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Comment by Spivak | Hacker News Reader

Hard disagree here. Let's assume that we know for sure that the person escaping prison was tried and convicted in court even though that might not actually be the case.

The crime they're now committing is escaping jail/prison which is something they haven't had their day in court for yet. But fine, let's assume that in the terms & conditions for escaping jail/prison include a default presumption of guilt and you don't need a second hearing.

Is the punishment for escaping jail/prison death or injury? Nope!

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Prison is the most total and comprehensive control over an individual that one can implement, short of brain-in-a-jar fantasies or outright execution. Violence, and the threat of injury or death, are irredeemably and inseparably part of any prison system. Prison would not be prison if an inmate could safely leave.

You may hold an ideal of presumed innocence in society at large, but prison is the implementation of determined guilt. Failing to acknowledge that is a disservice to those in bondage.

Other nations somehow manage with prison systems that don't just shoot convicts who are trying to escape. I believe there are even nations where trying to escape from prison (or successfully escaping) is not a criminal offense itself.

> Violence, and the threat of injury or death, are irredeemably and inseparably part of any prison system.

Or it could just not be. We as a people get to ultimately decide if this is the case. My ideal prison system would just “you’re grounded” but for adults. You can go to your job, or go to school, but you’re monitored and have to report to prison right after. To me it’s a very natural escalation of house arrest, treats prisoners with more dignity, and doesn’t screw them for the rest of their lives.

Yes fine we have to deal with people who are an immediate threat to the people around them. But that’s the exceptional case in the US prison system and can go by different rules.

Locking people in cages is so stupid. Like even if you have no empathy towards prisoners as people it makes no sense to waste their lives when they could be contributing to society.

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