> Prison is punishment first, rehabilitation second
That is not a society I want to live in. Prison should protect the remaining population and rehabilitate, punishment should be a consequence of the means necessary to do so. Prioritizing in that order (protect -> rehabilitate). In my opinion anyways..
I think you dismiss the deterrent effect of punishment too hastily. I actually think that should be the primary purpose of prison (apart from forcing criminals to work to compensate their victims, but that one's probably too radical).
Rehabilitation should obviously be another goal, but for violent crimes I don't think there's a good way to predict recidivism that couldn't be gamed. If someone could theoretically be rehabilitated in a year for mass murder, should they be released? I don't think so, because that would drastically reduce the deterrence against murder.
But thise prisons are stupid. They're very expensive and they just don't work.
And by removjg diets you are disproportionately punishing some people. A Muslim given the same sentence as someone with no religion will suffer more as a result of imprisonment purely because of the lack of dietary choice.
"Prison should suck" is a horrible sentiment, and runs contrary to the UDHR. I understand that American hasn't ratified that, but that's not because they disagree with it.
I didn't say it was right. I said it is the society we live in. Subtle difference but a key one, since you ran with it and ascribed things to me I didn't say (I'm not sure where you read -- and quoted -- me saying "prisons should suck," so this is a really crucial misread). It is very important to understand that I did not share an opinion with that observation.
To that end, I've been there. You think I'd come out and go "gosh golly, that was sure an effective means of handling my situation?"
Living in Norway, I don't feel that to be the truth. You have a great point though! But I think removal of freedom, and in some cases isolation, suffices as deterrent.
That is not a society I want to live in. Prison should protect the remaining population and rehabilitate, punishment should be a consequence of the means necessary to do so. Prioritizing in that order (protect -> rehabilitate). In my opinion anyways..