How come we never use prison, the failure of prison, as a…
“How come we never use prison, the failure of prison, as a reason not to give more prison? There's never a moment where we say, 'OK, well, prison hasn't worked, so we're not going to try that again.'”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Critiques the paradox of using prison failures as justification for expanding incarceration, highlighting inconsistency in policy reasoning.
In simple terms: People argue against prison while still supporting more of it.
Question policies, not just outcomes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- criminal justice reform
- legislative debates
- public opinion
- advocacy campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reconcile criticism of prison with calls for more?
- What alternatives address the root issues?
Ignoring systemic causes of failure may perpetuate harm.