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

[girlfriend44]

If you were given a life sentence today in prison wouldn't you rather die?

I would, I just could not see the point to life anymore?
What use would I be serving, and I wouldn't be able to stand it!

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.

Yes I would.

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.

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. 💐

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.

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.

@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.

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

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…

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.

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.

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

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!!

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

An acquaintance during a drink /drug fuelled argument.

😬😕

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

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

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.

If I had books, or even just paper and a pen, then it would be fine— could spend my time reading and writing. But even if it was just four bare walls and a plate of gruel, I'd still prefer it to death. I'd still have my thoughts.

But you can't really equate the two. You are teaching, singing etc with groups of people you choose to be with and who don't (I imagine) come from violent or chaotic backgrounds or who are taking drugs. You can also walk away from them at any time you wish. You aren't confined to one space either as presumably you travel to different venues for these meetings.

True enough. May vary from prison to prison? I wont know until I am in there.

But then OP has clearly started this thread to lobby for capital punishment, so I guess our posts are irrelevant.

One of my irrational stress dreams is that my son ends up in prison. Don't know why!

For me, I think if we're talking about here in the UK yes I could cope and I'd try to make the best of it. If I still had some sort of relationship with my children (depending what I'd done) even better.

She will get released though some day . I think she's well behaved and well liked on her wing so that will help her when parole comes up

No - because I wouldn't have done anything to get life in prison for, so I will be too busy fighting my conviction. But on the gneral principle, still no - the state has no right to decide that killing is wrong and then kill people whio don't adhere to the rule. There is such a thing as rehabilitation, there is such a thing as being wrongly convicted.... and even if that is not the case or the crimes are such that lifelong imprisonment is called for, why would I care what the prisoners view of things is? If they didn't want to do the time they shouldn't have committed the crime.