Train Criminals Like We Train Children

Could we do better with our criminal system, I mean really better?

I thought about that last night, as I blogged. And I do think there are things we're not doing that could make a big difference. The idea is to reform the convict and we know that it is important for people to surround themselves with good influences.

So, why shouldn't surrounding inmates with good associations be part of their reform? Establish programs where church groups and charities send visitors to the jail. Of course, influence can go both ways, so I am not sure I want the visitors to become regulars, but rather suggest they rotate into the prisoner's life, then right out.

Yes, a person needs steady friends. That would be the role of those the convict is going to return to once he or she leaves prison. I do not think it wrong that some of these friends are culled out. Let's not allow them to visit if we judge them to be bad influences. If we do not want the convict to see them after prison, then remove them from the convict's life during prison, which is the time frame for which we have authority to do so.

In most situations, family should not be restricted from visiting, even when there is fear the family members are bad influences. Instead, the visits from the family members should be directed so visitors and family members are doing positive things, perhaps studying on the lives of positive role models, such as, say, George Washington, or perhaps studying a list of good quotes, or reading the Bible or doing whatever good thing. Conversation between the prisoner and visitors should be monitored and they should be required to treat each other respectfully. The hope, of course, is that good habits will be established that will carry on after the convict is released.

Okay, you say, forcing them to speak good of each other, and kindly to each other is not freedom of speech. True, but there are times in life where training takes precedence over such freedom. A child isn't allowed to do or say many things, but rather is required to be good. Sometimes, when people don't turn out good, they need retraining. It occurs to me that if we really believe people can change, if we really believe they can reform, then they should be retrained. If the process for training children is tried and true, and works, why would we not consider using it? Since children are restricted in speech and conduct toward other people, why shouldn't prisoners be?

I've occasionally thought on how we throw the prisoners in with other prisoners and how they become bad influences on each other. And, I've thought how they understandably might fear each other. I do not think it good. The training, or retraining mentioned above can be part of the solution, monitoring conversations and conduct between the inmates and requiring them to treat each other right and good. Yes, that limits their freedom of speech, but we limit the freedom of speech of children. So, again, if we are really going to retrain them, is there any other way as effective as how we train children, that is by monitoring them and requiring that they do right?

The downside of such a retraining system, I'm sure, is the expense of having more supervision, in order for all conversations to be monitored. One way to limit this is to have less time when the inmates see each other. Restrict them to solitary confinement more, and then you do not need one prison guard for every two inmates in order to monitor them.

Return Right to Vote to Convicted Utah Felons

Tonight, caught just a bit of The Nightside Project. I think it was Ethan who said he doesn't see a compelling reason for not giving those guilty of felonies the right to vote.

Later, I web searched and read how Utah, about a dozen years ago, was one of four states that did allow felons the right to vote. Reading at www.hrw.org/reports98/vote/usvot98o.htm, it said Utah was one of four states. Alas, that post was ancient, as the same web site, sentencingproject.org, different page, noted that in 1998, Utah disinfranchised its incarcerated felons.

This is from the first web page, the out-of-date one, and although (unless part of the page has been update) the figures are out of date, it does lend a persuasive feel against outlawing voting by felons. "Today," it says, "all mentally competent adults have the right to vote with only one exception: convicted criminal offenders. . . . While felony disenfranchisement laws should be of concern in any democracy, the scale of their impact in the United States is unparalleled: an estimated 3.9 million U.S. citizens are disenfranchised."

I join Ethan, the Human Rights Watch and the Utah of our past in saying felons should be allowed to vote. Everyone should have the right to vote, not just those determined to be of high enough moral standing. Is it that we do not think they deserve the right to vote? I think they should. Is it that we do not want government influenced by them? I think that should be allowed, whether they influence it for good or bad. It is the right of society to reflect either good or bad at the ballot box. If the voice of the people chooses bad, so be it.

Wimmer's Bill in Place Just in Time

So, a federal judge has decided not to throw out a lawsuit by states wanting to block Obamacare.

There's an interesting story over at Carl Wimmer's Facebook page, suggesting Utah and Wimmer's legislation played a key role in Judge Vinson's decision.

Wimmer says Vinson, in making his ruling, looked to whether any of the states bringing the lawsuit had a law on their books against it before Obamacare was passed.

Utah did.

Earlier this year, Wimmer introduced the legislation, which requires Utah to reject any provisions of health care legislation deemed not in the state's interest.

In crafting the legislation, Wimmer chose not to go the constitutional amendment route, like many other states were doing, as that takes time and he wanted the law in place quicker.

He placed in his legislation a provision that if two-thirds of each house approved his bill, it would go into effect immediately.

That happened. And, Gov. Herbert signed the law into effect March 22. One day later, President Obama signed the national health care bill, Obamacare, as we call it.

So, Wimmer's bill was in place one day ahead of what became to be the deadline.

I understand Missouri also had a law in place in time.

Contributions Should be Allowed to be Issue

Is the public even casting much of an eye at this?

Gov. Gary Herbert continues to roll towards what might be a smashing victory in early November, unless momentum soon changes.

And this despite news stories discussing the alignment, time-wise, of his taking campaign contributions to the contributors winning benefits from the state.

More than once.

Why are voters not reacting? Is it apathy, lack of attention to the news stories -- or is it approval?

Is it just that voters are shying from what they view as negative campaigning?

All this has an interesting twist. It comes at a time KSL and the Deseret News are calling for civility. That is a wonderful thing. We live too much in a world where so many are fault-finders.

But, is civility chilling valid concern? It is good to consider whether candidates should accept money when they know the people giving the money are also approaching them for contracts and legislation. We should want to change such a system. It would be good to be allowed to see that it is wrong, and discuss it as being wrong, without being classed as negative mudslingers.

Just as much as health care, abortion and gun control, this is a valid political issue.

Here's My Stand of Four Issues

You would not have imagined Democrats have any advantage running for office in Utah, but Jeremy Votaw, the challenger for Utah County clerk, noted they do. Votaw's thoughts came tonight at a political forum I attended.

Votaw noted Democrats are listed first of the ballots, and it has been shown the person listed first has an advantage, the voter being more likely to select that person.

So, I agree with Votaw, the names should be altered on half the ballots.

Next issue: Trish Beck, a candidate for the Utah Legislature, brought up prescription drugs, as well as spice, during the candidates forum sponsored by the Association of Community Councils.

I tentatively favor illegalization of spice -- the drug, not the spice used in cooking. If it is a drug that alters behavior enough to affect a person's ability to function, it should go.

A Libertarian Party candidate proposed using private funding to help education. I'll tell you why I like that idea: Education is underfunded, and often the argument is that there just isn't any money left, no government money left to throw in the pot for education.

Why not then, appeal to the public? Why not have a fund-raising entity to raise private funds for education? This Libertarian, whoever he is, is right. We are screaming for more money for education, so why would we not do this?

And, I weigh in on a fourth issue, garnered from tonight's forum. One person raised his hand, and asked about a lottery to fund education. I do not favor that. I feel the affect on people weighs heavier in the balance than the benefit. I do not believe gambling a good influence on people, and having a state lottery certainly would influence a lot of people to gamble who currently are not.

Townships & Small Government Better than Cities?

Questions for the candidate, from the candidate, to help him determine his stand on whether townships should be a preferred system of government:

Are the elected officials voluntary? Anything that keeps the cost of government down is a benefit.

Do they not have the power to tax? If they don't, perhaps that, too, is a plus -- one less taxing entity.

Those shouldn't be the only questions asked, but they are worthy considerations.

Question 5 is My Favorite

For today's post, I answer a questionnaire received from the Utah Grassroots Advocacy Partnership.

1. What is the state and federal government’s responsibility to assist people with disabilities in becoming contributing members of their community and living as independently as possible?

I believe most of the current work, being done to assist people with disabilities, is coming from government. Although I am not a fan of big government, perhaps it can remain this way. If we do not have more private groups, charities, stepping in to fill the role, then we can continue with government doing the work. If charities did step up more, though, that would be wonderful and it would be great if they did so much that government could pull out.

2. To what extent do you believe that people with disabilities should be the primary decision makers in their lives?

If they are capable of making those decisions, then they should be the ones making them.

3. What policies would you support to help Utahans with disabilities live in their own homes and communities instead of in institutions?

I do not know that I have a ready answer to that. I can see the advantage of them living in their own homes, and imagine funding is the reason more of the do not live in their own homes instead of in institutions.

4. What would you do to eliminate waiting lists for home and community-based waivers?

I would imagine that, again, this would depend on funding. If more homes -- does that equate to institutions? -- were built, that would cut down on the waiting lists, obviously. I would think if we are going to expand our care, it would be good to first look for private, charitable funding. I would also look at the waiting lists, and how people are being affected. At that point, I would be in position to know if more tax dollars are required.

5. What steps would you take to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Utah?

This is an issue I have campaigned on. I believe everybody should be given the right to work, the opportunity to work. I do not believe the work should be oppressive, but rather should fit the abilities of the person. We already have what we call philanthropists, wealthy individuals who give abundantly to charity. Why not give them the same tax incentives, and the same recognition to create jobs? They are dominantly our employers, already, and are the experts in job creation. Let them create small companies to fit the needs of the unemployed. Sometimes the company will be no more than someone selling paper flowers on a street corner. Let's attach these companies to each pocket of unemployment, one to the homeless shelters, one to those who beg for money downtown, one to those who receive Food Stamps, and so forth. These companies would not always turn a profit, but they would help turn peoples lives around. I believe everybody who is willing to work should be given the opportunity to work.

6. What would you do to expand access to affordable and accessible transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?

I would first want to know what the needs are, same as with question 4.


7. How would you go about reducing the number of Utahans with mental illness in jail or prison?

It would seem there would be only two alternatives. 1. Work better with those with mental illness before crimes are committed, so fewer of them commit crimes. 2. Let more of them free. I do not believe we should do that. The tendency to commit crime still exists.