By saying “I trust you” really has an impact on how people perform a task, I’ll have a look around and see if I can find a relevant link :)

What’s really important I think is your point that too often prison is designed as a punishment – a deterrent to scare people into not committing a crime – thinking about prison as a rehabilitation is such an important fundamental change in perspective!

Puppies behind bars isn’t going to be a complete solution, simply because sadly there are more criminals than puppies to train, but I think that it’s an important step in the right direction.

It makes me angry when I hear comments from people about how “cruisey” life in prison must be (TV, three meals a day etc) because they are not emphasising with the life and context that lead that person to be in prison in the first place.

Finally, it has to be pointed out also, that in some cases prisons are also there to protect society, as some prisoners truly are a danger to society.

You’re right about the ‘never have succeeded at anything’ point – I’d never thought of that – but of course, so many people will have never felt the joy at learning or succeeding at something.

A way I like to put it is – “imagine how awful you would have to feel to want to kill someone”. Sure it’s awful to the victims and family of crimes – and I don’t want to come across too bleeding heart – but society needs to make an effort to cheer up, educate and turn around people who are on their way to the bottom of the criminal pile.

Or we could just wash our hands of them and go for a 3 strikes rule. ;)