When life in prison is too long: Debate over older prisoners

While I can understand the logic of what this article is saying, I thought that the point of putting people in prison was for punishment, not just a means to keep them out of trouble and/or hurting public.

Also, aren't there programs to 'employ' inmates or put them to work to help pay for their incarceration?

These old lifers are coming to realise the folly of their young ways, they deserve no sympathy or mercy and should be made to complete the sentence as handed down by the courts.

At the very most they could be moved to a remote island with basic housing facilities, to survive they farm and grow the food they need, they form their own society but remain apart from the free law abiding community outside of prison who have not committed crimes but who have worked and behaved as these old thugs should have when they were free.

Old age should not be a free pass for the trauma, horror and sorrow they bestowed on innocent people decades ago.

Did these old lags show their victims mercy ?

Tough paying debt to society, tougher living with the memory of a murdered loved one or the memory of the trauma of being the victim of a rape or armed violent robbery. Man up old man do the time and STFU.

jonobugsNov. 01, 2011 - 09:27AM JST While I can understand the logic of what this article is saying, I thought that the point of putting people in prison was for punishment, not just a means to keep them out of trouble and/or hurting public.

Actually the idea behind any legal/justice system is to rehabilitate people. Prison is necessary (in theory) only when the criminal being rehabilitated poses a danger to society and has to be separated from society while being rehabilitated.

... in reality justice has become a political issue and, as a result, incredibly unjust and wasteful.

Logically life sentences shouldn't exist, if someone poses a continuing danger to society with no hope of rehabilitation then they should be executed.

Life should indeed mean until the perpertrator takes their last breath. Their innocent victims were robbed of their right to exist, often in the most cruel and sadistic circumstances.. Life in prison is the alternative to the death sentence, but it has to mean just that, never to be released again into civilised soceity.

Execution is not the answer. I agree with ExportExpert. Spot on! (well, except for the STFU, that's a bit harsh).

Agree with everyone above. Though I strongly support execution for killers, i do understand sometimes justice fails and the wrong people get executed.

Life sentences for serious criminals such as murders should be taken as a blessing for these people. They robbed someone else of their life and that human being now cease to exist.

Why should the killer be given any single ounce of mercy. The justice system needs to deliver proper and correct justice for the victim. I really do not believe in rehabilitation for people like murders. That type of crime is too severe. Also rape, robbery with extreme violence, etc, etc

If we are talking about the petty shoplifter, pick pocket, etc, okay rehabilitation should be done but only for minor crimes.

Frungy, while I accept that one purpose of incarceration is for the hope of rehabilitation, the main purpose seems to be of punishment. Note that I am neither condoning nor complaining about this, but just stating what I have observed. If it were not for punishment, then why such backwards and barbaric treatment?

I also will concede that it is also meant to be a deterrent. I think the bit about capital punishment is a whole new topic, so I won't go into that.

I know this is going to sound a bit rough...but they should be happy they are in prison. They have a roof over their heads, food on their plates, TVs to view, a place to worship, people to talk to on an almost daily basis and health care. A lot of elderly do not have all of the above and some things, like health care can mean life or death to a person of their age. Although it would not be pleasant being in prison, they have a fairly secure life if they all choose to act civilized. However, if they were allowed to leave, where would they go? How would they get a job in such a poor economy with a criminal record and perhaps limited skills. Of course freedom is great, but if you don't have the stability behind it, it may fall apart.

I totally agree with life in prison... now here in Japan, it's sad to say but you can kill a person or persons and only get MAX 6 years. I swear nothing better happen to my family while I live here.. A 6 year sentence and a I'm sorry and oh here is some money ...wont help.

Actually the idea behind any legal/justice system is to rehabilitate people.

It is not "the" idea. It is "an" idea among several. For the crime of pre-meditated murder, there is only one reason I can see for such an offender to ever see the light of day again, and that is because mistakes happen.

Logically life sentences shouldn't exist, if someone poses a continuing danger to society with no hope of rehabilitation then they should be executed.

It is a rather low level of logic. I prefer use a higher level. Execution is never justified because killing, where it can be avoided, is wrong and because mistakes do happen. Life sentences, and I mean real life sentences, are the way to go for the most heinous crimes in a society that can have any claim to being civilized.

The gov't is wasting $55,000 a year keeping these scumbag murderers and rapists alive, and even giving them medical treatments? What a bunch of bull. They showed their victims no mercy, why should I? These losers have no human rights anymore so why should my friggin tax dollars pay for their lives in prison. Send them to antarctica and be done with them.

If you do not want to grow old in prison, do not commit the crime!