134 convicts pass away as a consequence of a fire

Uncle; Thanks very much. That is a very nice thing.

To the others in this forum; In the Public Jail of the Higüey, 134 convicts pass away (Government said that, we believe that are more); as a consequence of a fire. The cause; gang confrontation inside the penitentiary.

These days are very depressing days. In this ANNO DOMINI of 2005, that is supposed to not happen in a jail, my God, 134 victims. I do not care that they are convicts; they are human beings.

The guilty of that; the very deprived, terrible, dreadful, horrific and appalling government. The Jails in Republica Dominicana are horrific. The convict no has rights, hundreds of convict in the same little jail.

Also No water. Horrific food. No medication. In addition, the Country has a big problem of illegal Narcotics.

Where is the ONU and the other human organization? My God, a human being, even a criminal, does not deserve to die like that.

 

That penitentiary was assemble for no more than 80 persons. However, the Goverment deposit in that dungeon, close to 550 convicted Human Beings.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11077222.htm

 

Gee,

134 convicts pass away as a result of a fire. Cause of the fire? Gang confrontation in iron bars hotel! In other words, these idiots did it to themselves! Hardly an example of government oppression!

 

Re: Re: 134 convicts pass away as a consequence of a fire

Mr. Heiks? Methinks that you, with your many degrees and relative life of privilege, should spend just 24 hours in a prison such as the one described in this post. Perhaps it would give you a new perspective on human compassion, something your business school apparently did NOT teach you....
- Carl

 

I was an innocent man tossed in a Kenyan prison for three weeks some years back. As an American, it was hard to take the lack of rights and total disregard for the prisoners welfare. I pity anyone in jails in the developing world. I still sortof pity myself for the experience.

 

They didn't all set the fire. I worked as a prison chaplain for a year. I finished that year a lot less sympathetic to criminals than I began it. But what happened in Higuey was godawful and I agree totally with Dr Latin Juris (and, mutatis mutandis, with Khan) on its horror.

 

A big problem in both the developed and undeveloped world is the criminal justice system in general and penology in particular. It tends to be the last item funded by governments the world over and is considered the lowest priority within the respective criminal justice systems. Regardless of whether one thinks that the convicts actions caused their deaths (we don't know if they were all serving sentences following convictions or if they were pre-trial detainees), a government has the responsibility to a certain minimum level of housing, food, medical care and security for those it incarcerates. Unless you are under the mistaken impression that those in jail will never get out, the prisoners will eventually come back into society. Studies show that inhumane treatment (abuse and neglect) will not serve as a deterrent to future crimes but will instead create a wider gap that the ex-convict needs to cross to return to a productive role in society. Treatment and punishment are not mutually exclusive and the most effective comprehensive correctional programs recognize and incorporate both elements.

This isn't an issue that easily fits the Left/Right, Liberal/Conservative paradigm that has so sadly become the framework for virtually everything in today's world.

 

Re: Re: Re: 134 convicts pass away as a consequence of a fire

I usually have little compassion for convicts, but I have seen some really bad third world prisons (some right here in the good ole US of A) - I would wish this on no one.

I was reading a commentary in the Mercury News the other day. It was written by a former convict who served 6 years in the CYA. It went on and on about the "cruel conditions", no rehab, etc. My heart just bleed (NOT). If you served 6 years as a youthful offender, then it was for a violent crime (murder, rape, etc). Jails suck - that is why they call it jail. I don't want convicts to die in prison fires, etc, but lets face it, if you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime. (just ask Robert Blake - lol)

Cheers -

W (with 3 hours sleep in the last 48 - zzzz)

 

Re: Re: Re: 134 convicts pass away as a consequence of a fire

So you think that merely because I arrived at a certain stage of life and decided to prostitute my intellectual capacities to a morally bankrupt capitalistic system by spending two and one-half years of night school getting to MBA degrees that I must be utterly lacking in human compassion! Exactly what do you know of my life that qualifies you to call me priviliged?
I was merely pointing out that the government did not start the fire. It doesn't take much common sense to realize that if you set fire to your own house, you and whoever else lives with you may well die.