The Leonard Peltier Trial

[manu1959]

While your etymology is quite good, your conclusion is not. Habilitate:
to make fit or capable (as for functioning in society)
Thus the fundamental goal of our penal system is: rehabilitation
Don't get me wrong, there are those that need to be killed for their crimes, however, I argue from the POV of our current legal system. If you think that incarceration is not about rehabilitation, I would be interested in your views. Or anyone elses.
** I actually want to open a new thread on this, what do you two think? I feel I am derailing this thread?

the goal of a system and the results delivered by that system are two different things.....

[Gaffer]

Prisoners are not rehabilitated, they are confined for a set number of years then released out into the population again. Most can't get a job because of their felony convictions even if they learned a trade while in prison. So they usually wind up back in prison within a short time of getting out.

[Yurt]

Prisoners are not rehabilitated, they are confined for a set number of years then released out into the population again. Most can't get a job because of their felony convictions even if they learned a trade while in prison. So they usually wind up back in prison within a short time of getting out.

This is Manu's point too. For the most part, you are correct. We should then look at the goal more and focus on that instead of the current status. You don't win longshot comeback games because you looked at your current status or the "results", you win by focusing on the goal.

If you want to keep them in prison, fine. I have no problem with death for many criminals. Life in prison is waste, both of that life and our dollars. If rehabiliation is the fundamental goal, we should strive for it. No?

[Yurt]

the goal of a system and the results delivered by that system are two different things.....

Should we then forgo the goal?