The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Jay A — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:53:52 -0000

My state makes some OTC medications available on commissary and then forces the inmates to buy such meds using money off their books (earned by working in prison for pennies or sent in from family or friends on the streets). However, most cold medicines are not available at all, d/t people abusing them or cooking meth in the joint.

I think this issue is only obliquely racist, merely by being in a system that has complex racial issues. Substandard medical treatment affects incarcerated people regardless of whether their skin color made it more likely for them to get locked up.

There is an epidemic of Hepatitis C in the joint, and people just do not understand the generational damage and burden we are causing by implementing wrong-headed policies like these.

Meanwhile, privatized medical companies low-bid each other to get the contracts in the state systems, and are forced to provide the bare minimum in healthcare services....

The main problem as I see it is that the legislators don't have a clue what really goes on in these places because they just look at numbers rather than the people that are being affected by their backwards policies.

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

GAPeach7 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:40:47 -0000

this is beyond embarassing and my brain will not compute Senate Resolution 632

smh

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Adam — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:01:51 -0000

My lovely Georgia also currently has a bill up sponsored by the Senate leader among many other Republicans that would secede it from the US if any gun control, campaign finance reform, or a host of other measures are ever passed by Congress. Oh, if only they would (right after I leave, of course).

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Persia — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:50:36 -0000

And if anyone wonders "How, in the 21st century, could tuberculosis be making a comeback?" they can look no further than public policy geniuses like these. Maybe they were hoping to resurrect smallpox.

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Bruce — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:14:23 -0000

So they went from a bill that basically strips people of their rights as inmates to a bill that screams of perpetual posturing??

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

Gramsci — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:14:16 -0000

Cold medicine in prison-- another way those African-Americans are stealing the hard-inherited money of Georgia Republicans. Prison-- where the labor is extracted for free but the Nyquil costs you.

Re: Conservatives For Criminal Justice Reform Pt.2

bonneville — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:12:43 -0000

Damn, racism ain't cheap is it?