Would you rather die than be locked up forever in prison?

I’d give prison a go. There was an AMA about being in womens’ prison and it didn’t sound too bad. A strict routine and reading lots of books. It would depend on the other women in there how well I got on.

Maybe not if I was a man.

I always thought that I would probably be ok in prison but then I watched that Sean Bean drama thingy and it frightened the life out of me.
Still think it would be preferable to death though

Why start the thread when you clearly don’t give a shit about meaningful responses? You’re incredibly angry about it.

😬😕

An acquaintance during a drink /drug fuelled argument.

Interesting. Who (not asking for a name) did she murder?

Assuming I’d definitely never get out yes I’d rather die.
I get joy from being with family, going on holiday, swimming in the sea, eating nice food… none of this could be done in prison. I’d be constantly terrified, depressed and I don’t see the point in a life like that!!

A woman in my town is serving life for murder and has managed to maintain a relationship with her children who are now adults. No matter what she's done she's still their mother and their other family facilitated their visits

What do you expect to happen? They are people not rats. Sure, the worst of the worst end up on prison but so do people who have just made mistakes and had the worst, shittiest start to life.

Through work I've had dealings with people who have had 20/25yr sentences. I do think I would probably rather be dead, as I'm 55 now! Plus it's the loss of autonomy I couldn't handle, rather than the "locked up" aspect.

I've seen a fair few teenagers/early 20s get these long sentences, for gang related murders. They'll be in their 40s when they get out. Theoretically there's still "time" for them to have a life following that. Being men, they could still become fathers etc.

I've seen many people hit a major depression phase after being released from a long sentence. Initially they're so happy and excited to be out. But then the demands of "normal" life kick in and it seems to hit them hard. They're not really equipped for it. So there is a major adjustment period.

I need the outdoors around me to keep me sane. If I knew I was never going to be able to walk up a hill, or through the woods; swim in a lake, or the sea; sail a boat…

Oh this post has an agenda. Why didnt you just say that?

@girlfriend44 I can't comment the taxpayers comment, not sure why.
But as the family member of a murder victim, I would like the murderer to be living a productive life in prison. He killed multiple times, and society needs to be kept safe from him. I am hopeful but not certain that he won't be paroled because of circumstances around the case.
It serves no benefit to have people locked up in inhumane conditions, in solitary confinement or utter misery. It won't bring my relative back or bring my family any more peace. Let prisoners read, work, work out, learn, watch tv - have as meaningful lives as possible, and contribute in such ways as possible. Those that are going to be released need to be fit for release. The guards need to work in peace and safety.

Hopefully I would have done something bad enough for solitary! I could totally do that. I don’t think I have ever longed to go for a walk. I am such a home bird.
You are right though.. I forgot about other people. I couldn’t cope with that.

If I have books and writing materials I’m generally quite content. I would be beset by torturous guilt though if I’d done something to hurt someone.

Such a thoughtful post. You sound like you've had a life, and not really taken the path well trodden (whether out of choice or not). I bet you r a really nice person. 💐

Which sounds like heaven but you’d also have to constantly be on flight or fight mode because most of the other inmates have severe MH issues and sometimes the officers are on power trips.

Even weekends drag in prison because there’s only so much you can do.

After 10 years of doing the same thing everyday, you would run out of things to do and long to just go for a walk.

I thrived in lockdown because I’m very resilient and enjoy my own company/ can keep myself entertained.

But I couldn’t cope in prison because of the other people there.

Yes I would.

I don't think so, but I judge it based on the experiences of family members in prison, family members who have worked in prisons, and knowledge of those who were allowed the freedom to read, write, and similar rather than my own experience. I'm not entirely confident on the answer.

On the same vein, I think I would probably choose prison over home arrest, at least while my children live with me. Having once been a child who had to live with a family member under house arrest, I understand why it is done from the justice system side, but I don't think the stress on others in the household, especially children, is well recognised or discussed. I can't say for certain on that though and it's often not an active choice of the convicted.

That's nice for the taxpayers to know.

I think many taxpayers are aware of facilities in many prisons, not only from many of us having known people in prisons and some taxpayers having previously been prisoners, but It has been reported for years that some people intentionally commit crimes because they find life in prison easier, especially at this time of year, and it's been a political talking point with people comparing their meals to that of school children or those in local authority care homes and similar. There has been discussions in more recent years, first starting in my awareness in Japan of elderly people intentionally committing crimes in hopes living out their lives in prison to avoid being a burden on their loved ones, to have consistent community and routines. I can see similar happening in the UK, if not on the same level yet.

I would rather die and that’s why my biggest argument of being against the death penalty.

Some people cope well in prison but only because they have to.
And this usually has something to do with hope.

They will do things in prison like behave well, go gym, do higher education etc which helps their mindset/make the time go faster but ultimately they are always thinking about when they get out.

Most of the things they do in prison they have the mindset that it will help them for when they get out.
Just having that mindset can reduce self harm and suicidal thoughts.

If you have no hope and nothing to look forward to then what’s the point.

Prisons are not nice places.
You can have ‘luxuries’ such as an Xbox, gym, free accommodation and food, access to education etc but you are in still in prison where you have absolutely no say over your own life and have to live amongst people who have committed awful crimes, have severe MH issues or personality disorders, have very bad hygiene or are violent and aggressive etc.

I get that! My happy places are walking through dogs alone, running alone, or driving alone. None of which I could do in prison.

No I would do a degree, learn a new skill, read all the books I never read, get to know myself better, work out, get healthier, write a book.. I would be ok.

My mum, probably.

Yes, I guess I can see that, although tbf the though of having to be in prison close proximity to anyone for the rest of my life would be an absolute nightmare for me,

The question you’ve asked
And the one you actually meant are two different things.

Would I rather die than be in prison, it depends.
Which prison? In the UK, no
A ‘life’ sentence can be as little as 12 years depending upon the circumstances of the crime. If I was relatively young when I went in, there would be a good chance of release, And many years still to live

If I was in my 80s and never likely to get out, it is different but then I could end up in a care home and honestly, it wouldn’t be that different in some cases

People can live productive lives in prison and as others have said, many have had far more chaotic lives which led them there.

if you’ve lived a comfortable life in a 4 bed detached house in the country with lavish holidays and a big car, of course prison will be a culture shock

if you’ve been homeless, in the care system, drug dependant…. Prison is warmer, more comfortable and far more stable than most of those lives, it offers an opportunity to make changes.

But that’s irrelevant

You have no interest in whether the average mumsnetter would chose death over prison.

You have no idea what a prison is like beyond what you read in the papers. And the second someone tried to explain why it may be advantages to some you bought in the tax payer,

Then proceeded to state that if a murder victim doesn’t get any more birthdays, neither should their killer.
Thats your opinion and that’s fine.

Other feel there is hope in rehabilitation and that’s fine too

What you actually wanted to know is ‘Do you think murderers should be executed rather than sent to prison to be a drain on society’

And that, is an entirely different question
My answer is still no tho