I'm of the school of thoughts that we should have more psych wards than prisons.
The concept of a prison is said to be to rehabilitate or/and serve as punishment to those who commit crimes. While it may serve the latter, its methods and construct does nothing for the former.
I believe crime is more of a psychological problem than a learned activity.
Every crime is named and so, can be characterized... It is the nature of a criminal to either be psychopathic, sociopathic, narcissistic, bipolar, aggressive, possessive, power centric, entitlement syndrome, pathological, liars, impulsive, low or/and high self esteem, self absorbed and many more other traits, all of which are more psychological or neurotic in nature.
How then can a prison system and construct be the best fit for solving these problems.?
The current system is more like a garbage truck, throwing away everything that seems to no longer be of use, mixing both toxic trash and something of just lesser value together in a bag.
How can a man who is charged for stealing bread be sent to the same place and made to share a room with another who is charged for murder, someone who has killed over 60 people but is only charged for one because he could get away with the others for the sake of his strong ties to a cult or gang.
Imagine the man who committed murder has premium lawyers and was only serving 14years, out of which, he would have served 10 when the man who stole bread is sent his way to share a room for 4 years.
Aside other mental instabilities the thief may suffer, the nature of mutual relationship would take effect and soon, the psychopathic murderer would have influenced the low self esteemed thief with a confidence to steal better and aim higher.
On release, rather than have a reformed thief and an empathetic murderer, you'd have two psychopathic killers, one with a protege and the other with a new taste for blood.
Thus why I propose this initiative of creating more psych wards than prisons. If crimes are seen as the mental illnesses and neurological flaws in the human beings as they are, it becomes more treatable and managed as isolation and placement would become more intentional and distinct based on the mental state of the criminal
This article also understands and gives room to the idea that the use of mental homes in place of prison, if carried out and structured appropriately would in a way increase crime rates due to economic instability as people would resort to committing crimes in exchange for a place to sleep, be looked after and taught.
However, I still believe that this is a more suitable solution to crime and criminals than what we have today.
With this, we can determine who got better, who should be kept permanently and alone, who is allowed to associate with who and who can be returned back to society.
If the sanity of a person is well tested, chances are, his or her activities are more predictable, observable and can be prepared and well provided for.
From me, to you, with love and a little bit of sense. Cheers.
Scott C. Eneje
