Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
James Poulos ·
March 25, 2012 at 7:33pm
Sure, it's risky. But our huge, growing population of prisoners means a huge, growing population of ex-cons. The size of our prison system is a disgrace, but while the policy and opinion struggle over the drug war drags on, why not start thinking about how to resolve the massive problems created by the spread of prison culture outside the jailhouse doors -- and how to do it the free-market way? Odds, are neither our governmental nor our cultural institutions will likely prove capable of tackling the challenge... much less overcoming it.
My fuller thoughts are over at Forbes.
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Jun '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Fatherless boys grow into fatherless convicts.
We may also want to start finding, for those boys who've been abandoned by their biological fathers, some surrogate fathers worthy of looking up to.
Jul '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
I'm not convinced there is an easy solution to the dissolution and destruction of the black family in the past 50 years. When nearly 75% of children are born without fathers, eventually there's no turning the clock on that. I would argue that this development has been more destructive than centuries of slavery.
Nov '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
James, you write,
I think that no solution has a chance to work that does not start there. I hear so many voices decrying the numbers of incarcerated citizens in the U.S., but what if ... that's the right number -- but "incarceration" is wholly and utterly not what it should be in the first place?
What if incarceration was more like an extended stint in a monastery -- an extended educational experience with hard, but satisfying work each day, clean wholesome surroundings albeit lacking personal freedoms, a consistent reward/punishment cycle well suited to improving life habits, and a continuum of liberty attainable through demonstrable reforms in one's behaviors -- instead of a hellhole dominated by gang warfare and illogic, the only consistent virtue being loyalty -- but to whom and what? -- punishment for behaving well, reward for playing the system and stomping on others, reinforcement of bad behavior, etc.?
I see no reason a market-driven solution couldn't attain the ideal. Government sure as %$# isn't.
May '11
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Calling Officer Dunphy...
May '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Agreed, all around. This is a problem which must be simultaneously addressed from many angles: the broken cultures of the inner city poor which Democratic politics has destroyed; the use of imprisonment as an almost universal punishment; the nonsensical operation of prisons; the permanent closure to reconciliation following incarceration by the permanent loss of one's right to vote and being forever marked as a felon for every potential employer to see.
But, even if the popular will for such reforms existed, I don't see this being a priority anytime soon. If the republic crumbles under debt and tyranny, neither those young strays nor their victims will be any better off for prison reforms.
Nov '11
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
I have often wondered why news has to be so limited and real problems/solutions are hardly ever tackled (esp. by Governors) and I salute you. Prison reform has been at the top of my list. My thoughts include the fact that young people are sent into hard core prisons on drug related offenses. I am not for legalizing drugs, but talking about real addiction that leads to criminal activity. Also, overcrowding, attacks in prison, and lack of support once they are out. I feel like we are back in the 1800's when it comes to this subject, however it's an ugly topic no one wants to think about. Two problems: Always a lack of money for an actual duty of the state (just for Solyndra, etc) and the usual over-abundance of rules and regulations that don't achieve anything. There are many studies now of successful prison systems (just as there are of successful inner-city schools). I am not a bleeding heart or an 'egalitarian' in this matter either. Let the punishment fit the crime.
Edited on March 26, 2012 at 12:41amDec '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Sorry to sound like an obsessive, but please let me point out that there is one measure that every citizen can take, not as a solution to the problem, but as an intelligent response to it: buy a firearm, and learn how to operate and store it safely.
Ow... I think I just got a splinter from this soap box.
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
N.B., I'm in favor of a better-armed citizenry and reforming the drug laws. And a dose of monasticism would be excellent, R. Craigen. Pretty sure that if I wound up in the average big jail I'd try hard to land in solitary.
Jul '10
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Monastic environments work because they're full of monks.
I don't dispute that there should be more flexibility in the way the system handles criminal offenders, but the more time one spends with the criminal class, the more one loses the capacity to sentimentalize them.
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
James, what's your idea for a free-market solution here? What kind of enterprise are you envisioning? Who's the customer? I'm not seeing the business here. I mean, how does this putative Rehabz-R-Us enterprise explain its business plan to potential investors? "Our target demographic is comprised of ex-cons?"
Apr '11
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Generally, for these schemes, governments and business/ NGO stakeholders are the clients.
Ever since I read Foucault, I've loved the idea of giving reasonably educated prisoners with long sentences, including those who take advantage of prison education programs, the option of transportation to less developed climes overseas; a better cell and the ability to have a productive life, perhaps teaching kids to read, or to speak English. Far cheaper, and probably better at developing pride and a work ethic.
Edited on March 26, 2012 at 7:26amNov '11
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Angola, LA. http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=27125
While the article I linked to emphasizes the moral/spiritual aspect they also instituted work programs, better training for guards, getting outside donors involved, etc. It is well-known that work (in gardens to feed themselves, making furniture and being allowed to save for release...) is extremely helpful. However, states have decided prisoners cannot compete with businesses, and requiring labor is slavery. In my state we have a spanking new prison, built out in the middle of nowhere (that the community mostly wanted) that sits empty because of politics, even though our jails and prison are overcrowded. There are intelligent and creative ways to reform prisons/punishment/rehabilitation even though it will always be extremely problematic (esp. what to do with incorrigible violent criminals). Private companies with citizen boards, and independent review committees may be the best way. Also, publication of results of integration back into society, violence in the prison, etc. I have always felt many things that we just accept should publish their 'success' stats, including therapists (especially), and doctors/hospitals. Doing this has helped spur reform in terms of public/private/charter schools.
May '11
Re: Business Opportunity of the Century: Undoing Prison Culture
Bill James has an entertaing and thoughtful discussion of this topic at the Grantland website today.