Mephisto discusses prisons with Faust
Mephisto : Have you ever been in prison dear Faust?
Faust : Why no, Mephisto, indeed I have not. Why do you ask?
M : I was wondering how you felt about 'restorative justice'?
F : I'm not entirely sure I am familiar with the term dear Mephisto. Does that mean that the burglars give the stolen items back to the burglees?
M : Ah, no, dear boy, I don't believe it does. Never mind. What do you think about the growing lack of space in British prisons? By the end of this week, there will be no places left you know.
F : Yes, so I have heard. Of course the answer is simple, we should build more prisons, many, many more prisons.
M : I see and how would this help?
F : They should be locked up, all of them. Lock them up and throw away the key is what I say dear colleague.
M : I see. What, in your estimation, is the point of prisons?
F : To keep villains away from decent society of course dear Mephisto.
M : I see. And what about the notion of rehabilitation, what do you think of that dear Faust?
F : I think it's a nice idea. But does it work?
M : To get back to my original point, dear colleague, what is the fundamental point of prisons? You seem to imply that they are there simply to appease the moral conscience of the masses, would that be a fair representation of your views?
F : I'm not sure. Perhaps you could expand a little further?
M : Why, of course, dear Faust, I should be delighted to. The point is that prisons really do not serve any particular purpose, they don't rehabilitate people and they certainly don't prevent re-offending and so, I ask again, what is the point of prisons?
F : Well, yes, then perhaps you have a point dear Mephisto. Prisons make me feel a little safer in my everyday life. Perhaps that is the main point of prisons?
M : I see. Yes, yes, I see. As I said then, the only point of prison is to appease the moral conscience of the marauding masses. This is something Durkheim grappled with you know, in the late 1800's and perhaps things have not really changed very much.
F : And your point is dear friend?
M : Well, I don't really have a point, dear colleague, I only ask again "what is the point of prisons?" and I fear we have no answer and yet you suggest we build more?
F : Ah, I see I may have been wrong my dear Mephisto. Perhaps I should think a little longer before discoursing with you further on this subject?
M : Indeed I think that would be best dear colleague.
F : I shall think it over whilst cooking the breakfast dear Mephisto, would you like bacon with your eggs?
M : Splendid dear Faust, yes, indeed I would.
Faust : Why no, Mephisto, indeed I have not. Why do you ask?
M : I was wondering how you felt about 'restorative justice'?
F : I'm not entirely sure I am familiar with the term dear Mephisto. Does that mean that the burglars give the stolen items back to the burglees?
M : Ah, no, dear boy, I don't believe it does. Never mind. What do you think about the growing lack of space in British prisons? By the end of this week, there will be no places left you know.
F : Yes, so I have heard. Of course the answer is simple, we should build more prisons, many, many more prisons.
M : I see and how would this help?
F : They should be locked up, all of them. Lock them up and throw away the key is what I say dear colleague.
M : I see. What, in your estimation, is the point of prisons?
F : To keep villains away from decent society of course dear Mephisto.
M : I see. And what about the notion of rehabilitation, what do you think of that dear Faust?
F : I think it's a nice idea. But does it work?
M : To get back to my original point, dear colleague, what is the fundamental point of prisons? You seem to imply that they are there simply to appease the moral conscience of the masses, would that be a fair representation of your views?
F : I'm not sure. Perhaps you could expand a little further?
M : Why, of course, dear Faust, I should be delighted to. The point is that prisons really do not serve any particular purpose, they don't rehabilitate people and they certainly don't prevent re-offending and so, I ask again, what is the point of prisons?
F : Well, yes, then perhaps you have a point dear Mephisto. Prisons make me feel a little safer in my everyday life. Perhaps that is the main point of prisons?
M : I see. Yes, yes, I see. As I said then, the only point of prison is to appease the moral conscience of the marauding masses. This is something Durkheim grappled with you know, in the late 1800's and perhaps things have not really changed very much.
F : And your point is dear friend?
M : Well, I don't really have a point, dear colleague, I only ask again "what is the point of prisons?" and I fear we have no answer and yet you suggest we build more?
F : Ah, I see I may have been wrong my dear Mephisto. Perhaps I should think a little longer before discoursing with you further on this subject?
M : Indeed I think that would be best dear colleague.
F : I shall think it over whilst cooking the breakfast dear Mephisto, would you like bacon with your eggs?
M : Splendid dear Faust, yes, indeed I would.
posted by Mephisto at 1:56 AM
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