Where are all the good guys gone? Once upon a time we knew there were goodies and baddies and that the goodies always won. Nowadays we can be forgiven for wondering whether our prison system is equitable or fair. In fact we might be inclined to think that prison is not the only punishment for crime.
Many of those in our jails are themselves victims of injustice, racial intolerance or deprived backgrounds. Hundreds live on death row and live day by day with the threat of the death penalty. Is this society’s vengeance or a just punishment? Are fetters and chains destructive rather than instructive? Are there better ways to deal with violence and murder? Can prisoners be reformed and made into productive members of society? These are all questions that need to be answered if we are not all to be as guilty as they.
Then there are the prisoners of conscience. Most of us prefer not to think of innocent people being tortured and imprisoned by cruel regimes. Yet every day in every part of the world people disappear from their villages and towns captured by corrupt Government forces. Their suffering does not make the headlines but one group works tirelessly on their behalf. For such prisoners an Amnesty approach shows them that they are not forgotten. This organisation challenges us to challenge such governments and to keep pressing for democratic governments to be installed. Yet is there really that much difference between their treatment of prisoners and our own? Can we really hold our heads high and say we have a humane prison system?
We are building bigger and better prisons at enormous expense to the taxpayer. Obviously violent criminals must not be let loose on society. Equally obviously we should be thinking of new and more creative ideas regarding rehabilitation. Closing a cell door is easy but it isn’t always the right answer to the problems we face.

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