Comments on: Can’t we design better prisons?

By: Max K

Max K — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:22:10 +0000

I really like this idea! It makes a lot of good points! Why doesn't the U.S. try something like this? I think that this could work really well!

By: Michel Hauser

Michel Hauser — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:58:14 +0000

As a relative of a recently incarcerated person who tried desperately to obtain some rehabilitation in the prison system (one of the people who took "one small turn") in the U.S. (and received None), I see the need for this first hand. The current system is setup for inmates to fail upon release, and be in a worse position that they were previously to contribute to society. Changes must be made so inmates will succeed, and that will cost society less in the long run. I applaud these thoughtful ideas to help this forgotten but high risk population. Former prisoners can be more motivated than the average person–they have learned a lot from from mistakes and can be eager to learn and contribute.

By: Bryan Mischler

Bryan Mischler — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:39:02 +0000

I probably would not have contemplated this was valuable two or 3 months back, yet it is interesting how age evolves the way you react to things, thanks for the weblog article it really is pleasing to see something smart now as opposed to the usual rubbish disguised as blogs and forums on the internet. Cheers

By: Ed Reilly

Ed Reilly — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:06:51 +0000

The idea of pod, self-contained housing is not a new one, and in fact, history proves it to be quite effective for rehabilitation. Case in point, the original Alderson Federal women's prison included cottages with shared kitchen and dining spaces. I wrote a piece about it for the college newspaper at Bucknell University. It was a fun piece of Bucknell trivia, because Alderson was actually modeled after Bucknell University. A prison modeled after a school of higher education. What a brilliant idea! Unfortunately, the model was abandoned. You can read more from my article here: http://www.edreilly.com/alderson.pdf

By: Daniel Christadoss

Daniel Christadoss — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:46:50 +0000

Prisons would be an ideal place to research renewable energy applications.
Real transformation could occur if we could bring out the creative talent of the inmates in helping them make the prison into a self sustaining entity.
Every action of the inmates could be transformed into energy to run the prison. The inmates would get to see how their efforts are helping the planet.
A percentage of the inmates are really like all of us. It was probably one small wrong turn which took them to a correctional facility.
In fact getting each prisoner an iPad and letting them be part of the governing and managing process should be our ultimate aim.