Why do we have prisons?  What exactly is the purpose of prison?  Is it to show the prisoners how horrible prison can be so that they will never want to come back?  Is it to provide the best cost service to the government in housing our fellow citizens who have broken a law instituted by a social classism? Is it to provide vindication to society by continually raising the level of distress to the inmates?  Is there really no other solution to breaking social norms other than locking someone in a 6’ by 8’ cage for a number of years? Wouldn’t society — not to mention the “offender” be better off and money better spent in dealing with him/her in a restorative way? Do we care enough to ask?

Artwork by Glynn B. Cartledge