I don't intend to defend the human rights record of China, but I do question the outright opposition to the use of labour as a means of punishment and/or rehabilitation.
Here in the UK, we have a criminal justice system that isn't without fault, but is one of the best in the world. We make extensive use of "forced labour", both in the community and in prison. British prisoners are required to participate in work or training activities, or face the withdrawal of privileges - fewer visits and phone calls, less free association time and so on. There is no significant history of corruption or malpractice in the use of prison labour here and there is broad consensus that requiring prisoners to engage in productive activity improves prison discipline and aids rehabilitation.
From my perspective, it seems that the issue is clearly of degree rather than of type. The issue is of broader prison welfare, not the specific issue of prison labour. To castigate the Chinese penal system as "modern day slavery" us fundamentally unhelpful. The article has a tone that borders on hysteria, with no real global context or reference to the use of prison labour outside China.
There are clearly major human rights issues in the Chinese penal system, but I think we should specifically address those issues directly. The use of torture and capital punishment is considered unambiguously wrong in the developed world, and the abolition of these practices in China, the US and the Middle East is of utmost priority. Frankly, I think that the article is a covertly ideological attack on China, part of a broader trend of commentary that seeks to dismiss Chinese industrial growth as merely the result of the oppression of labour rather than of good governance and well-managed economic development.
but I do question the outright opposition to the use of labour as a means of punishment and/or rehabilitation.
I question this as well. But I dont think anyone should be forced or required to work. If you want to sit and rot in a jail cell so be it but if you want to work then you should be allowed to. Even if you dont get a normal wage.
British prisoners are required to participate in work or training activities, or face the withdrawal of privileges - fewer visits and phone calls, less free association time and so on.
This is where the US differs, they treat most prisoners like dogs at the pound. I dont think the US prison system is rehabilitating anyone and its probably the reason we have so many repeat offenders. We arent leaving them better off than when they came in. In fact most of the time they are in a much worse position when they leave.
Now we are outsourcing all of our prisons to corporate prisons run by 3rd parties who treat the prisoners even worse.
Comments
I don't intend to defend the human rights record of China, but I do question the outright opposition to the use of labour as a means of punishment and/or rehabilitation.
Here in the UK, we have a criminal justice system that isn't without fault, but is one of the best in the world. We make extensive use of "forced labour", both in the community and in prison. British prisoners are required to participate in work or training activities, or face the withdrawal of privileges - fewer visits and phone calls, less free association time and so on. There is no significant history of corruption or malpractice in the use of prison labour here and there is broad consensus that requiring prisoners to engage in productive activity improves prison discipline and aids rehabilitation.
From my perspective, it seems that the issue is clearly of degree rather than of type. The issue is of broader prison welfare, not the specific issue of prison labour. To castigate the Chinese penal system as "modern day slavery" us fundamentally unhelpful. The article has a tone that borders on hysteria, with no real global context or reference to the use of prison labour outside China.
There are clearly major human rights issues in the Chinese penal system, but I think we should specifically address those issues directly. The use of torture and capital punishment is considered unambiguously wrong in the developed world, and the abolition of these practices in China, the US and the Middle East is of utmost priority. Frankly, I think that the article is a covertly ideological attack on China, part of a broader trend of commentary that seeks to dismiss Chinese industrial growth as merely the result of the oppression of labour rather than of good governance and well-managed economic development.
I question this as well. But I dont think anyone should be forced or required to work. If you want to sit and rot in a jail cell so be it but if you want to work then you should be allowed to. Even if you dont get a normal wage.
This is where the US differs, they treat most prisoners like dogs at the pound. I dont think the US prison system is rehabilitating anyone and its probably the reason we have so many repeat offenders. We arent leaving them better off than when they came in. In fact most of the time they are in a much worse position when they leave.
Now we are outsourcing all of our prisons to corporate prisons run by 3rd parties who treat the prisoners even worse.