>>>>>>>>>But what about the reality shows? hahaha.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Another thing he is forgetting is that a good number of the prisons here now have what is called "23 hour lockdown". That is where they keep the inmates in a tiny cell 23 hours a day - and the other 1 hour a day they're put in another area that is perhaps 10foot x 10foot at the most - again with no other inmates. Few of these inmates have access to a TV and rarely any books. This is actually becoming the "norm" in USA prisons because the people working in the prisons find it easier to deal with the inmate population when they are just sitting in a cell. Every state now has several of these facilities. Now explain to me how that is club med? Hell that would drive a guy nuts and as matter of fact they've proven that is does.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Wait! Are you saying that I have to go deeper than just listening to TV to have a good understanding of things of life? Damn, I knew it was too easy ;)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Of course I've seen these things on TV. I've also seen riots, rapes, and murders in prisons reported on the news too. I'm not going to try to have a debate with you about it because you're argument is that "you saw it on tv so it's club med" and it's not possible for you to have a clue about the reality of what USA prisons are like based on a few choice new clips that the department of corrections allowed the media to have. Like I said (and Tamar indicated) - go visit one and get back with me.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I thought the only supermax prison today is in Colorado:
>>>>>>>>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/crime/CRIME-HISTORY---Corrections-guards-killed_-8417696-65179012.html
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Other locations have 23 hour lockdown temporarily when there are riots, fights, or only on certain blocks for specific crimes.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't know where that guy got his information, but there are supermax prisons in almost every state now - some have more than one. Now let me be clear - I mean that there are ones that have the whole place in 23 hour lockdown - maybe they're not calling them 'supermax'.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"That guy" is an avid news watcher who has seen countless stories on prison reforms and early release, etc. Here in California it's a big deal because of the budget. They routinely show prisons where the gymnasium, yes gymnasium, has been filled with row after
>>>>>>row of bunkbeds to accomodate the overcrowding. So in view of these facts where obviously not all these inmates are in individual cells
>>>>>>all day long, where are YOU getting your info? Not all prisons are on 23 hours lockdowns. Time to go check your facts
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But let me help you since you seems to be making it up as you go along. It's ok, really, you can use facts in a debate:
>>>>>>http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-230923.html
>>>>>>http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081020_wz_prisons.131b7eb70.html (Note that they were not all already on lockdown)
>>>>>>http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081020_wz_prisons.131b7eb70.html (Again - only locked down AFTER an incident)
>>>>>>http://www.courant.com/community/somers/hc-web-somers-prison-attacks-0924sep24,0,6183583.story
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Need more? I can provide more facts, since you seem to have trouble providing them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It's upsurd to say that all/most prisons are on 23 hour lockdown. There just arn't enough resources for that. Most prisons are open and
>>>>>>the inmates walk freely about.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Good try though.
>>>>>
>>>>>I never said that all or most were 23 hour lockdown facilities - what I said was that there is one in almost every state now. I suspect that it's not that huge of a % of the states prison population. Keep in mind I'm talking about STATE and not FEDERAL ones too.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I misunderstood you as well then. I thought it was you who wrote that it was the norm now.
>>>
>>>Well...I did say that's it's "becoming the norm" - which really isn't quite right either. I don't think it's becoming the norm - but there are a not more of these 23hour lockdown facilities appearing every year. The other end of the spectrum is of course the ones that are just way over-crowded - which of course brings on a whole new set of problems.
>>>I think the best way to beat all these issues is to simply address the reasons people end up in prisons to begin with - and it's not because they want a vacation at club med.
>>
>>Nope. For some people, being in prison is a better life than they had on the outside.
>>
>>About 20% of young black males are incarcerated. That is a truly shameful statistic.
>
>I hate those comments and I hear it too often on the news. The issue is: why are 20% of young black males committing crimes?
>
>No one wants to ask that question. Resolve that problem and there won't be 20% of young black males incarcerated.

I don't think the answer is that perplexing. Slavery is dead, and we now have our first black President, but racism is not gone in this country. That is not putting it all on white people, because the thug life is admired among many young blacks, but the root is the same. The color of your skin entirely affects the way you are treated.

It really frustrates me sometimes. I know black people, men and women, who are far more admirable than me. I have coached black kids (and Hispanics) in soccer and they smile in delight exactly the same way when they score a goal. Kids are the same. It's adults who screw things up. It is not right.