The idea that the sole aim of punishment
The idea that the sole aim of punishment is to prevent crime is obviously grounded upon the theory that crime can be prevented, which is almost as dubious as the notion that poverty can be prevented.
They were being driven to a prison,
They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
If we look at Houston, which is a very
If we look at Houston, which is a very environmentally toxic place, we find that it has one of the highest levels of young men going to prison and also among the highest levels of illiteracy in the country.
The law does not pretend to punish
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can
To be at peace in crime! Ah, who can thus flatter himself.
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up
When I was in prison, I was wrapped up in all those deep books. That Tolstoy crap - people shouldn't read that stuff.
Concepts of justice must have hands and
Concepts of justice must have hands and feet to carry out justice in every case in the shortest possible time and the lowest possible cost. That is the challenge to every lawyer and judge in America.
Wherever any one is against his will,
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
The refined punishments of the spiritual
The refined punishments of the spiritual mode are usually much more indecent and dangerous than a good smack.
I wrote a million words in the first
I wrote a million words in the first year, and I could never have done that outside of prison.
Most people fancy themselves innocent of
The most anxious man in a prison is the
The most anxious man in a prison is the governor.
The object of punishment is prevention
The object of punishment is prevention from evil; it never can be made impulsive to good.
If you want total security, go to
If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking…is freedom.
Law is merely the expression of the will
Law is merely the expression of the will of the strongest for the time being, and therefore laws have no fixity, but shift from generation to generation.
It is not at the table, but in prison,
It is not at the table, but in prison, that you learn who your true friends are.
Some laws of state aimed at curbing
Some laws of state aimed at curbing crime are even more criminal.
It is better that ten guilty persons
It is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer.
The punishment can be remitted; the
The punishment can be remitted; the crime is everlasting.
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the
Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.
The power of punishment is to silence,
The power of punishment is to silence, not to confute.
The only real prison is fear, and the
The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.
Well does Heaven have care that no man
Well does Heaven have care that no man secures happiness by crime.
One crime is everything; two nothing.
One crime is everything; two nothing.
There is a point at which even justice
There is a point at which even justice does injury.
