WIZARD - Camp Ripley is an active Minnesota National Guard post. It is used regularly by the Guard and occasionally by Reservists as well and would not be appropriate for use in the plan that you have outlined.
Minnesota does have several facilities that used to be state hospitals. Within the past couple of years the state was trying to find alternative uses for closed facilities in Fergus Falls and Walker and several others I think. There would have to be major security upgrades at those facilities before they could house inmates. Jim Bernstein Fulton -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wmmarks Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:52 PM To: mpls issues Subject: [Mpls] crime and punishment Listers, Friends and I have been tossing this idea around for a long time, in an effort to think about crime and the revolving prison/jail doors. Camp Ripley is no longer used by the armed forces, so it's sits there empty. However, it is a fully operational camp with all the stuff to feed, house, and train troops. There is no reason not to use this facility to deal with some criminals in a different way. (Not murderers, they are too vicious.) Let's say Mr. X is charged and convicted of a crime which nets him 8 years in Stillwater because there are no plea bargains and judges will sentence him to the maximum. The judge, having his head glued on straight, sentences Mr. X to Camp Ripley. At the camp Mr. X will have a full day every day. He will rise, make his breakfast, make his bed, police his quarters, then go to school for 4 hours where he will learn to read well, write passably, do sums, all the things he failed to learn in school. He's not studying for a GED, he's learning the basics. After making his lunch and doing dishes and policing the mess hall, he will work. The work will include learning a trade. He will do that all afternoon. After making his dinner and policing the mess hall, he will learn life skills--his washing and ironing, sewing on buttons, keeping house, learning to deal with his finances, how to live in a house without destroying it--all that good stuff. Then he will have homework, of course, then to bed. Five days a week and a half day on Saturday. Mr. X will be told, at sentencing, that if he fails at Camp Ripley, he will be transferred to Stillwater (or wherever) where he will do the 8 years, plus more time for having wasted resources and the opportunity at Camp Ripley. My pals and I think that this could be a partial solution to the revolving door syndrome. Any commentary? WizardMarks, Central REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.9/72 - Release Date: 8/14/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.9/72 - Release Date: 8/14/2005 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
