MovieChat Forums > Happy Valley (2014) Discussion > QUESTION: Is Your Prison System REALLY T...

QUESTION: Is Your Prison System REALLY That Accomidating??!

posted 8 years ago by General_Haberdashery
8 replies | jump to latest

Okay England, my jaws dropping. 😐

Do prisoners really get TV's, video game systems, and what looks like a comfortable room in a hostel? The ability to open and close the doors as they choose?

Officers stopping by and saying 'good morning'?

Do they really get let out of prison to attend a funeral?

Get to have visitors up close and personal like Tommy was with that woman he was stringing along?

Even if they are a cop killing murderous rapists?

Watched one BBC show where a murderer was allowed to work at a bakery under supervision during the day and just return back to the prison in the evening. Marcella I believe it was.

I'm shocked because the prison system in the States is an absolute nightmare.
It's murderous, abusive, corrupt and vile.

I've known people who didn't make it out of the system and those that have were mentally scarred.

And it's not just my personal experience via people I know, you can Google and see some of the insane footage like the video of inmates serving themselves food next to showers with zero supervision, adequate tools, or proper food, or just read the story of Jamycheal Mitchell who stole a $5 candy bar and ended up dying of starvation naked in a cell covered in his own feces four months later.

Our mentally ill are often tossed out on the streets in medical gowns with no where to go.

I'm both alarmed at the level of freedom prisoners seem to have over there, and impressed at the level of humanity afforded them.

So tell me, is this just TV taking liberties for the sake of storytelling or is this reality?

Please educate me.

Thanks!

[–] Daveb1702 8 years ago

Yes most British prisons are like that, games consoles, flat screen TVs, satellite channels etc. Visiting is as it looks, face to face. Most say our prison system is too soft, there are a few established well known prisons that aren't as comfortable. They probably provide comfortable jails because Britain worries about human rights, even for prisoners.

We also have some Open Prisons, for lesser crimes and more trusted prisoners. Cells are not locked and there's no perimeter security. Prisoners can leave and come back of their own accord for the purpose of job hunting etc.

[–] ironduke74 8 years ago

go and check out Norwegian Prisons they are like **** hotels and they have far less violence and dont re-offend as much as our prisons.

The american prison system is disgusting, its just a way to make money out of poor blacks and latinos

[–] eileen-guthrie555 8 years ago

Well, then tell them to stop committing crimes. They're there for a reason. I once worked in family court and saw some of the damage parents do to their children, many repeat offenders. Because their skin is black, brown or whatever color, they still terrorized their own children and some very violently. One case I worked on, a black man woke up in the morning in a "bad mood" (according to his attorney), he told his 4 kids to get ready for school. He had a good job (high paying job at Johnson & Jonson) and his wife also worked and we lived in a affluent community.

But, one child didn't move fast enough for him so he kicked him down the stairs. He had broken some ribs, dislocated his son shoulder and broke his wrist. We had to hear all the horror stories when the kids didn't move quick enough, when they didn't listen good enough. I still remember the tears when one of the emergency room nurse testified regarding all 4 kids and wife's numerous injuries and an orthopedist surgeon testified to the previous injuries that never healed properly or the burn specialist that had to provide details to his youngest daughter, 6 years old who didn't pay attention when her father asked her to do something. So she would remember again to pay attention next time and put her ear on the burner on their stove, burning part of her ear off. Neighbors called police.. this went on for years. When police came to the house he complained of harassment and racism. His wife finally took the kids and went to the county abuse center, where she finally talked about her husbands abuse to her and their 4 kids. He eventually went to prison, lost his job and was ordered to never contact his wife or children. If he did, the judge would add 5 more years on to his sentence.

So, this was going on in a community with million dollar homes and famous celebrities who lived in it, 8 sport stars, 5 actors, 2 television host and a very famous writer. This wasn't an isolated case, every race, religious beliefs were in family court. I only have so much compassion and empathy for the victims or not for those who committed crimes of any color or religious affiliation. Not for the abusers. Sorry.

[–] eileen-guthrie555 8 years ago

Then what's their punishment for breaking the law(s), committing 3 murder(s)? What else do they get? Spa treatment, a Jacuzzi, a masseuse. Soft? That's an understatement. Do they get a new car because if they do, I'm moving to England and I'm going to commit a crime. If you can order take out I'll be there by Saturday.

From beheading, hangings, disembowelment, drawn and quartered to a 3/4 star motel. We do have open jails for non-violent criminals that get work release and return to jail at the end of the day. Do they care about the rights of their victims at all or their families? Because that cop was married and had a family and he ran her over 4 times like her head was a honeydew melon. Somethings wrong with that and he had a record from previously violent crime. There has to be something in between beheading and 3 star motel accommodations?

[–] ironduke74 8 years ago

freedom? He was locked in a cell.

[–] sdnistriam 8 years ago

With a remote control TV. This was a murderer.Three meals a day private room visitors.No way!!!

[–] DBloodnok 8 years ago

Judge a society by the way it treats its prisoners.

"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."

[–] bjorne90 8 years ago

A Russian guy went to Sweden and knocked some one down because he thought he would be better off in a Swedish prison than in Russia. But I still believe "soft" prison is better. Who suffer the most in an American prison, who are raped and abused? Mostly not the worst guys, the worst guys are the ones that survive and can live like kings in a prison.