I received an unprecedented flood of replies to last week’s newsletter re: Prisoners Don’t Have Rights! One reader felt I should stick to “lighter” topics which I know more about, but I’m tired of being nice and pussyfooting around the heavier topics, and as this is MY soapbox, if you’d rather not read my “heavy” stuff, please delete now.
I have decided to share some of the (unedited) feedback with you, as the whole point of the newsletter was to stimulate debate (which it certainly did) – names have been removed for obvious reasons:
• Couldn’t agree more! The earth needs to be rid of these people – it’s not murder, it’s justice and cleansing!
• As much as we all think it is a good thing, the one problem remains is that a person who was incorrectly accused of a crime is now dead when they eventually find out that he never committed the crime in the first place. There are cases of men being accused of rape and later the accuser changes the story and then accuses another man who had threatened to kill her if she told. There are many examples of this out there making the death penalty not a good idea. I however agree that Prisoners do not have rights. They have a right to fair treatment, food and shelter. That is about it.
• I agree that removal or sequestration from society is insufficient as at some point this fails to be a deterrent. Many inmates are ‘career criminals’ and some are simply unable to live productively outside a ‘correctional’ facility. However, what really irks me about the prison system and prisoners, especially those serving life sentences, is that the victims of their crimes, indeed all of us, are going to work every day to earn a salary to pay, through taxation, for the board, lodge and education of these same criminals.
• You have crossed the line as an editor and just lost all your credibility. When did two wrongs ever make a right? Your editorial insults the seriousness of the subject by ignoring the great and painful debates that have been had in our country, and in so many other countries. Perhaps Mum’s Mail should stick to the lighter topics it is more adept at covering.
• I agree with you 100%. Many say it will only act as a deterrent for a while – they did the crime they must do the time – and as for the horrendous acts on babies, toddlers, little girls and boys being shoved in buckets or toilets – what a shame to this country – it makes me ashamed to be a South African.
• I counsel he survivors of these horrendous crimes and agree with you totally. I travelled to Saudi Arabia in the 90’s and while I do not agree with all their laws especially those against women, I was able to walk alone at 03:00am without fear due to their strict laws. Jewellery stores are left unattended and unlocked and the legal penalties deter most crimes. However, as long as corruption is rampant in the legal system, legal changes will not work.
• Like you I am sick and tired of the bleating hearts who feel sorry for the poor prisoners. Admittedly there is occasionally someone who is wrongfully accused, but nothing in life is fair. There is also the old adage of where there is smoke….but, we must have some faith in our justice system. I am all for PUNISHMENT for wrong-doing. if others suffered for your deeds, you must pay the consequences. Bring back the death penalty and limit the number of appeals.
• I agree with you 500% – it has always irked me about the “rights” of prisoners. Bah! They do not deserve any “rights”, when they have committed such vile and awful crimes! Prisoners seem to have too many privileges – let the punishment fit the crime!
• Re” your thoughts on punishment for prisoner, I agree with your sentiments that they have no complaints when they tortured/raped/killed others. I cannot see the death being returned to our statute books, but prisoners should grow their own food in chain gangs and build roads, improve community areas. That way they will learn some skills and they could even earn a little money and benefit society.
• I agree totally with you Alice. Well said! When you go to prison for rape, murder etc you relinquish all rights.
• Something someone said to me years ago was: It’s all very well to have the death penalty but it needs to be enforced and enforced correctly. Firstly, many prisoners languish in prison awaiting trial and take ages to get to the stage of conviction. Secondly, if the death penalty is enforced but the judicial system doesn’t do its job properly innocent people can be sentenced to death when the real criminal isn’t found.I think imprisonment is enough – if they actually get to prison in the first place and if they don’t escape or get off on “health grounds” so they can spend their terminal illness days playing golf!
• Well said Alice. 100% right. My Dad’s brother and his two sons and my Mom’s nephew were all murdered in four different situations. NO. there will be no problem finding volunteers to kick the chair from under the criminal in order to shorten the rope!
• I am one of many that will quite happily do the job. The rest will have to stand in the queue behind me, but a fight would occur between myself and an old recce friend of mine as to who wanted to be the first. The prisoners have NO rights as far as I am concerned and to be able to VOTE to keep this useless govt in power is beyond me.
• I agree 100 % with you. Only once you or your loved ones personal rights are violated by one of these people then it makes you mad as it stays with you for the rest of your life. They should have no rights and deserve the punishment that is given to them as they have harmed so many people and destroyed families. I raise both thumbs up to your mail.
• I agree with you on the below views. My concern would be who would administer the medicine and how would they feel doing this and what would society see them as.
You are right on the button and of course the only solution to crime is effective punishment. Sadly when the government is made up of criminals who were voted in by criminals….. say no more. However, I do believe that if there was a referendum on reinstating capital punishment, few would not vote in favour. After all why should the tax payer shoulder the burden of keeping these soulless excuses for humanity living in relative luxury. In China and Thailand drugs mean death to all concerned especially the dealers and mules. Why can we not have similar laws here in South Africa to keep our children safe? Is it possible that our criminal government actually benefits from crime? There is enough evidence to prove that this is the case.
• AGREE totally. Prison should be soooooo awful that no one wants to go there. Need to start a petition. People in this country, starting at the top, need to learn responsibility for their actions.
• I agree with you 100% and was discussing the very same thing with colleagues yesterday. Bring back the death penalty say. I resent funding a murderer/rapist’s living whilst in prison. That money should be spent on education (read ‘birth control’) and infrastructure. The thing that really gets me going is the number of children that are born into a hopeless world, to people who can’t/won’t love, feed, clothe and educate them. I think we need to start at the very beginning in addressing the issues that are bringing the country to its knees.
• My husband or rather ex husband was jailed for fraud about a year after our divorce, I decided after much thought that my son and I would be better off and be able to have a better life in Australia, I had a cousin living in Perth and she even helped arrange it all. At the end of it my ex husband forbid me to take my son out of the country without his consent from a jail cell. This is a man sitting in jail who hasn’t paid a cent towards his sons well being (maintenance) in more than 12 years. Even now he still thinks he has rights although long out of jail, still hasn’t paid any maintenance.
• Bringing back the death penalty would definitely alleviate the overcrowding problem. So instead of releasing 30,000 criminals for ‘special’ govt occasions like Mandela’s birthday etc (“to make more space”) take these criminals out and use tax payers money to house orphans and widows that have been left behind after criminal attacks.
• I agree 100%. They didn’t give their victims the right to choose. They took their lives, destroyed homes and they want a better life. When I watched that I thought good. Let them beat the crap out of each other. Let them feel what it’s like to have someone abuse them!
If you’ve still not sent me your feedback, please do so!
Alice xxx