[The Other Harry]

What good are we doing then if we don't change bad behavior into more positive behavior? We are exacting our pound of flesh. Then we let an unrepentant criminal out so that he can perpetrate more crimes, maybe even worse crimes, and the cycle starts again.

I am not sure where you are coming from on this, and I have not read the entire thread.

In my mind, it is debateable whether prison changes people for the better. With respect to drug addictions, I think it often has the opposite effect.

I was arrested once. I only spent one night in jail. The effect on me was to make me less afraid of being arrested again. Jail is not so bad. The food is lousey, but the people are nice. Even the cops were nice.

[Goodgirlinred]

You were just in "jail." How about a maximum security prison? Would you think that wasn't so bad? Would you think the people there were nice?

We have been talking about drug addicts and the need for rehab for them in prison so that they will not come out of prison and return to drugs.

Also, I was saying that prisoners need to be rehabilitated so that they will not return to a life of crime and be arrested again and returned to prison. This is expensive, both in dollars and in wasted lives.

I hope you don't ever do anything to cause you to have to spend time in jail again.