Children going to jail

Medina, J. (2013). U.S. Charges 18 Sheriff's Officers in Inquiry Into Misconduct at Los Angeles Jails. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/us/18-charged-in-inquiry-into-los-angeles-sheriffs-office.html Per a single 2013 story, nearly twenty people were charged with offenses relating to misconduct and direct abuse of prisoners. I do agree with the general sentiment that jail should "feel" like punishment when it comes to restriction of freedom, activities and so forth. At the same time, prisoners should not be mistreated and assaulted just by virtue of being there.

If they initiate a fight or otherwise engage in violence, they should indeed be subdued. On the flip side, if they are treated like animals, they will often respond in kind. Some offenders that enter jail are already institutionalized and are otherwise conditioned to be used to jail and act in a violent and depraved manner. Gang members are a good and common example.

However, creating new monsters and criminals and not focusing on rehabbing people that commit crimes that are redeemable such as car theft and shoplifting is just contributory to the problem. This does not mean that they should not be punished. However, more hospitable jails that keep violent offenders separated from non-violent offenders and that treats the latter with grace and kindness so long as they behave is a better idea.

The idea is to help address their mental health, drug use and other issues rather than just ignore them and make them worse. Some will disregard that help and prison is where people like that belong. Secret, M. (2014). Year in Prison for Ex-Guard Who Had Child With Inmate. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/nyregion/year-in-jail-for-ex-guard-who-had-child-with-an-inmate.html Not unlike the article that I just looked at, this one proves that some prison guards exceed the policies and laws that affect their job to great degrees.

Direct abuse and assault is one thing but having any sort of sexual contact is obviously wrong. This was obviously the case for the guard mentioned in the story if a child was created as a result. There are certain industries where there are lines that should not be crossed, inside or outside of "work". Psychology and therapists are a good example but prison guards are as well. The ethical implications and guidelines in question are huge and cannot be disregarded.

The person who had the child with an inmate while the person was in jail is not something that can be accepted or allowed for and that person should never be a prison guard or in a job remotely that important ever again. The fact that the inmate in question was on death row at the federal level is even more vexing and concerning. NY Times. (2014). Opinion | When Children Become Criminals. Nytimes.com.

Retrieved 24 May 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/20/opinion/when-children-become-criminals.html Beyond misconduct and abuse, there is also the subject of children in prison. To be clear, "children" makes reference to anyone that is not a legal adult and that would include a lot of inmates that are sixteen.