Alabama is in a money crisis. That is the reason for its poor public education system as well as its horrible prison conditions. Since the state cannot just have a bake sale, a car wash, or any other cute fundraisers and because the citizens no not want to endure anymore taxation, especially not taxation that directly helps prisoners, the issue of the Alabama prison systems should be dealt with through legal efforts and restructuring methods.

After Grace Graham's lecture, I began to relate to the prisoners on a much more personal level than I have ever done before now. I imagined myself in their shoes. It is bad enough that they have horrid living conditions, poor food quality, and medical neglect problems. It is worsened tenfold when we realize that some of them have to say in prison for decades.

If prison is meant as a punishment, it should be a horrible thing. However, I propose that law violators, at least those who have committed petty crimes, not be sentenced to such long periods in prison. It is my theory that if the stays were shortened then the prisoners would have less time to build up hate and animosity for the outside world that keeps them locked up. If the prisoners are not quite so angry, then they will be less likely to commit crimes against the society that has punished, abused, and humiliated them. Less time in jail would mean less suffering and less vengeance sprung from suffering.

On the economic side, if the prisoners had shorter terms, the state could have better, less packed prison living situations as well as saving money that it takes to support the inmates.

However, this approach does not tackle the root of the issue. It does not give any clue how the state could possibly afford better living conditions. There is a radical approach to dealing with this issue, but I tread lightly in presenting it.

What if the state of Alabama employed the prisoners in factory positions at a company run by the state? The prisoners would be manufacturing items that could be sold to pay for their prison terms, thus not burdening the tax payers and allowing for more funding to be put to their medical causes. It would put the prisoners to work, possibly take their minds off of striking back at the communities, ensure that they would be capable of re-joining the work force after their release, and be a productive form of punishment. Of course not all prisoners could be involved in this sort of labor; some are too dangerous or severely mentally ill. As far-fetched as this idea might seem, and as difficult to put into practice as it might be, it is better than the current money-pit, humanitarian violation issues that Alabama prisons are currently facing.

Prisoners are people, too. They do not deserve to be treated like forgotten, beaten circus animals. Any of us or any of the people we know could one day end up in prison, and I am sure that we would not want to be neglected, starved, and forgotten. Individuals need to step up and consider alternative ways of handling these issues.

I think that although prisioners do not have very good accomidations, they are put there for a reason. I think that they should have adaquate medical attention and should be allowed to have a fan or something so they aren't too hot. But, the point of prision is for the inmates to think about what they did and be punished for what they did. I think that Alabama should raise the amount of money spent on the prisioners, but more importantly the amount spent for education. I think it is riduclous that these prisoners are treated so horribly, but then again they are in prison. Prison should be a horrible place that people don't want to go to, so they should instead not break the laws. The amount of people in these jails shows that people need to abide by the laws instead of breaking them. I think that if people are sentanced to prison, they should have some things such as air and outdoor time, but i also think that most of their time should be spent reconcilling what they have done to innocent victims. I think that Alabamians should do what is right and raise the taxes so that these prisoners don't have to be tortured, but more importantly for education and things of that sort that deserve more money.

I think there are a lot of things that should and need to be done that require monetary funds that are obviously not avaliable in the state of Alabama. In Ms. Graham's lecture yesterday kept repeating the "three strikes your out" law, which I believe is a great law and people who continuously break the same laws should receive a heavier punishment.

The punishments shoud be more severe but should never be inhumane on first offenders and habitual offenders. Prisoners have committed crimes but they are still human beings and therefore should be treated like human beings. Prisoners in Alabama and any where for that matter should have appropriate health care, humane living conditions, and a balancd diet should be provided by the state. Providing the essentials needed for good health is a requirement all prisons nationwide should meet.

On the other hand, the prisoners are people who have committed crimes and they should not have any unnecessary luxeries such as television. People who are incarserated should not have better living conditions and necessities that people living below the poverty line the free world do not have the privelage of owning. Prison is not and should not be a place where people on the outside are jealous of the inmates because of what the inmates have and the free do not. Members of the free world have not been convicted of crimes and therefore should not be punished for making the best out of what they have.

I was totally shocked by the stories and facts Ms. Graham presented in her lecture about Alabama prisons. You always hear about the prisons being over-crowded, but what you don't hear about are the cases and living conditions like Ms. Graham discovered. Prisons in Alabama are obviously in need of some kind of help. I agree with Elizabeth when she said that Alabama itself is in need of help. We just don't have enough money for much improvement on anything in this state. Our public schools are rated much lower than schools in other states who have enough money. Until now, I wasn't aware that our prison system was in need as well.

Besides the stories of the poor men who died because of no medical care, I think the fact that upset me the most was when Ms. Graham told us that less than one dollar a day is spent on food for each inmate. I just can't imagine eating less than a dollar's worth of food each day and surviving. It's just unbelievable!! I am so glad that there are people out there like Ms. Graham who devote their lives to helping others. Now, I do realize that some people are thinking, "They committed a crime, let them pay," but do those same people not believe that a person can change? I have my own way of looking at this. I believe that people should pay for their crimes and a good bit of those who commit crimes should be in prison; however, I also believe in what The Bible says when it states that you should forgive others just as God will forgive you. How can you expect to be forgiven if you do not forgive others? No, I don't think all the murderers who have killed should be let out if they apologize, but I do think that everyone should be treated like a human being and given such things as enough food and airconditioning. Ms. Graham gave a quote that really made me think about this in a different light. She said,"We are juged by how well we treat the most dispicable among us." This a quote that we can all live by, I think.

As far as what can be done about the inhumane treatment in our prisons, I feel that there would be more money available for the inmates if there weren't so many. Ms. Graham stated that 16% of the people in our prisons are mentally ill. I don't understand why these people can't be put in rehabilitation facilities. Would that not free up more space and allow more money? Is the prison not having to spend more money on their medicine? Also, for situations like the man who stole the video tapes and was sentenced to fifty years, I just think that is rediculous. Maybe the law should focus more on murderers and rapists rather than the absence of video tapes from K-Mart; however, this is just how I feel.

During the question and answer session of Ms. Graham's lecture she said that we should look toward the governments of Sweden and Japan to help reform our current system. In my understanding, countries like these do not have strict drug laws like those of this nation, and therefore, have less offenders and more space to house inmates. I think it makes perfect sense to reform our current drug laws. Personally, I do not support the use of drugs, but I believe that sentencing for drug abuse is absurd. Yes, most drugs do have harmful affects on the abuser, but if they do not lead to any other criminal activity, then that person shouldn't be punished, but, if the influence of drugs does lead to a criminal offense then he/she is subject to punishment already. This in turn would open up more cells, and boost our economy because more "black market" money would be in circulation and be accounted for.

I also believe that criminals should be treated as criminals, not as dogs, and not as kings. In the last survey that I read, about $35,000 dollars are spent on each inmate every year. Most of that money goes to provide for the basic needs of each prisoner, but many also have free access to luxuries like sattelite and cable television and computers, but don't cover some basic medical and dental needs. What's wrong with this picture?

If it requires $35,000 to house an inmate then we need to come up with that money, but we need to cover all the basic needs first, then worry about HDTV and Dell Laptops. Otherwise, I think we are not making wise financial decisions. I also think it would decrease the number of repeat offenders if we would make prison livable, but unlikeable. Many repeat offenders, in my opinion, commit multiple crimes because they cannot get a job or a home because they've been in prison, and they view prison as "a free room and board and free food". It just makes sense to suffer a few years of confinement if your basic needs are provided. It just makes sense.

Like everyone else who has previously posted a response, I also agree that something should be done about the inhumane treatment of prisoners in Alabama prisons. Just because someone did something that the government doesn't approve of does not mean they are not humans with physical needs that have to be met. Their punishment is supposed to be time in jail, not time in an unsafe or unsanitary environment. Whether the prisoner is in there for a short or long time should not matter. Convicted criminals that were sentenced to many years in jail should not be treated worse than prisoners staying for shorter times. I know that it is a punishment to be living in the prisons, but, as Chris said above, it is not supposed to be something that is unlivable just unlikeable. When a child does something wrong, he or she may be forced to stand in a corner for a while in "time out", but he or she is not forced to stand outside during a heat wave. It is inhumane and unfair.
I think any arguments that the prisoners on death row do not deserve such "luxuries" as a fan during the hot times of summer are ridiculous. Whether or not they will be there for the rest of their life should not make a difference in the care that they are given. If we really want to kill them through heat and illness, why waste tax dollars feeding them and giving them just enough care to make their death slow and painful? While I do not know how much it costs to apply the death penalty, I could not imagine that many years of paying for food, shelter, and medical care for prisoners would be less expensive. I am not saying that I agree with the death penalty, but I think it would make more sense than killing them with unsanitary living conditions. I am pretty sure if I was given the choice, I would rather take the injection than live the few extra humiliating and painful years that one of the men Grace Graham spoke about lived.
I also am looking at this idea a little bit prejudiced, as I am sure that many people do, because I know someone in that situation. While I did not know him well, we went to school together for many years, and I really liked him. He was convicted of a crime, unfairly, in my opinion, and was forced to stay in St. Clair Correctional Facility. As far as I know he is still there today, waiting his final sentence, but he is rumored to be beyond miserable. As I have said earlier, prison should not be a likeable place, but I do not think many of the stories I have heard about him should be happening. While I am not sure if the rumors are true, I have heard that he has completely stopped eating just so he can not be there. He is a very handsome in a feminine way (not an insult by the way). Supposedly, the rumors about jail being a place with rampant sexual molestation is true from the stories one of his friends has told me. While if true, his crime deserves punishment, I do not think that this is the best way to do it. Are prisons not places for offenders to go as punishment so they will learn not to do the crime again when they go back out into the world? Why have such places if they never return to the "free world"?

What I found most interesting yesterday was Miss Graham's comment stating that how we treat the murderers on Death Row says more about us than them. Regarding the answer to the humanitarian crisis in Alabama prisons, I definately agree that these criminals are being punished simply by being there. There is no sense in denying them their basic needs, especially health care. Regardless of what these people have done, they are still human. From a Christian standpoint, Matthew 25:40 states,"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' " Therefore, even if they have commited the most dispicable crimes, we have no right to let their lives rot away because of a lack of health care. I do believe in being tough of criminals, but a jail sentence is enough.

The situation in Alabama prisons is obviously a problem, but so are the many other foundations relying on money from Alabama's. I think that Alabama's government needs reform in all areas. As for the prison system, it is defiantly sad that people are being subjected to inadequate medical government. Not only do Alabama prisons need more resources, but Alabama schools do as well treatment, intolerable heat, and other sufferings such as confinement to a crowded cell. However, it is prison we are talking about and undoubtedly, the conditions are not going to be optimal. I do agree though that Alabama needs to improve its medical care in prisons. I believe that just because someone is in prison does not mean that one deserves to be dehumanized and treated as if they can die incarcerated for the fact that no one really cares. The problems of prisons are not being dealt with because no one really cares about prisoners and since they cannot obtain things for themselves, nothing is being done. Ultimately, more effort and thought should be put into prison programs to make them efficient and productive. I think that if more effort is made, undoubtedly positive effects will come from it.
I think this way because it is immoral to turn your back on people that are suffering and act like nothing is wrong. Undoubtedly there are those in prison who do not deserve to be there are do not deserve the treatment that they get. I suppose that I feel prisons need much help because as Ms. Graham stated, one size does not fit all, and that is how prisons are run. To that, I think it is a shame. I do not believe that prisoners should be treated as if they are on vacation or anything like that. Prisoners are there because they broke the law and doing so has consequences. I just feel that many prisoners may not be there if they had grown up differently and I feel that many could be productive members of society if taught to be and given the proper chance.

I think that he conditions the inmates are living in are very inhumane. Someone cannot reflect on themselves in a beneficial way, when they cannot focus in there evironment. When other people are fighting and pestering it is a distraction from becoming a better person. They are reminded moment to moment with the conditions they live in that they are bad people, theyhave done bad things, and the only way to redeem themselves is with time in a disgusting place. I would certainly change the way the penalty systemworks because I am paying for criminals to not heal in a negative environment. How can one improve there moral values and look ahead when they have to use the restroom in front of another man or they are raped on a daily basis? The answer is that it is even more detrimental to there emotions. I would alter the penalty system to require some kind LIFE lecture/service for people that commit crimes that are less offensive than homicides. For the homicides I would make the living conditions LIVABLE so if eventuall these human beings are released, then they have some dignity and and not resent for life and people.

I have noticed, after reading the majority of these comments, that my outlook on this situation differs tremendously from my classmates. I do not want to sound heartless or inhumane, but i do not believe that anything should be done about the problem. I love our country, however my biggest problem with it is that i feel we give criminals to many rights. The laws of our country clearly state that a person's rights end where anothers begin. They encroached upon another person's rights by commiting the crime and therefore, they forfeited their own. They knew the risk of being put into prison before they commited the crime, and if they did not want to be put into a volitile, uncomfortable environment then they should have never done it.

Also, in my experience, aversion therepy is the most affective treatment in making someone change their ways. That is, forcing their mind to associate a bad experience (prison time in a less than perfect environment) with their initail wrong action (the crime). It's the exact same principle of spanking or grounding a child just on a much larger scale. I do not believe that "just being there" is enough to reform them; there must be something more to get into their mind and make them not want to commit a crime again.

I do however believe that prisoners should be granted sufficient healthcare. From the humanitarian's point of view, they deserve it because our country does not believe in cruel and unusual punishment. From the other perspective, it is better to have them live and reform their lives in whatever way possible than to die in prison from an illness that could have been easily cared for.

I found the facts in Ms. Graham's presentation yesterday both fascinating and horrible. I knew prison was a very unpleasant place to be, but I did not realize that the conditions there were that deplorable. To be honest, I have never really cared much about the living conditions of prisoners. It is their own fault there are in that situation, and they should understand that there are serious consequences for breaking the law. After Ms. Graham's lecture, my opinion has changed. The personal stories she told gave the prisoners a human face and made me pity them greatly. I do not think prison should be comfortable or pleasant in any way, but I do believe that even criminals have a right to be treated like humans instead of animals and given adequate food and medical treatments.

I think that many things have contributed to the horrible conditions of Alabama's prison system. First, Alabama is a poor state. We do not even have enough money to properly fund our public school system, and our children are much more important than criminals. We simply do not have the funds to build new prisons to accomodate the growing number of people going to prison. Second, Alabama is a traditionally conservative state that has always dealt harshly with its criminals. It has always been very pro-death penalty, and I think that this conservative leaning causes the state to treat its prisoners more harshly. Another reason for the poor conditions is simply a lack of interest and concern. The living conditions of our criminals are very far down the list of most people's concerns.

While I do not think prisons should be turned into anything remotely resembling a normal, pleasant lifestyle, I do think something needs to be done about the situation. They may be criminals, but they are humans and deserve to be treated as such. Also, there are too many prisoners crammed into the prisons for the guards to be adequate protection against revolts or escapes. Our prisons are understaffed and what little staff they have are overworked. I do not see any clear solution to the problem. As long as the crime rate continutes to rise, we will have more and more prisoners and nowhere to put them. I think that less severe penalties for things such as drug use would help the problem. Ms. Graham mentioned a rehabilitation program as an alternative to prison time, and I thought that was a good idea. But that costs money too. Maybe prisoners could choose between paying for their rehabilitation or going to prison. I also think that sentences should be in proportion to the crime. A 50 year sentence for stealing $150 in videotapes is a little excessive. I think the most important thing that can be done to remedy the situation in our prisons is to make people aware and make them care. If people care about something enough, they will be much more likely to find a way to make it better.

For the sake of being a bit dramatic, Alabamians need to "suck it up" and face the facts. The state will not progress or even follow closely in the footsteps of leading states in our country without money. Money does not grow on trees...unfortunately. New taxes need to be passed into legislation to allocate more money not only for prisons, but also for public education, the environment, roads, and, well, the list go on for hours. The property taxes in Alabama are embarrassing in comparison to fellow states. Voters are manipulated into rejecting higher taxes by major land owning companies (I will resist from calling names) through exaggerated commercials that prey on the public's fears...evidence of these actions was most visible through the campaign to pass Amendment 1 to fund public education. Prisons are in the same downward spiral that the majority of the public education systems are facing. In my idealistic world, Alabamians would pass an amendment to increase property taxes specifically, money would be spent to build more up-to-date facilities, more teachers would be hired to educate prisoners so that they would contribute to the betterment of society, rehabilitation programs would enforce a more rigorous curriculum to instill more solid values that may not have been instilled in the "free world," and salaries could be raised for the "enforcers" to encourage more citizens to take an active role in prison administration.

I hold a civic and moral duty to every fellow woman or man to treat her or him with the exact respect that I wish to be treated with. When Ms. Graham made her comment regarding Jesus' profound address that concerns the "least of these," I wanted to stand up in my chair and yell, "Amen Sista!"...just kidding...but, I really couldn't agree more. Who are we to judge each other? Did Jesus not teach that all sins are equal in the eyes of God? ...A lie is the same as murder? We as mortals deem a lie as petty versus the slaying another being. If I had to pick out one word to describe Jesus, it would be love. If we truly believe what Jesus taught during his time on earth, we would treat each other with compassion, forgiveness, respect, and, of course, love (on the platonic side). The sneaky nature of humans drives people to wish inhumane conditions on "convicts" and suffering to those who invoked suffering...basically, revenge/justice depending on how one would view the situation.
If I really believe in my faith, then I will support people like Grace Graham who slave over cases for the abundant injustices in our state penitentiary program, and I will have compassion for people who "put their pants on one leg at a time," too. Now, compassion encompasses a broad realm, but I believe it starts at a ground level of adequate health services. I think that taxes (in my opinion property taxes) must be raised as the first step to reach adequate or, in a more basic word, humane care for prisoners in Alabama's underfunded, backward system.

I was very interested in Ms. Graham¡¯s information. I was also confused about my ideas of what needs to be done. On one hand, I feel bad for the inmates because of the horrible conditions some are in. While on the other, I feel as if it is their fault for getting put in jail, and they must suffer the consequences.
I have contemplated my decision for a very long time, and have realized that a change must be made. I cannot say to what extent, but I do know we should not treat them as if they are VIP guests. I believe if it is a life and death situation; the inmates should be given help. As far as healthcare, yes I believe they should be given ample treatment if they have cancer or other serious diseases or problems. I also believe the fans were a good idea, but not central air. However, they might have to get used to three to a room.
Prisons and jails have always puzzled me. Yes, they are confining, but for some of the inmates life has gotten easier. We are confining them, but also taking care of them. It seems not fair to me that so many tax dollars go into prisons. I believe they should be given the bare minimum.
I feel this way because even some people not in jail do not have healthcare, live many people to a room, and do not have air conditioning. I believe persons out of jail should be allowed the privileges first. The inmates knew the possible consequences when they committed the crime. No one said prison life was a walk in the park. I feel as if they are not taking full responsibility for their actions.
It is also unfair if the get treated to well. I as a regular law abiding citizen wish I could just get what I wanted or do what ever I wanted. With the room situation, they need to toughen up. I am a free college student and live two to a room.
I would like to find out more about the statistics of the inmates. I want to know why there are so many blacks males imprisoned compared to others. She said one out of eight. Wow!! That figure is very disturbing to me because people begin to stereotype blacks as all being troublemakers and violent. Also if the number keeps rising then their will be less fathers, role models, and husbands in the community.

One thing that Mrs. Graham did not talk much about, was the fact they they are criminals. Why should people who commit crimes be treated really well, using our money. It seems very unfair that the people who follow laws and work for money have to pay for an criminal to get surgery. No, I don't think we should treat them as if they are animals, but there should be something done where they work off what they cost.
I think there should be a program created so that the prisoners earn what there cost of living is to the state. Mrs. Graham talked about how they don't have fans, so start a workshop where prisioners can assemble the plastic fans. The companies would more than likely be happy to allow cheap labor to assemble their fans, plus it would give the inmates something to do. With the inmates making money to pay for their stay, the prisons could hire more people to watch them. The prisons whould also have more money for all of these surgeries and medications.
Personally I do not fill any obligation to these criminals. If they are going to be able to recieve: free room and board, medication, food, and free surgeries, they will never want to leave. It does not matter if they are in jail for stealing video tapes or for fraud. Prisoners are prisoners, they broke the law and are being punished. Those fans that were supplied to the one hundred and sixty inmates came from somewhere, and more than likely it was tax payers.
If prisoners made their own money that went straight to the prisons, then people can care more about how they are treated. If a prisoner was working hard and was making the money to have medicine and better food, than they should get it. There are already people who, once they get out of jail, come right back because they don't have the money to live on their own. Texas also has some program where the criminals work digging wholes or something and they eat peanut butter and jelly. It is just not right to take care of those who are committing crimes when their are people who do not have a place to live and are starving.

When listening to the stories and facts told by Ms. Graham in her lecture about the treatment of Alabama prisons I was shocked. I never quite knew how bad it was to be in a prison. In my mind I thought that each prisoner had his or her own cell and that it was quite boring. But in fact it is even worse. The conditions were inhumane and immoral no one should live under these conditions. What really struck me the most immoral was the medical attention that most prisoners got. Yes, these people broke the law and should be in prison but to deprive them for important medical attention is just wrong. I do not think that prisons conditions should resemble that in which we live in but I do think that something needs to be done about the situation. Even though the prisoners committed crimes, they are still humans and deserve to be treated properly.

First there needs to be more prisons in Alabama or additions to the old ones, this will then prevent the overcrowding. To get the money to solve this problem I agree with Rachel in having new taxes that could distribute more money for prisons. This would then solve the housing problems and also solve the problem of the prisons being under staff. . I think that also the time given for certain sentences should be rethought. Serving a 50 year sentence for stealing $150 in video tapes is a little too much. If the punishment could be taken down a notch then this also could lead to a solution to overcrowding. I think also that more people need to become aware of the problems in prisons. Speaking of the problem and having more people know about the conditions of the prisions. More people will be willing to solve the problem and create a solution for the treatment of the criminals