breaks across the state since the Texas Seven, something is obviously wrong. Besides that, the fact that two prison breaks in 7 years ended with murdered peace officers is outrageous.
The system for doling out privileges needs to change, starting with who is eligible. Based on these lessons, prison officials must take into account the nature of the crimes inmates committed in the first place.
Maybe the solution is to start treating Texas convicts more like prisoners and less like house guests. Reduced supervision and outdoor activities, not to mention cable TV and air conditioning, shouldn't be provided for convicted killers and rapists. American prisoners have some pretty cushy lives when compared to prisoners in countries like Russia or even Mexico.
Groups who advocate more rights for convicts believe that they should be able to have a greater quality of life and basic amenities. But it seems to reduces the consequences of prison when many convicts know they are going to a better place than where they came from. I didn't have cable TV for the first 18 years of my life - I guess all I needed to do was kill someone and I could have had it for free.
Whatever their supporters say, Texas prisoners have constantly shown that increased freedoms will be abused at some point. Besides that, they just don't deserve the best quality of life if they have been incarcerated in the first place.
Currently, good conduct in prison gets inmates freedom within the system. They are allowed lighter supervision and more outdoor activities. The problem is that their original crime and past criminal history have nothing to do with whether or not they are allowed these freedoms. This system has been proven ineffective even before this week.
Most Texans remember December 2000, when the infamous Texas Seven escaped a Texas prison and went on a crime spree across the state, robbing several stores and even killing a police officer. The inmates who participated in the escape were also under relaxed supervision for good behavior, despite the fact that they were convicted of violent crimes. The system has made minor changes since then, but they are obviously not enough.
With several prison breaks across the state since the Texas Seven, something is obviously wrong. Besides that, the fact that two prison breaks in 7 years ended with murdered peace officers is outrageous.
The system for doling out privileges needs to change, starting with who is eligible. Based on these lessons, prison officials must take into account the nature of the crimes inmates committed in the first place.
Maybe the solution is to start treating Texas convicts more like prisoners and less like house guests. Reduced supervision and outdoor activities, not to mention cable TV and air conditioning, shouldn't be provided for convicted killers and rapists. American prisoners have some pretty cushy lives when compared to prisoners in countries like Russia or even Mexico.
Groups who advocate more rights for convicts believe that they should be able to have a greater quality of life and basic amenities. But it seems to reduces the consequences of prison when many convicts know they are going to a better place than where they came from. I didn't have cable TV for the first 18 years of my life - I guess all I needed to do was kill someone and I could have had it for free.
Whatever their supporters say, Texas prisoners have constantly shown that increased freedoms will be abused at some point. Besides that, they just don't deserve the best quality of life if they have been incarcerated in the first place.
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