Capitol Hill Blue Forums Life and Moral Issues Crime & Punishment Crime and Punishment

I have a proposal for the white collar prisoners mentioned above.
1) Sentences should be tied directly (not necessarily solely) to the amount stolen, embezzled, redirected, etc.
2) Personal wealth should be seized as follows:
a) an amount equal to the average income in an American family should be reserved for family members, if any.
b) an amount equal to four years of state univerity tuition per child should be placed in a trust.
c) any remaining assets should be liquidated and split between restitution for the victims and payment of legal costs.

The prison should consist of one-room huts - warm and clean, but not much more. Food should be relatively bland, but should meet minimal calorie and nutritional requirements. A small garden plot should be provided should the prisoner choose to supplement his/her diet.

Prison uniforms should be simple but distinctive, to minimize maintenance costs and complicate any possible escape. Access to unlimited one-way incoming information (internet, news, etc.) should be provided, along with access to online classes, etc. Private communications should be carefully monitored and all outgoing communications should be examined before they leave the prison (includes written and electronic.)

Prisoners who choose to grow food, improve their knowledge or the knowledge of others, or practice a craft should be able to either improve their standard of living or reduce their sentence.

After a set period, "good" prisoners should be allowed to assist in the education of others via the internet. This could take any number of forms - assisting teachers in grading or in preparing lectures in the prisoner's area of expertise; writing lectures or presentations on the cost of failed business ethics for high school and college level courses - or even working in completely different areas like literacy, math, etc. (without ever having direct contact with a student, or knowing/being known by name.)

Prisoners should be physically isolated (by fencing, for example) but should be able to see and hear other people.

Costs are fairly minimal. Isolation of prisoners from each other reduces the number of guards required and increases prisoner safety. Food and clothing costs are minimal, as are housing. The extremity of prison life is up to the prisoner him-or-herself, as is the opportunity to change life for the better by contributing to others.

That's what I can come up with in 15 minutes or so. The plan includes punishment and rehabilitation, and protects the public for the duration of the sentence.