This is an extension on the Prison Town idea submitted earlier.

The basic argument is this:

- Most worldwide prison systems are a drain on economies (some more than others)- Costs of incarceration keep increasing- Many attempts at "tougher criminal sentencing" are often repealed due to the increase in costs (case in point this article: http://www.thestar.com/article/169976 )- Why not consolidate ALL the worldwide prisons into a series of 'superprisons' - effectively placing these superprisons on a series of unused deserted islands - where each island is tailored to the category of offense (you wouldn't put shoplifters on the same island as serial killers)

The nature of each island would have the following features:

NO electronicsTightly secured Electronics jamming equipment (for stuff that could get smuggled in)No fenceNo luxuries (such as cable, prepared foods, radio, etc...)Computer assisted satellite imaging 24/7 (to watch for unlawful incoming/outgoing traffic by boat or plane)No guardsNo facilities - just a series of bare islandsOffenders stationed on these islands would effectively have to be 100% self sufficient - living off the land to provide their own food, shelter and other needs.

The only real costs involved would be the one time monitoring equipment setup and ongoing monitoring (little staffing required). I can only guess at figures, but I don't doubt it would be a fraction of a fraction of the current billions of tax payer's dollars used for current prison systems. The money saved can in turn be used for other things like Education, Health Care, Business...

DO NOT confuse this with the justice system. Justice systems differ around the world and are still far from perfect - that's a separate issue. This concept is STRICTLY about the prison system.

Note - for everyone who wants to point out that this is how Australia started, go ahead, but please make a point.

I came up with this idea in response to both the drain on economies, and the failure of prisons acting as a real deterrent on future offenders. Ask any gang member, and they'll usually consider going to prison like a badge of honour. They should be in fact be scared sh*tless of going to prison, but this is far from the case, and hence, our current systems are NOT acting as deterrents enough (note - when I say 'our current systems', I am referring to Canada and the US - hopefully someone can add some info on prisons in other countries).

Yay or Nay?

Original submission from January 12, 2007 and ensuing discussion can be viewed here: http://thatforumplace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=169&t=3157&hilit=prison+reform

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

I agree

No opinion

I disagree