Now Who’s the Turkey?

From the desk of Elaib Harvey on Tue, 2007-06-19 07:43

This report from Staffordshire just sums up what is wrong with the British prison system.

Four heroin addict prisoners received thousands of pounds in compensation last year after being forced to go cold turkey. Two inmates at Stafford Prison, one at Sudbury Open Prison and one at Dovegate, near Uttoxeter, were each paid £3,807.

Tell me if I am wrong, but I believe that heroin is illegal. Next that these types were in prison for a reason, most probably due to criminal activity. Given that heroin is ilegal and they are in prison, it stands to reason that they should not be taking heroin.

Then why the devil are they being compensated for not breaking the law?

Ah now I see it,

Damages paid to the heroin addicts were approved by a High Court judge last year after their claims that the practice was an assault and breach of their human rights.

A breach of their human rights be damned. Utter tripe. Now I have no idea what they were banged up for, but knowing how hard it is to spend time at Her Majesty's Pleasure these days I doubt it was jaywalking. The judge must have been out of his tiny mind (any chance of a blood test Mi’Lord).

Cross Training in US Prisons

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Wed, 2007-06-20 13:47.

Jari ", prisoners in the US are placed in a gang like – culture, probably a lot worse than were they came from. I can only consider this a grave failure of the prison, if only because it diminishes the chances if reintegration into society., prisoners in the US are placed in a gang like – culture, probably a lot worse than were they came from. I can only consider this a grave failure of the prison, if only because it diminishes the chances if reintegration into society."

 

Yeah but the cross-training that goes on gives them great survival skills when they get out.  Murders learn how to carjack, carjackers to deal drugs and all this paid for by taxpayers!!!!!!

Beyond Stupid

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Wed, 2007-06-20 11:14.

"Europe unfortunately has gone beyond stupid, and that goes for the US to. It might just be time for another "French" revolution and guillotine all these pseudo royalty types in government and get back our sanity."

 

Works for me although after Israel starts WWIII by nuking Iran and Syria everything will probably change very quickly.

Human rights and national law

Submitted by Jari on Wed, 2007-06-20 12:37.

This example clearly illustrates the risk of interference of 'human rights' with national law, a good reason to be extremely careful with adopting a human rights paragraph within the European 'constitution'.

It can hardly be denied that the prevention heroin intake in a prison is formally the responsibility of the prison authority. And if the prison knows it fails in that sense, combined with the knowledge that 'cold turkey' with regard to heroin can be lethal, there is definitely reason for some sort of conviction.

If these arguments are valid, I do not understand why the British High Court refers to 'human rights' and not to national law that – I assume – contains enough ground for conviction. The article in the newspaper does however not provide enough information to decide that this is another example of an overly sentimental British High Court.

And to Amsterdamsky: privatisation of prisons is NOT a good idea, if we were to agree that corporations do not forfill a 'social duty'. From the information I received from TV, prisoners in the US are placed in a gang like – culture, probably a lot worse than were they came from. I can only consider this a grave failure of the prison, if only because it diminishes the chances if reintegration into society.

stupid is as stupid does

Submitted by pet85022 on Wed, 2007-06-20 01:23.

From one end of Europe to the other, Norway "crabs have feelings (we think), so you can't have a cooking show on how to cook crabs" England, someone who has purposefully injected themselves with heroin, with full forthough and knowledge on their part became a heroin addict, most probably committed numerous crimes against the civilian population to support this habit, can now sue the government for incarcerating them and forcing them to quit their habit.

We have a comedian over here, Larry the cable guy who has a semi-famous one line quip, " Yer can't fix stupid". Europe unfortunately has gone beyond stupid, and that goes for the US to.

It might just be time for another "French" revolution and guillotine all these pseudo royalty types in government and get back our sanity.

Res ipsa loquitur

Submitted by Mystery Meat on Tue, 2007-06-19 20:20.

Will jailed child molesters sue too? After all, they are cut off "cold turkey" from their addiction. Perhaps the judges on the High Court can loan their children or grandchildren to the prisoners so they can more comfortably taper off their addiction.

Easy to make more criminals just pass more laws

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Tue, 2007-06-19 16:53.

From Elaib.  "The point is that at present heroin is illegal."  So is smoking in Santa Monica.  The lethality is just in degrees.  Should we start rounding up nicotine addicts now and put them in prison?  OK, I am doding the real point I admit it.  Heroin withdrawal can be lethal (Jerry Garcia case in point).  Without offering methodone or some other assistance is probably considered neglect in the UK hence the settlement.  If a diabetic gets arrested I would think it is up to the police to make sure he has an adequate supply of insulin.

neglect

Submitted by markpetens on Tue, 2007-06-19 22:22.

There is nothing in the article that suggest any kind of neglect. But I do think there are cases where neglect does not come into place, such as a self-inflicted heroin addiction.

Not the point

Submitted by Elaib on Tue, 2007-06-19 15:33.

The point is not whether HMG or any other Government should prescribe what people do, or do not put inside their bodies. The point is that at present heroin is illegal. Thus it is patent absurdity for prisoners to claim a breach of their human rights to be stopped from doing something that is illegal.

Now if you want to take up the legalisation arguement, that is a different story.

Elaib Harvey

For profit prisons coming soon?

Submitted by Amsterdamsky on Tue, 2007-06-19 08:54.

The EU should be more like the US and have "for profit" prisons (very popular in California) then these same prisons can use their profits to lobby for more restrictive laws on non-violent crime (like pot smoking or heroin use, and blowing a .007% alcohol level when driving).  Why is Paris Hilton in jail?   Look closer....  Outpatient rehab is not profitable enough so you go to jail.

It is easy to make more criminals just pass more laws. BTW I am not advocating heroin use I just don't believe any government has the right to say what you can and can not do with your own health and body.