One problem with that is that there aren't enough guards to watch the inmates all the time in safe situations.
I am all for spartan barracks or dorms, 2 men to a room, locked down all day, leave enough room for an exercise mat and a radio with plenty of free Bibles to read and a visiting book cart.
Leave them locked up all day, have showers in the cell right next to the toilet, and use a selector switch like at a car wash, one to choose soapy water, the other to select rinse water!
"and use a selector switch like at a car wash, one to choose soapy water, the other to select rinse water!"
In full agreement.
I would add one thing, decent food. I don't mean fancy food, just decent, nutritious food. Maybe they're already getting it. I just mention it because I think in conjunction with all you've listed, proper nutrition helps preserve mental status.
I remember not too long before Gotti died, it was reported that he was complaining about the lasagna that was served to him. I got the biggest kick out of that, number 1, because I'm Italian, and number two, because it demonstrated just how left of the bellcurve Gotti really was.
But you're right, and so is the poster who mentioned the convict's relative advantage of '3 hots and a cot.'
In the late eighties, the Kansas City Star published a piece by a convict who was about to be released and had acquired a Law degree during his stint in jail. The question posed to him was how to make jail an effective crime deterrant (sp?). He suggested that jail sentences be reduced but full time be served (i.e. instead of 25 to Life, and you're out in 7, 15 years and you serve them all), and jail conditions much as you described. He was an effective advocate for the point of view you're espousing.