Comments on: One Man, One Woman, One Prison and How We Stop a Health and Human Rights Disaster http://phrblog.org/blog/2009/04/03/one-man-one-woman-one-prison-and-how-we-stop-a-health-and-human-rights-disaster/ Advancing health, dignity and justice Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:16:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jean Blum http://phrblog.org/blog/2009/04/03/one-man-one-woman-one-prison-and-how-we-stop-a-health-and-human-rights-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-1429 Jean Blum Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:09:21 +0000 http://phrblog.org/?p=794#comment-1429 Thank you for the compliments, Kathleen. While working with detainees l became aware that thousands of inmates all over U.S. are overcrowded in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, putting the community at large in danger of contagion, particularly TB. Then, upon eventual release with no money, no way to make a living, like as not having lost their families, they are in worse shape than when they went in. The cost of the damage done throughout our "justice" system boggles the mind, and everybody pays. The story is simple, it seems to me: While the tax-payers are paying $141 per night per bed, some folks, corporations and whole industries are getting rich. There is a big incentive to keep incacerating and to keep the incarcerated exactly where they are. Where the buck stops is anybody's guess- but the costs are all shared; no one is immune. In my opinion the money spent needs to go into prevention, into school programs that leave every kid proud, hopeful and eager to contribute. Then we must insure opportunities to work for everyone....What we are reaping now is the harvest that we sowed. Unless we dramatically change our criminal policies as a nation, conditions will only get worse for immigration detainees innocent of any crime, and for us all as well. So yes, do get involved. It is the public's business; it is your business even if you are not a humanitatian since it is you who are footing the bill. Jean Blum. Thank you for the compliments, Kathleen.
While working with detainees l became aware that thousands of inmates all over U.S. are overcrowded in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, putting the community at large in danger of contagion, particularly TB. Then, upon eventual release with no money, no way to make a living, like as not having lost their families, they are in worse shape than when they went in. The cost of the damage done throughout our “justice” system boggles the mind, and everybody pays.

The story is simple, it seems to me: While the tax-payers are paying $141 per night per bed, some folks, corporations and whole industries are getting rich. There is a big incentive to keep incacerating and to keep the incarcerated exactly where they are. Where the buck stops is anybody’s guess- but the costs are all shared; no one is immune.

In my opinion the money spent needs to go into prevention, into school programs that leave every kid proud, hopeful and eager to contribute. Then we must insure opportunities to work for everyone….What we are reaping now is the harvest that we sowed. Unless we dramatically change our criminal policies as a nation, conditions will only get worse for immigration detainees innocent of any crime, and for us all as well.

So yes, do get involved. It is the public’s business; it is your business even if you are not a humanitatian since it is you who are footing the bill.

Jean Blum.

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