Is the answer ever more prison beds? Were you aware that in NYC they look at certain geographical areas, and see how many blacks are born in certain area codes, and that is how they plan their prison beds at Riker’s? This obviously goes beyond racial profiling and is extremely disturbing. What do you think about this practice? Beyond that, what are our thoughts on prison, especially imprisoning those who commit victimless crimes?
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12 responses to “Lock them up?”
We perhaps need a wiser discernment between us profiling a race, and our responding to their profiling themselves.
This is not as cut-and-dry as just us profiling others. That’s part of it. But most certainly not as much a part of it as various victimhood groups fancy.
There was a rare terror attack in Canada last week. It was committed by an Eastern Indian/ Persian/ Muslim fellow seeking Refugee status. It lines up with an increasing number of similar terror crimes committed around the world the past few years . . . Buy a disproportionate number of people from the same ethnic/racial/religious group.
So is my natural response to this, me racially profiling them; or them racially profiling themselves? A failure to deal with this out of the fear that “we might be evil”, actually encourages evil to flourish.
There will be no solutions while we are trying to improve our outlook by plucking out our eyes.
This fear of calling a spade a spade out of fear we will be found Politically Incorrect, is what has given such popularity to various alt right movements.
@griz interesting perspective. i never considered this in quite the way you described and there is definitely something there.
@spitfire3dc
If Canadians were a minority representation in some culture and a disproportionate number of us were found committing crimes or acts of terror against that culture, I would start with introspection.
Does the majority group have valid concern regarding Canadians? And if they did, I would be motivated to find the “malfunction” in the Canadian psyche that is causing it.
And until it was addressed I would accept that “We are Canadian”; a unit sharing in both the pride and the shame of our family.
And I would be tolerant of others profiling me as part of a group bringing disproportionate discord into their society, as we worked towards change.
And only then, with the flaw addressed, would I protest unfair treatment of Canadians as a whole.
Because then our protest would ring pure and not have shades of distraction shame or cultural irresponsibility.
@griz im glad for ya, but what about a young black kid without the life experiences you have had and hasnt had time to gain wisdom credits who Is walking down the street with a bag of skittles. should we be tolerant? is that what you are saying?
@Scarlett
I don’t understand the “bag of skittles” reference; or where tolerance or intolerance plays in.
All children start . . . where all children start! I didn’t come up with this as a child; and nobody thought to introduced me to it. But my childhood experiences (many of which that skittle-toting black kids could not relate to and could curl their toes!), led me to this point. And I was certainly open to notions I’d not previously considered . . . even if that person’s skin was a different color than mine; or they had a different cultural history.
So is the solution to let that kid fall in with BLM or some other victimhood group that too often waxes into the violent AND the ludicrous . . . making them THINK they are accomplishing something good and just?
Or try to educate and expose them to wisdom beyond just what they’re currently hearing from whichever “victims” are currently crying the loudest?
There is a way of raising a child so they are not constantly at odds with the law and authority. Even “minority” children. But it takes work — and would seriously cut into their elder’s “protest-time” and “poor-us-time”.
At some point we have to stop finding fault in others and in the past . . . and live up to taking responsibility for ourselves here in this moment.
If “the odds are against them” in their inter-city communities, get the hell out!
People in recent history have moved much farther than just out of the downtown core . . . with far fewer resources than are commonly available today!
I think the practice is counter productive. I understand preparation, but it seems there is no significant counter measure in place that would productively prevent the need.
Prison? Punishment doesn’t work. Positive reinforcement of productive action is used on dogs, but for some reason humans don’t warrant the same proven practice for shaping behaviour.
Off topic, but relevant is that Americans themselves, as a whole, could be easily profiled as a violent, intolerant, ignorant people. You and I know this is not true of all Americans, just as all Canadians are not polite, but there is a growing acceptance that this is how you profile Americans, based on the individual actions of few being used to categorize the whole. How does this profiling make you feel? How does it make the violent, intolerant, ignorant American feel?
There is an interesting measurement that could be used to determine if you, in fact are victims of profiling. Look at your tourism (including business related) numbers associated with foreign visitors. You may have the worlds best facilities, so that can’t be what is negatively influencing the numbers…so what is? The people who say, “Who cares?” Are the people who don’t understand that if you aren’t growing; you are dying. As in population enhancements (encouraging immigration), as in foreign monetary infusions.
Here’s another way you could be profiled. Tourists can’t bring guns into Canada. What would it feel like if just because you were American, you were singled out and hand searched for weapons when you travelled into another country?
The point I’m trying to make is that you have to walk a mile in another’s’ shoes before you can really determine solutions to broader problems.
We can’t fix problems when we cannot experience the empathy associated with the impact on victims caught in the crossfire and that takes humility, not controlling mechanisms that are knee jerk reactions considered as preventative measures.
Again @Scarlett I am going to ask for some backup on your statement:
‘Were you aware that in NYC they look at certain geographical areas, and see how many blacks are born in certain area codes, and that is how they plan their prison beds at Riker’s?’
who are “they”?
Lock “them” up? wow this reeks of racism
Save the tax payers money…
I never gave much thought to racial profiling for the plan of prisons. But then, my experience with prisons is only with San Quentin State Prison in California, and only with the Death Row inmates. I noticed that most serial killers are white males, or could pass for white. There were very few black men on Death Row. So, my opinion is obviously unbalanced and uneducated about national prison populations. Racial profiling is not something I think of in my everyday life. I have never looked at the New York prison situation.
https://www.correctionsone.com/facility-design-and-operation/articles/190880187-5-myths-about-corrections-the-public-believe-are-true/
@immortal_pirate I knew the reason you were very law abiding and did not want even a traffic ticket, or parking ticket, was because any offense, any breaking of any law could mean that you lose your job. Being a Correctional Officer was a 24/7 job, in that you always watched yourself to make sure you were on the good side of the law. I used to always walk you out to your truck when you went to work because I never knew if you would be coming home. Your job at the prison was dangerous. An inmate could end your life, or badly wound you in a moment that you let down your guard. Everywhere we go, I see that you are watching people, scanning for weapons and assessing situations. It is now ingrained into you. You no longer work at the prison, but your habits of being law abiding never let up. You are very conscientious and I admire that about you.
@immortal_pirate never thought all correctional officers were bad. don’t think of things as good or bad. I think in terms of healthy or unhealthy. I think there is healthy and unhealthy in every profession. well, maybe not every profession