tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post3107620492077382723..comments2024-03-28T02:29:13.507-07:00Comments on Legal Ruralism: More Rural Prison Debate: Thomson, ILLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-54465086975445358982009-11-27T14:24:09.309-08:002009-11-27T14:24:09.309-08:00Aside from the tough economic decision this town i...Aside from the tough economic decision this town is going to have to make, this post reminded me of the effects on the American psyche of putting prisons in rural places. I understand that prisons get built in rural places because urban areas lack the large tracts of land that they require. However, putting prisons in places like Thomson, IL, population 600, allows the rest of the population to forget the extent to which we detain people in this country. On a recent drive down Highway 99 in California, I lost count of how many small towns along the highway are also home to prisons. Even being somewhat aware of how many people are incarcerated in California, I still found myself shocked at the number of prisons. Perhaps we should build a maximum security prison right smack-dab in the middle of Chicago, so that as people walk to school and work each day, those who still have their liberty can be reminded of how many people don't.rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17670477058463574483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171420941776673660.post-51434926557764984102009-11-19T12:41:18.460-08:002009-11-19T12:41:18.460-08:00I think it says something about our current legal ...I think it says something about our current legal and socio-economic structure that towns are yearning for the right to house our prisoners. I know I have said this before on this blog but the fact that we have privatized many aspects of governmental services is something we should be more worried about. It really is the true legacy of Reagan. I truly believe that the "market" can be a cure for certain things but to assume that it can be a panacea is naive at best.Spechttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08323579827302004339noreply@blogger.com