In response to "Texas should curb its prison population"

I responded to Hosea's post regarding the prison systems on his blog The STATE of Texas.

I do not agree with your post. Many inmates will not go back to the street after being released to be a productive member of society. In my studies through the criminal justice program at ACC I have read studies that show the former inmate will not settle for a mediocre minimal paying job. Especially those that have drug charges, they know how they can make money fast they will then think why work all these hours when I can work the street and make what I would in a week in a couple of hours.

On top of that you can not force an inmate to a rehabilitation facility or help if they do not want it. Probation and Parole are not part of the inmate system these are programs that are designed to keep many from reoffending. Unfortunately the person will be tempted as long as you return them to the same environment they were in before they went into prison.

The inmate may have been a model citizen in the prison to be released and start reoffending again. Unless like I stated before the inmate must really want to change and have a new environment to not fall back into the temptation that took them down the wrong path in the fist place. Yes punishment is high and many have tried probation or parole but give up. Rather than receiving the help available through those programs they choose to quit. They see just serving their time will be better than receiving help in this case what is to be done with the inmate? They have already decided they will not comply with the terms and have given up on the rehabilitation so they receive the punishment that fits the crime they committed.

And in response to you talking about Louisiana there is a documentary out about two officers that tried to rehabilitate ten drug offenders by purchasing them new clothing, cutting their hair, giving them educational training, and helping them write resumes. Out of the ten offenders they were helping only three successfully completed the program and were fully rehabilitated. The rest reoffended and went back to prison. No matter what you can not force help on the offender if they do no want it. These seven men volunteered but their environment and need for fast money suckered them in again.

Yes we have a high incarceration rate but you have to think we offer rehabilitation not many want it or are willing to follow through with it.