Been out of the loop awhile, but.
When you, under your state’s constitution take authority over convicted felons and make them wards of the state- you are now their keeper.
You mentioned a life of leisure and air conditioning, did I?
Do you have a clue about penal systems? I’ve been in one for 3 decades. There but for the grace of God go I...
If you need some scriptures to meditate on, let me know.
Apologies for being unnecessarily provocative. The thread got me thinking about why the conditions you described were as they were, what it would take to change them significantly in an impoverished state like Arkansas (either higher taxes to further depress the economy or cuts in services to non-criminals), and the evil most of the inmates have willfully wrought to get where they are. I completely agree that abuse, exploitation, and neglect of inmates is unacceptable (legally or morally).