STORM2K

See...this backs up my theory, this is WHY we NEED more Sheriff Joe Arpaios in this world

http://www.azcentral.com

State prisoners outlive those on outside, data say
Rates are especially good for Black inmates

Associated Press
Jan. 22, 2007 12:00 AM


WASHINGTON - State prison inmates, particularly Blacks, are living longer on average than people on the outside, the government said Sunday.

Inmates in state prisons are dying at an average yearly rate of 250 per 100,000, according to the latest figures reported to the Justice Department by state prison officials.

By comparison, the overall population of people from age 15 to 64 is dying at a rate of 308 per 100,000 a year. advertisement




For Black inmates, the rate was 57 percent lower than among the overall Black population, or 206 vs. 484. But White and Hispanic prisoners both had death rates slightly above their counterparts in the overall population.

The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics said 12,129 state prisoners died from 2001 through 2004.

Eight percent were murdered or killed themselves, 2 percent died of alcohol, drugs or accidental injuries, and 1 percent of the deaths could not be explained, the report said.

The remainder of the deaths, 89 percent, were due to medical reasons. Of those, two-thirds of inmates had the medical problem they died of before they were admitted to prison.

Medical problems that were most common among both men and women in state prisons were heart disease, lung and liver cancer, liver diseases and AIDS-related causes.

But the death rate among men was 72 percent higher than among women. Nearly one-quarter of the women who died had breast, ovarian, cervical or uterine cancer.

Four percent of the men who died had prostate or testicular cancer.

More than half of the inmates 65 or older who died in state prisons were at least 55 when they were admitted to prison.

State prison officials reported that 94 percent of their inmates who died of an illness had been evaluated by a medical professional for that illness, and 93 percent got medication for it.

Eighty-nine percent of these inmates had gotten X-rays, MRI exams, blood tests and other diagnostic work, state prison officials told the bureau.

Hey, that's an idea!!!! You think they could get my blood pressure under control.

pitiful

we need to stop rewarding criminals. Right now, a homeless person should just commit a crime, they get a home and decent food every day.

Now, if they were facing nothing but 20 years of bread covered with mold and awful tasting water as their only food and drink... maybe then some would think twice about commiting a crime

Yeah they certainly do learn that jail can be the "good life" for them.. Although it is better than having them continue to commit crimes. Soo many repeat offenders..

Derek Ortt wrote:pitiful

we need to stop rewarding criminals. Right now, a homeless person should just commit a crime, they get a home and decent food every day.

Now, if they were facing nothing but 20 years of bread covered with mold and awful tasting water as their only food and drink... maybe then some would think twice about commiting a crime

That's exactly right Derek! It's estimated in Arizona right now that it costs an AVERAGE of $35,000 per prisoner, per YEAR to house, feed and medical costs Most of that I would assume is medical costs! I mean Christ, these people are 10x's better off than most of us.

It's a proven fact that someone who serves a 20 year sentence has approximately a 99.5% of returning to prison because they can't make it on the outside, why not?

Aftering volunteering at a homeless shelter for 6 years, I know how bad their conditions can be. Especially in the cold Canadian winter. They pretty much have no where to go, they don't eat a lot and it's -20C outside at night, prison is Heaven in their eyes. They usually only commit crimes such as attempted robbery or break and enter or minor assault; just so their prison term is during the winter months and they can be back out in good weather.

azsnowman wrote:It's a proven fact that someone who serves a 20 year sentence has approximately a 99.5% of returning to prison because they can't make it on the outside, why not?

Are there any special programs for prisoners to help them get back on track, like training so they can get a job once they're free or to help them get rid of any pshychiatric problems they might have?

Yarrah wrote:

azsnowman wrote:It's a proven fact that someone who serves a 20 year sentence has approximately a 99.5% of returning to prison because they can't make it on the outside, why not?

Are there any special programs for prisoners to help them get back on track, like training so they can get a job once they're free or to help them get rid of any pshychiatric problems they might have?

They have full access to psychiatric help and even learn trades in Prison in many cases.. There are shelters for them to adjust when they leave as well. There is plenty of help out there. They are simply making a choice and not sucking it up to make it happen.. Crime does pay. Heck we had a guy who robbed a bank and admitted it was his retirement plan...he never commited a crime prior and the judge atmitted it was not such a bad choice..

With all respect, Dennis, I wonder about those statistics. Deaths per 100,000 population does not seem to be the best way to measure this trend. I'm thinking that the average age of prisoners is much less than the average age of the general population. Younger population = fewer deaths. In that study, the study group was ages 16 to 64 which seems contrived. I don't think that's a meaningful study. I would like to see the average age at death. No doubt that the health care, three squares a day, and a controlled environment help them avoid premature death, but I think that they need to study that a little more carefullly before reaching any conclusions.

coriolis wrote:With all respect, Dennis, I wonder about those statistics. Deaths per 100,000 population does not seem to be the best way to measure this trend. I'm thinking that the average age of prisoners is much less than the average age of the general population. Younger population = fewer deaths. I would like to see the average age at death. No doubt that the health care, three squares a day, and a controlled environment help them avoid premature death, but I'd look into the effect of age before reaching any conclusions.

Ed, let me se if Iif I can pull up some stats on that...I remember doing a paper for my finals in criminal justice on the aging population of our prison systems, the stats were UNREAL...let me do some research and see if I can't find my paper (which I got a 100% on of course ).

That sounds good Dennis. You must have jumped right on that because while you were quoting me and replying I went and edited my post. Anyways, let us know what you come up with. I'll be the first to admit that I'm wrong if confronted with convincing data.

I wonder about the accuracy of that report. Having been locked up as a young man I can testify that jail is an incredibly stressful environment and many long term inmates suffer from ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, etc. Many enter jail in poor health but others develop issues due to the stress level and diet behind bars.

My town is putting finishing touches on a new county jail and I got to get a tour of it today because my dad works there. It took us over 2 hours to get through the whole place and was a ton of walking, but it was extremely informative.

There are 4 separate living areas that are based on the severity of the crimes. There are going to be 40 something inch plasma screen TVs installed in the day rooms, which I thought was a little crazy. The most trusted inmates get to help with cooking and run the printshop. There are a couple classrooms, a computer lab, 3 examining rooms, a pharmacy and a dentists chair inside the jail. The place has something like 160 cameras and doors that can only be locked and unlocked from a central control room, so everything is very carefully monitored.

The old jail is around 120 years old and is getting overcrowded, so i bet a lot of inmates get sick and die in there, but I think with the conditions in this new building, inmates will live longer.

goodgal996 wrote:My town is putting finishing touches on a new county jail and I got to get a tour of it today because my dad works there. It took us over 2 hours to get through the whole place and was a ton of walking, but it was extremely informative.

There are 4 separate living areas that are based on the severity of the crimes. There are going to be 40 something inch plasma screen TVs installed in the day rooms, which I thought was a little crazy. The most trusted inmates get to help with cooking and run the printshop. There are a couple classrooms, a computer lab, 3 examining rooms, a pharmacy and a dentists chair inside the jail. The place has something like 160 cameras and doors that can only be locked and unlocked from a central control room, so everything is very carefully monitored.

The old jail is around 120 years old and is getting overcrowded, so i bet a lot of inmates get sick and die in there, but I think with the conditions in this new building, inmates will live longer.

Prisoners are provided with entertainment because bored prisoners spend their time thinking about how to break out.

Plus, in most states, every inmante in a county jail is innocent. Those found guilty are moved to state prisons.

No thanks, I would much rather have my freedom.

I doubt the accuracy of the report, and at any rate, I'd rather enjoy my short life than to suffer through a hard and long life.

And also, we still live in an age of Enlightenment, where rehabilitation comes before punishment in jail.

wxmann_91 wrote:I doubt the accuracy of the report, and at any rate, I'd rather enjoy my short life than to suffer through a hard and long life.

And also, we still live in an age of Enlightenment, where rehabilitation comes before punishment in jail.

Let me tell ya from experience and education....rehab for the biggest part does NOT work for the common criminal. Just like being gay, criminal minds are born...they are not learned habits.

For instance, we had this 14 yr. old kid in my neighborhood, who, no matter what, was a repeat offender. This kid was in trouble since the age of 9!! Burglary, drugs/poss. of drugs for sale/paraphernallia, criminal damage just to list a *few* of his arrests...he was sentenced to 2 years intensive probation, house arrest and 2 yrs. intensive rehab. in one of the states finest facalities, 2 months after his release, he broke into a house AGAIN...this time he was caught in the act. I'm PROUD to say that YES...I was one of the first on scene and now he's gone for "4" years in a juvy detention center in Tucson and once he's released from there? The state pen in Florence for 10 years for countless parole/probation violations PLUS when he was caught this last time...he had 5 oz. of pot for sale in his possesion.

I'm sorry...once a criminal, ALWAYS a criminal, it's a genetic/heridatary (sp) thing and NO amount of rehab will work...I've seen it TOO many times.

^^ Then how come 80% percent of the criminals here who recieve special psychotherapy never commit a crime anymore?

Yarrah wrote:^^ Then how come 80% percent of the criminals here who recieve special psychotherapy never commit a crime anymore?

The public in the US, in general, don't understand the difference between a criminal and a psychopath.

European style rehab programs work. There's no denying that. The trouble in the US is there is very little public support for rehab programs (which are far more extensive that pre-release programs).

It saves money and decreases crime, but the US is very big on revenge, the greater good be damned.

I'm sorry...once a criminal, ALWAYS a criminal, it's a genetic/heridatary (sp) thing and NO amount of rehab will work...I've seen it TOO many times.

Gonna have to beg to differ with u there Dennis. I agree that once a continuing pattern of criminal activity is established the chances of rehabilitation are small but there are a LOT of people out there who commit crimes out of youthful stupidity or desperation, many times while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, who serve their time and then lead productive law abiding lives.

Dont get me wrong. I do believe people that commit certain crimes do not deserve a second chance. But Im not gonna lump all criminals into one basket.