I was astonished to read From Prisoners to Good Neighbors in the L.A.Times, reporting “a new vision for San Quentin,” where Governor Gavin Newsom is changing the prison to Norway’s model that perhaps only Michael Moore and I talk about publicly -- and I’ve talked about it a lot.
You're low for the U.S. "Recidivism Imprisons American Progress" https://harvardpolitics.com/recidivism-american-progress. "When prisoners are released in Norway, they stay out of prison. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at 20%. The U.S. has one of the highest: 76.6% of prisoners are rearrested within five years."
Hi, Sue ~ As you well know, this topic is right up my alley. I've conducted several weekend seminars here in Sedona on alternatives to incarceration, and I've used the Norway and other Scandinavian models as examples. I think we're headed toward the "game-changing" moment that "Future historians," as Alvin Toffler wrote in his seminal book, 'Future Shock,' will look back on this very period of time in human history and declare it the dividing line between civilized and uncivilized humankind"...what you termed "barbaric," which we truly are right now by comparison with where we could be by simply being willing to understand there are better ways. FAR better ways...and easier.
What a treasure trove. It is so impressive. The bigger box that contains all of these separate things is our criminal justice system, based on punishment. When we get enlightened, we'll base it on rehabilitation, and that will change every aspect that you've presented. We even have a model to go by and it's puzzling how this already proven improvement on what we do is ignored. No doubt because it works with the fundamentals of a world that needs to shift from personal aggrandizement to where we care about each other as much as we care about ourselves. That's the HUGE system change we desperately need.
This humane solution needs to be added to and compared with other humane ones, then contrasted with the ways our humanity is diminished. Would make a significant research project.
People need a plan, an organization and/or a leader with a strong voice and purpose, or "a willingness to understand" is just a nice-sounding catch-phrase that will go the way of "random acts of kindness," which is still alive somewhere, I've heard...but not exactly a call to arms, speaking metaphorically.
Enough people are waking up (not "woke"...puhleeze), that the game is slowly, gradually changing ala the 100th Monkey process that will ultimately steer those who are waking up away from the distant cliffs humanity is headed toward like lemmings. BUT, those who are oblivious to the greater changes now underway aren't even going to try to understand until their toys and distractions are gone and whomever is the emperor du jour nor any of his dominions are found to have any clothes. They're not much better off than their ancestors were at the Roman Colosseum.
Brugh Joy said once...maybe several times..."As to enlightenment, you can't load up the buses and take them there." And so I'll work with those who want the help and the guidance and kindness and compassion that we hold dear. The rest I will just sigh and wish them well...
People will say, it won’t work, but it looks like it does. Obviously the way we’ve been doing it’s not working so this seems like a smart way to approach it.
I can see Sue that you're very identified with the improved Norwegian prison system. But I can't help but see this "unless they are not rehabilitated" part as....who is going to decide what "rehabilitated" is? So if you're in jail it doesn't matter whether you really did it...it matters whether you behaved according to what "we" (who ever that is) decides is "rehabilitated". Honesty, I'm a social worker so I know what it's like to be identified with "doing good". It really feels like the right thing to do. But it's not really better because being treated more humanely shouldn't be at the cost of having someone else decide if your rehabilitated or not.
This is amazing news, Suzanne, re. Gov. Newsom changing the prison model for San Quentin to Norway's model! You have been praising Norway's restorative model for prisoners for years and I am sure must have inspired either Newsom or his staff to see the light. Its wonderful when politicians demonstrate real leadership!
So .......... By 2025, San Quentin will become “the largest center of rehabilitation, education and training in the California prison system, and maybe the nation." It certainly seems that there is a movement going on. Times may well be a-changing. At last!!
You're low for the U.S. "Recidivism Imprisons American Progress" https://harvardpolitics.com/recidivism-american-progress. "When prisoners are released in Norway, they stay out of prison. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at 20%. The U.S. has one of the highest: 76.6% of prisoners are rearrested within five years."
I feel like the LA Times needed to give you a shout out for inspiring their article. Great job being ahead of the curve Suzanne!
Hi, Sue ~ As you well know, this topic is right up my alley. I've conducted several weekend seminars here in Sedona on alternatives to incarceration, and I've used the Norway and other Scandinavian models as examples. I think we're headed toward the "game-changing" moment that "Future historians," as Alvin Toffler wrote in his seminal book, 'Future Shock,' will look back on this very period of time in human history and declare it the dividing line between civilized and uncivilized humankind"...what you termed "barbaric," which we truly are right now by comparison with where we could be by simply being willing to understand there are better ways. FAR better ways...and easier.
it is hopeful
Not only is our prison system, that's focused on punishment, where prisoners get hardened instead of rehabilitated, so detrimental to the greater good, but there's also the financial corruption that we pay for in taxes! "Wall Street’s New Prison Scam": https://www.levernews.com/wall-streets-new-prison-scam/?utm_source=newsletter-email&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=newsletter-article
I've subscribed to Beth Shelburne who is so on it with the abuses of our system. Here's a comment I put on this: https://bethshelburne.substack.com/p/this-week-injustice-jan-29-2024
What a treasure trove. It is so impressive. The bigger box that contains all of these separate things is our criminal justice system, based on punishment. When we get enlightened, we'll base it on rehabilitation, and that will change every aspect that you've presented. We even have a model to go by and it's puzzling how this already proven improvement on what we do is ignored. No doubt because it works with the fundamentals of a world that needs to shift from personal aggrandizement to where we care about each other as much as we care about ourselves. That's the HUGE system change we desperately need.
Read up on Norway's system: "This could be a game changer" https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/this-could-be-a-game-changer.
This humane solution needs to be added to and compared with other humane ones, then contrasted with the ways our humanity is diminished. Would make a significant research project.
People need a plan, an organization and/or a leader with a strong voice and purpose, or "a willingness to understand" is just a nice-sounding catch-phrase that will go the way of "random acts of kindness," which is still alive somewhere, I've heard...but not exactly a call to arms, speaking metaphorically.
Enough people are waking up (not "woke"...puhleeze), that the game is slowly, gradually changing ala the 100th Monkey process that will ultimately steer those who are waking up away from the distant cliffs humanity is headed toward like lemmings. BUT, those who are oblivious to the greater changes now underway aren't even going to try to understand until their toys and distractions are gone and whomever is the emperor du jour nor any of his dominions are found to have any clothes. They're not much better off than their ancestors were at the Roman Colosseum.
Brugh Joy said once...maybe several times..."As to enlightenment, you can't load up the buses and take them there." And so I'll work with those who want the help and the guidance and kindness and compassion that we hold dear. The rest I will just sigh and wish them well...
A very persuasive statistic: "In the United States, an estimated two-thirds of people released from prison re-offend. In Norway, it’s about 20%."
People will say, it won’t work, but it looks like it does. Obviously the way we’ve been doing it’s not working so this seems like a smart way to approach it.
There are perhaps a dozen essential reforms to Make America Sane Again. This is one of them. Money out of Politics is of course high up there.
I can see Sue that you're very identified with the improved Norwegian prison system. But I can't help but see this "unless they are not rehabilitated" part as....who is going to decide what "rehabilitated" is? So if you're in jail it doesn't matter whether you really did it...it matters whether you behaved according to what "we" (who ever that is) decides is "rehabilitated". Honesty, I'm a social worker so I know what it's like to be identified with "doing good". It really feels like the right thing to do. But it's not really better because being treated more humanely shouldn't be at the cost of having someone else decide if your rehabilitated or not.
This is amazing news, Suzanne, re. Gov. Newsom changing the prison model for San Quentin to Norway's model! You have been praising Norway's restorative model for prisoners for years and I am sure must have inspired either Newsom or his staff to see the light. Its wonderful when politicians demonstrate real leadership!
So .......... By 2025, San Quentin will become “the largest center of rehabilitation, education and training in the California prison system, and maybe the nation." It certainly seems that there is a movement going on. Times may well be a-changing. At last!!
Excellent! Though clearly not sadistic enough to satisfy the deep-seated primal lust for vengeance that so many Americans seem to have.
Amazing difference. Good for you for informing people about it.