Do you want your tax money going into prison reform programmes?

IMO our penal system pampers the criminal. They get more benefits from the government that our poorer or lesser fortunate citizens who do not commit crimes.

I do not think our tax dollars should be used for it. Our tax money should go to those people who need it badly and have done nothing wrong.

I've always been of the mindset that prison is supposed to be a punishment. Not a technical college to learn a skill or a college to get an education. I could go as far as saying the GED is allright since most jobs require them but law degrees, business degrees, ect...no. Why should they get a free education for breaking the law? I think as a victim, I'd be appalled if someone caused me grief and then was able to benefit from their crime. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

People make mistakes. If they are trying to better themselves then why not. I would much rather pay for this and have them not go back to jail that stay in jail for the rest of their lives. Its a lot cheaper. I think everyone should have a chance to get a education, even the ones that have screwed up in there lives. Im sure you have made mistakes as I have as well. You should be happy that these people are trying to improve.

nope, I am mad enough that they get my money to eat, swim, be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are children starving in america and we are feeding criminals HARD criminals I should say and letting them have access to computers, gyms, pools. Our government needs to get their heads out of their rear ends and put the money where it is needed the most. I work two jobs so that I can afford to go to school so I can say from a personal standpoint that if someone who raped, robbed, or killed someone got to go to college off of my money I would be more than a little peeved. Furthermore, they should have to work in prison to eat. Let them do the jobs in america that no one else wants to do...that away it gets done and they are not getting a free meal which they don't deserve in the first place.

hi ronnyb, No one likes to go to prison out of free will and yes i would support the system which would give education to the prisoners so when they are out od the prison they can start a new life and try to be a good citizen. If they are not educated what would they do once they are out of prison, they might come back again but if you give them good practical education then they can earn and going back to crime may not be the only option. if the money used in their education can make only 10% of criminals to give up crime then the money is well spent.

I'm alright with it for the low-end criminals but when it comes to those who do quite a bit more, I definitely don't suggest it. When they're that far gone they deserve to in my opinion, have the punishment fit the crime. Which, lately it seems a lot of these people have not been getting. Plus, isn't that kind of stupid? Educating serial killers? Yeah, they committed murder while being kind of.. "eh." but now they're going to be educated and this in all honesty would probably increase the chance of someone doing something, and getting away with it. It's kind of a scary thought. Gotta' say overall i'm against it other then for like I said, the low-end criminals that don't commit murder/rape/ or anything like that. I personally think that in taxes in general we should be able to control what we want to pay into and not pay into other then obvious stuff that we definitely need the funding for.

I do agree with you in saying that some people have a hard time getting and paying for an education, while criminals are getting an education free of charge. I don't think they deserve it, how do we know that once they get out they'll use what they learned and not go back to the life they had before? Alot of times when a prisoner gets out of prison it isn't long before they're back in there again, I think thats all just a waste of money, and who pays for all that, the taxpayers of course. This is a sore subject with me, so I don't want to get started, but thats just some of how I feel about this. They say that we all are created equal that everybody has a chance to do something good for themselves, but I think if you've done something that was bad enough to land you in prison, I don't think you should get special privileges what about the victims and families that were hurt.

no, i don't approve of one penny of my money going to prisoners altho it does. i don't think they deserve all the perks they get at all. why should they get them when law abiding citizens don't???????????? i think it's ridiculous the way they are treated like royality instead of the hardened criminals they are. they are not rebilitated, most of them go right back after they get out. they don't know what it is to get out & get a job, work hard & amount to something. i'm sure there are exceptions but i feel as if they are few & far between.

Although I don't entirely disagree with those stating that they don't want to see any more taxpayer funds to go toward prisoners I do think that if there was a chance that a life could be turned around then the person deserves the help. I guess a judge should allocate the right to be placed in such a program at the time of sentencing or it may be something that could be applied for at a later date, regardless, if even just one life was changed; in my opinion it would be worth it. I understand that in many cases it probably would be a waste of money and each case should be carefully analysed before entrance to a reform program is granted.

As long as the schools and collages used by law abiding people are not starved of funds.Something has got to work to put these criminals on the straight and narrow.I think they should pay it back if they start working,we are sick of making these bad people get everything and we who have nothing to be ashamed of,never seem to get anything for free.

Hello my friend ronnyb Ji, I think it is good gesture and one step ahead in reforming hard-core criminals, if they participate positive ways without any compulsion. They should come forward from their inner voice. May god bless you and have a great time.

Yes! Prisons must be improved in such a way that they provide a platform for mental transformations to take place in the minds of Prisoners. Using our money for that is is acceptable. It will reduce the rate of crime in our country and hence our standards improve!

I think that it should help in avoiding these prisoners to get back into jail when they are released. The idea is simple, some of these people commit crime at the first place maybe because they lack the respect from the society, and just nobody to tell that what is right and what is wrong. Now, after having committed the crime, they should have some idea of what is wrong, but then what is right? How are they supposed to get back into the society after 10+ years of prison life? If nobody helps them out and 10+ years of prison life simply means a lock up of the time, it is highly unlikely that they can make a good living and well, they may go back to their criminal life again.

We have to be in that situation to get the real picture. But I am all out for helping these people if it is going to change their lives. If we don't, then what right do we have to ask God's forgiveness for our sins?

As far as I am concerned prisoners should be put in some kind of work program such as working on roads and other projects in the counties where they are imprisoned. And given credit as so much an hour to pay for their food and lodging while they are in prison. I think if they had to work while they were in prison there wouldn't be as much crime because they wouldn't be given a free ride. The "chain gangs" are long gone but maybe it should be modeled after them. Just my opinion. I also think that they shouldn't be imprisoned close to home where their friends live. Maybe it's time to open up alcatraz again.

I don't believe in these programs for two reasons. One, many people who go to jails, more so the "harden" ones, are on a pathway. I have know many criminals due to living in a bad area. Most people do not go to jail for one mistake, it's often are going MANY bad things and finally getting caught. Is there some hope for some? Yes, but that is a low number. Two, once you're in jail, you're chance of getting a job, even minium wage, is lowered. So, why educate someone who's not going to get a job anyway? It's kind of like me saying to you, ok I'm going to teach you how to fly planes now try to get a job driving taxis. It makes no sense. I agree, it is a waste of money. That is money that could be going to health, or small children, or the elder (SSI), or even to help respectable citizens pay for college. Both me and my mother were victims of domestic abuse, by someone who was in jail before meeting us and just currently got out of jail. I foresee him going back soon. For about 90%, or more, of criminals jail is their life.