I knew a guy who chose Raiford over Straight. He was a big guy, too. A linebacker type with a Sergent type father. I don't think it was so much what was done to him in the Program but what the Program expected him to do to others in order to advance. Of course, I don't know the whole story cuz I was just another mushroom in group. I only know the outcome. And he's not the only one.
Most people sent to these bootcamps are not convicted of any crime. There's no due process, no trial, no chance for appeal. For some damned reason, the suicide rate among Program clients is roughly 100 times the national average. I'd be interested to see a comparison to suicide rates among former inmates, I bet it's pretty close.
The salient point here, though, is really not whether prison is worse or better than forced thought reform. As far as DFAF is concerned, the two go hand in hand. Having a prison sentence hanging over one's head is, in their opinion, a necessary element of 'therapy'. Check their propaganda on the right to treatment initiatives and you'll see what I'm saying is true. Don't hold any illusion that the right to (coerced) treatment inits will make things any better. All they'll do is dramatically expand both the amount of funding and bodies herded into the system.
What terrible problem is it that you think the government must somehow solve? "Why, the drug problem" you say? What is that? Before prohibition, there was no black market, no crime, little overdose and little long term medical problems associated with drug use/abuse/addiction. There was no significant corruption, we weren't commiting acts of war (embargo, sanctions, aerial spraying, etc.) against other nations in relation to drug trade. It was all above board business with very little impact on the greater scheme of things, but a great source of propaganda for the temperence movement.
I don't know what you may or may not have done to land yourself in the county tank, but no one should land there simply for choosing to smoke a joint instead of swollow Prozac or for rollin' at a rave instead of dutifully taking their Ritalin from the school nurse. Jail should be reserved for people we're afraid of, not people we're mad at. That these sadistic bastards publicly advocate using the threat of prison to coerce people into adopting their fanatical religious view of (certain unpatentable) drugs is chilling.
Virtually all of the problems now identified as "The Drug Problem" are a direct result of prohibition. If you want to solve these problems, help end prohibition.
