Really, I sure didn't have the choice when I was on ship in the middle of the Atlantic. How about the guys in the field or in Afghanistan? You obviously have never served in the military. Its not like a civilian day job that is 9 to 5 and you have a restaurant on every corner.

If 'we' are to determine what is necessary and not necessary
for prisoners, we first need to decide if 'we' are jailing them
for rehabilitation or punishment..
some will be realiseed one day..isn't the goal to have their behaviors changed from those behaviors that got them locked up in the first place?
when a man is stripped of all his dignity, he has no reason to change.

obviously when one is ON THEIR JOB, they have to eat what the JOB provides, but when not ON THE JOB, they have the freedom to choose their meals and I really think the person that would want to have freedom taken from them just to have prison meals and a prison education probably has too many issues to begin with and is not the AVERAGE joe/jill

not to mention those in the service have medical benefits for their families automatically, unlike prisoners who are lucky if they even get to see them

there are MANY privileges to being FREE that no sane person would give up for the imagined 'luxuries' of prison

Dignity? Really? How much dignity do these criminals show their victims? Is it dignified to rape a woman or child? Or beat up an 80 year old woman to take her money? How about home invasions? How diginified was my ex when he hit me from behind and damaged my neck for life? How dignified is it to murder an innocent victim? These people never had any dignity to start with. I was very happy to hear my ex say he was treated like an animal when he got arrested. He deserved no less. I am glad to see our prison systems here are finally removing the luxuries like porn channels from the prison system and making it more unbearable. They are there to be punished not coddled. The military has a good system. You don't get smoke rights, tv rights, visit rights, etc. You want priveleges; you have to earn them by working and you don't get paid. When a guy gets out of one of our military jails; he has no desire to go back. Problem is our justice system is a joke. The bleeding hearts out there care more for the criminals than the victims. I have been a victim of crime a couple of times and I have no sympathy for these criminals if they are treated poorly. It truly makes me sick to my stomach when criminals are treated better than a law biding citizen.

Guess those idiots should have thought about their families before they were stupid enough to commit the crime. Why should their families have free medical? They are criminals and nothing more. We in the military are protecting the country in the military, these criminals are making it unsafe. Your logic makes no sense. You can't compare the military to criminals. They don't deserve any privileges and we have earned ours by putting our lives on the line.

it would make me sick too if it were true

or if I knew all the people in jail were the type of violent offender you describe

I am sure , however, that along with violent types are desperate types who stole or got into drugs on some level or any number of other 'crimes'



I am sure PLENTY of people leaving our 'justice' system also dont want to go back.

Lets not forget about how traumatic it is for the victim. Being a victim of crime; you never recover from it no matter how minor it is. They physcological damage done to the victims is overwhelming. I know since someone tried to break in my house that I jump out of my bed when the house settles. I know since my ex hit me from behind; I can't have anyone walk behind me and not be in fear. So while many cry about criminals being treated poorly; please give some thought to the physological damage they do to victims. There are people who are afraid to leave their houses that were mugged; others terrified to live in their houses because of a break in, women who can never have a normal relationhsip because of rape. You learn to cope after a crime with some counselling but you never ever get over it. Your life is forever changed and you don't have a lot of sympathy to these animals that victimized you. We can debate this forever but being a victim; I have a rather unique perspective on this.

This topic has gone way more in depth than I imagined. For those who have taken the time to get to know me wouldn't consider me a criminal. Fact is I'm a convicted felon. Not to make excuses for what I've done but only to explain how a person can go downhill & commit crimes. After 21 years of marriage I found myself out on the streets basically homeless shuffling from one friend to anothers place just to have a place to sleep & food. Booze & drugs became my companion. Found myself in an abusive relationship with a crack addict I became hooked on crack. After we exausted all options for living & had worn out any welcomed places to stay. My ex decided it'd be cool to rob a store I once worked at & after a beating I gave him the ins & outs on the security system, etc. He robbed the store while I waited several yards up the road in the car. I refused to answer the police's questions & took the fall for a man who didn't deserve it. Fast forward to jail time-Once arrested I entered the jail beaten all to hell & my medical was a baggy of neosporin to put on my abrasions. Need medical, you put in a request & if you were lucky the Dr would see you next week or next month. 3 meals a day? Stuff a hog would roll around in. After lockdown at night the guards would come in & take out women, sleeping with them, then returning them back to their cells every night. Luckily I never had to sleep with the guards tyo survive that hellhole. Take a shower while the guards watches from the tower. Even been called over the cell intercom telling you to go take a shower so they can get their jollies. Refuse them & you pay. You want it easy? Well, there's a price you have to pay to stay safe. You pizz someone off & you get the **** beat out of you!! Tell on someone & you might lose your life or wish you had. Outside rec? We called it the "hamster cage" it consisted of a block wall & all you could see was the sky. No grass, flowers, etc. Even after all that it was almost a relief to know where I was going to lay my head at night, where I was going to wake up, & knowing they wouldn't kick me out. I've done my time & now am finally trying to get back on solid ground. The nations mentality keeps knocking you down. But, I'm a surviver. I blame no one but myself!!