This is not a question of about parroted nonsense and cultural norms. I mean what end product do they produce that justifies their existence in the first place.

I’m physically disabled and have been living in a prison like situation for nearly 11 years. How does my situation balance into the ethics of prisons? I’m on a path to homelessness and a premature death due to institutionalized neglect and abuse from US institutions. Criminals are housed and fed in exchange for similar isolation, abuse, danger, insurmountable debt, and a largely unemployable and destitute future. These seem to conflict in ethics.

  • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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    18 hours ago

    Prisons serve to remove a person from society (in the civilised world).

    Removing a person from society has two subtly different justifications:

    1. Prevention: their offence against society is such that society must be protected from them.
    2. Punishment: their offence against society is such that society wants them deprived of society.

    Consider the difference between violent crimes (1) and nonviolent crimes (2).

    Note that some societies expand (2) to include more punishment than just separation from society.