Talk:The Kodiak Prison System Expansion Act 668

Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/06/2024 7:12 AM

Tabled by MGA and Chancellor Jack Williams An act to expand the Kodiak’s prison system to accommodate more criminals

Debate is set to June 9 https://kodiak.wiki/wiki/The_Kodiak_Prison_System_Expansion_Act_668 The Kodiak Republic Wiki The Kodiak Prison System Expansion Act 668 Recognising that Kodiak’s prison system needs to be expanded to accommodate new prisoners and end Prison overcrowding. Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/06/2024 7:13 AM

@Assembly Member Debate for this bill is now open Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/06/2024 7:26 AM This bill is pretty simple. it will repeal the former Bill back in 652 and expand the current prison system. This bill will give recreational rooms That will allow for activities like ping-pong, tables, pool tables, TV lounge, and a arch and crafts area for the inmates. The annual budget will include an expansion of over 400 million Florins. the rehabilitation budget will have an extension of over 200 million florins. What makes us Bill better is the additional 1.4 billion Florin budget that is included to build to state of the art prisons that will allow for more inmate intake and take away the overcrowding problem. Now I am ready to take any questions. Thank you. Joseph Fala (KSDP) — 06/06/2024 7:32 AM As someone who raises children Mr. Chancellor, we know the feeling of being locked into a quiet room for a few hours with nothing inside of it and nothing to do. It's not good for a child to sit in an isolated place for long periods of time as it's bad for their mental health. Criminalals should be given the option to rehabilitate themselves so they don't end up back in prison. What steps does this bill take to rehabilitate prisoners? I personally think prisoners have the right to an education and if they want to improve there lives, they have the right to study Engineering while in prison so they are not just wasting tike. And when they get out, they can be productive members of society And if they have a good job, enough to support themselves, they will be less likely to enter back into prison Antonio Recio Rufián [SHRIMP] — 06/06/2024 7:50 AM I believe this bill takes an effort into forgiving the crimes of criminals rather than letting them know they've commited an actual crime. While the expenditure on further constructing modern prisons to end the overcrowding problem is a good step forward, actual criminals who have done illegal acts willingly won't care about committing them again if we just give them a slap on the wrist and give them a new place to stay with people of their ilk. Harsher punishments for more serious crimes are what deters a criminal from committing any more crimes, as no matter what they seek by doing such acts, fame, money or revenge, wasting your life away in a place you don't like to stay is the only way they realize they don't want to come back. Otherwise, all they'll care is not getting caught. Braughn F. G. Kryos — 06/06/2024 7:55 AM Right, because we wish to ensure that people fear the government rather than respect it. It’s as if this body has learned nothing from the four year civil war we just went through. Sure, there are criminals who will continue to commit crimes. They need the help of counselors to show them that there is another way, but also a firm hand to help back that up. But most criminals in prison made a mistake. If all we do is show them that their mistake will get them beaten into the dirt, they’re just going to feel helpless and as if they can’t do anything else. You can’t expect them to just reform when you treat them as subhuman. Antonio Recio Rufián [SHRIMP] — 06/06/2024 7:57 AM When it comes to justice and legal matters, the government isn't the one judging the criminal, but the people itself. Or maybe I have the wrong idea and the executive body controls the judiciary system itself. Braughn F. G. Kryos — 06/06/2024 7:58 AM The government controls the correctional system. Which is what we are talking about. Antoine Durand — 06/06/2024 7:59 AM Just as a point of clarity, it generally is the purview of the executive to fund programs within prisons - the judiciary simply follows the laws as written and provides penal punishment as proscribed in law. Where judicial flexibility exists, it is often conservative and should follow established rules or conventions. Antonio Recio Rufián [SHRIMP] — 06/06/2024 8:01 AM It doesn't control the resolution of charges though, and that's why I mentioned the most serious crimes deserving a more severe punishment so they avoid attempting such things in the first place Braughn F. G. Kryos — 06/06/2024 8:03 AM More serious crimes should carry relatively more harsh punishments, yes. Not dungeons and solitary confinement, but longer terms in rehabilitation programs and perhaps higher security. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/06/2024 8:29 AM This bill practically takes from the 652 Prison Reform Bill. The vocational programs for these inmates should allow for them to possibly participate in engineering, but I can specify if needed. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/06/2024 8:31 AM However this bill does Not address criminal laws and their prison sentences. We are only addressing the current situation and ending the problem. Criminal laws and sentences can be addressed in another bill. ((Correction, I meant to say that it “does not”)) Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/07/2024 8:47 AM @Assembly President I’m hoping to see more debate here lol Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/07/2024 8:49 AM

Why did ya ping me? Are you unable to ping assembly members role? Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/07/2024 8:49 AM I didn’t want to ping the assembly. I felt that it would be proper for you to do it Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/07/2024 8:50 AM

@Assembly Member anyone got disagreement with this bill? Braughn F. G. Kryos — 06/07/2024 8:52 AM I will have an address for this by the end of the day. Phoenix Adams [Ind] — 06/07/2024 9:30 AM as someone who has worked with corrections officers, a 4-20 ratio is highly unrealistic, even in our larger cities. 4 prisoners per cell is also likely quite unrealistic due to overpopulation within our prison system. 6 hours of free time seems like rather a lot, doesn't it? Does this allow for work time where prisoners could be making furniture, license plates, hand sanitizer and other products that both provide skilled training and provides a service to the nation?

Heading into Article 6, people are not typically in prison unless they have committed a felony level offense, so 6.2.1 seems confusing in its language. Joanna Sousa KWP (Juliette) — 06/07/2024 9:42 AM Just a quick comment that 2.2, the salaries won't account for increases and inflation. So it is actually possible for the GA to forget about Guard salaries for years and said salary to continue to be worth less and less. Secondly is it the assertion of the Government that '4 prisoners per cell' is the best we can do right now or can we do better? Phoenix Adams [Ind] — 06/07/2024 9:47 AM It's also not equitable to have a set salary across the board when the duties and risks for CO's differ depending on where in the country they are serving. Joanna Sousa KWP (Juliette) — 06/07/2024 10:00 AM I actually agree with Mr Adams there. Considering for example the differences in minimum security prisons and maximum security, experience, roles etc. Braughn F. G. Kryos — 06/07/2024 10:17 AM We are in the process of negotiating with officers unions in order to ensure that we are providing the most realistic and reasonable response to the situation. Your suggestions are helpful, thank you. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/08/2024 10:43 PM @Assembly Member I have applied an amendment to the bill that addresses the concerns and needs of the Police unions. They were mainly concerned of the guard to prisoner ratios as well general staff to prisoner ratios, more specifically on how they were outlined in the bill. Article 2 fixes this issue. They also were demanding specifics in funding for the guard salaries and also funding for more guards once the two new prisons are built. I also have increased the funding for these two new prisons as I felt 1.4 billion was not enough. I am open to questioning. Anything regarding what the police unions told us, that can be answered by my Deputy Chancellor. Phoenix Adams [Ind] — 06/09/2024 4:46 PM And the other above thoughts and concerns? Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/09/2024 6:36 PM It is only 5 hours of free time. 4 prisoners per cell is actually pretty realistic. And the concerns about article 6, I don’t understand what you mean?

The vocational programs that these inmates go into also include engineering and several programs like you stated above. This is what the police unions want, this is what we shall give them Phoenix Adams [Ind] — 06/09/2024 8:33 PM Article 6 says "The program will be available to all inmates who have not been convicted of violent crimes or felonies". Inmates of prisons are felons, people serving time for misdemeanors typically serve that time at a local jail, not a prison. Unless we are combining jails and prisons into just prisons. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/09/2024 8:50 PM Inmates in both prisons and jails will have the opportunity depending on the crimes. I will write it in Phoenix Adams [Ind] — 06/09/2024 8:52 PM That's fine, just making sure the terminology is all good! 🙂 Joanna Sousa KWP (Juliette) — 06/09/2024 8:57 PM Thanks for the updates, I believe they go a long way to improvement.

Regarding the salary discussion - I believe that enshrining a specific salary in legislation, while seems proper, makes it more difficult to negotiate salaries and currently prevents advancement or nuance in situation, roles, and experience. For instance, as written someone who has just started versus someone who has 10 years experience is paid the same, similarly someone in a minimum security prison and a supermax prison is paid the same but their duties probably do differ, as well as risk.

I propose that rather than legislate a static salary that needs constant review, we instead stipulate that salaries, salary bands and tiers, and benefits should be negotiated with the union every 3 years. (i.e., Collective bargaining).

It saves us having to revisit this legislation regularly to update the salary, and it leaves the determination career advancement, salary increases, benefits, etc to those with the correct insights to the roles and skills required. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/09/2024 9:06 PM I am fine with this amendment. A better idea than I had before. I will update it now Joanna Sousa KWP (Juliette) — 06/10/2024 7:14 PM Once the above updates go through, I have no further comments at this stage and sincerely hope this will improve conditions for both sides. I'm sure more can be done in the future but for now it seems to address current concerns. Jack Williams (KSDP) — 06/10/2024 9:10 PM I have made the suggested changes to the bill and I now believe we can motion to a vote. @Assembly President EasyPoll APP

— 06/11/2024 6:32 AM

Question Does the General Assembly approve The Kodiak Prison System Expansion Act, 668?

Choices 🇦 Aye 🇧 Nay 🇨 Abstain

Final Result 🇦 ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░ [18 • 78%] 🇧 ▓▓░░░░░░░░ [4 • 17%] 🇨 ░░░░░░░░░░ [1 • 4%] 23 votes from 23 users

Settings ⏰ Poll already ended (17 days ago) 🕵️ Anonymous Poll 1️⃣ allowed choice 💎 Allowed roles: @Assembly Member

lock: No other votes allowed

Poll ID: f9d2900b Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/11/2024 6:32 AM

@Assembly Member It’s time to vote (sorry for the delay) Alexander Paramount (NUP) OP

— 06/14/2024 7:06 AM

@Assembly Member With a vote of 18 Ayes, 4 Nays and 1 Abstain, the Kodiak Prison System Expansion Act, 668 has been passed. This thread will be archived shortly