Tagged: penal system

Behind the Bars: Our Penal System’s Broken?

I don’t know if it’s broken completely, but I think that it may be bent. It will be hard to straighten out, but being conscious is a first step. I read the book Orange is the New Black earlier this year. I reviewed it and talked about how it made me think about our penal system and ponder, for just a second, about who is in there and how they got there. If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it. I definitely recommend watching this video of Piper Kerman speaking about her experience and quoting some numbers about how many people we had incarcerated in the 80’s and how many we have behind bars now.

It costs so much money to feed, house and clothe these people who are in for non-violent crimes. I wonder how many of those people we would choose as a collective nation to keep there if we could hear their individual stories? Something to think about from the comfort of your home or office. It’s a conundrum to be sure and quite possibly it’s one you haven’t given much thought to.

Week 40: Orange is the New Black

Sarah Rooney review of Orange is the New Black

Wow, what a read! I promise to be good.

♥♥♥♥ This book made me really question my beliefs about our penal system. Of course, how would I know for sure what it’s like on the inside having never been there myself? But what if, and it could happen, I did something stupid? Or what if I was the victim of a drug smuggling ring and something was found in my suitcase that I had nothing to do with? What if I didn’t know that smuggling peanut butter into Ireland was illegal… is it? What I’m trying to point out is, what the hell would I do if I, a middle class, educated woman got sent up?

Well, Piper did bring it on herself, but I can’t count the times in the book where I gasped out loud, or shook my head at the absurdities about her case, and about the system once she was in. I love her “voice”, her attitude and her fortitude because I’m just not sure I’d make it. I have no doubt that it would be a sure-fire weight loss trick for me, but I think I’d rather remain pleasantly plump, and in charge of my own life, thanks though.