Prisons

* A move is afoot in California to release thousands of prisoners to help with crowded prisons and a budget crisis

* Great contention abounds over the-3-strikes-law in California with a 25 year mandatory sentence, which changed the prison population from 23,511 in 1980 to 162,000 in 2000.
* Yet a larger concern exists for the population of prisoners who are not offenders of societal law but rather state law. Succinctly has the penalty for crimes against the state increased compared to crimes against society/humans and personal property.

Thoughts from Charles Dickens - October 1842 "American Notes"

Philadelphia, and its solitary prison:
"In the outskirts, stands a great prison, called the Eastern Penitentiary: conducted on a plan peculiar to the state of Pennsylvani. The system here, is rigid, strict, and hopeless solitary confinement. It believe it, in its effects, to be cruel and wrong. ...............continue here.....

Therefore.....

Our continued use of a system, over a prolonged period of time, especially with prisoners who committed a non-violent crime and are eligible for release, has grave reprecussions on society upon their release.

Greater concern would be continuing to use a system, which 100 years ago was questioned, and then providing early release WITHOUT rehabilitation or education. When released into society, will prisoners subject to solitary confinement for extended periods, be not only unprepared but also unable to deal with said society. Are they merely tools of a government bent on controlling the masses with instigated civil unrest?