Kilted Prison Reform

[kennethrmc]

At the risk of being too serious...and if too political feel free to delete thread.

1. There has always been issue whether prisons are meant to punish or to rehabilitate. Our society has chosen the former, at this point. some of us still believe there is value to the latter.

2. There have also been issues re. whether prisoners have civil rights, and to what degree. As to this discussion, I think if a prisoner wished to be kilted, and is involved in a work-for-privilege program, he should be able to earn that right.

3. I was at church this morning talking with a well educated and talented gentleman who is a former inmate--and fortunately has friends who helped him re-establish after incarceration. I've not lived a perfect life and cannot throw stones; I am thankful none of my more foolish past misdeeds brought the full potential penalty of the law.

4. Ninety percent of prisoners in Northern AZ. are incarcerated for non-violent, drug or alcohol related activities. Again, let him without sin cast the first stone.

5. Finally, and off my rant...some of us get razzed wearing kilts in public. I can imagine the merciful response of some fellow inmates regarding an unbifurcated garment; so kilt-wearing prisoners would have to be tough indeed in every way.

[Riverkilt]

Hey Kenneth,

You reminded me it wasn't too long ago I was posting about roaming around the Page County Jail Annex kilted with no reaction from detention officers or inmates.

Course, it was a tartan kilt, not a work kilt with a prison number on the cargo pocket.

Oh God!!! Where's my tongue?...where's my tongue?...all great thinkers were derided in their time......

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As the first person to respond to this thread, I honestly thought Ron was joking, hence my suggestion that he ask the opinion of the man some have called the toughest sheriff in America.

As perhaps the LAST person to respond to this thread, I see that not everyone found Ron's posting humorous.

When it comes to the population of a prison, any prison, some hearts will bleed and others will be made of iron. The bottom line, to me at least, is that this forum should be about wearing kilts, not the need to reform prisons into play pens for the misunderstood, or to turn them into dungeons, that would rival those of 19th century French prisons, for the degenerates society chooses to incarcerate.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Mac,

I've been working and volunteering behind the walls of State and Federal prisons, County jails, and Juvenile detention centers for 19 years now...never occured to me that anyone would think "kilted prison reform" was in any way a serious idea - especially with the warning...

I realize now that most folks have never been inside a jail or prison - even as a visitor - and even fewer have been kilted behind the walls...

But kilts and corrections do flirt with each other a bit...where's Key's lately? And here's one of my favorite pics of kilted corrections officers from the Arizona Dept. of Corrections.



Shoulda gone down to Phoenix for the Highland Games this weekend...woulda kept me out of trouble on multiple fronts....

Gonna go look for pics of the fun down there.

Ron

[McClef]

Having worked for the UK Prison Service I can't see it happening. Prisoners do not have a personal issue of clothing that they can keep and maintain themselves - they get what they are given after each wash in the prison laundry.

Prisoners on remand may, however, wear their own clothes so that should include a kilt if they wanted (but sans pin for security.)

The Scottish Prison service does not make provision for even the warders to be kilted as part of the uniform so what hope for prisoners in Scottish jails.

[beloitpiper]

Weren't you the one who was proudly telling us two weeks ago that you had relatives who were paramilitary fighters? I truly do not understand. You obviously have not read the previous post.

Whoa! You are correct that I've had relatives in certain organizations, but I don't think I said anything about them in the past two weeks.

[DWFII]

On a serious note...I think that prisons are designed to "dampen" the excessive and often ego-eccentric "individualism" (maybe "self-absorption" is a better word) that people who break laws are often afflicted by. Drab, nondescript clothing is part of that regimen.

On a lighter note...I'm small, physically unimposing, and would be mortally afraid...for my "virtue"...to be placed in a prison environment wearing a kilt.

[Tattoo Bradley]

The new "tough guy" prison image of kilts would help make them popular on the outside too.

I see this as absolutely NOTHING good. I for one have no desire to be associated with such.

[Riverkilt]

Everyone take a break here...please loosen your kilt straps a couple notches, they're choking some funnybones...

Reread my original post, particularly the ineffective warning, "Got me to thinking (run!!)"

The idea of kilting inmates was made in jest...i.e. easier search for contraband....

I have noted that "I was wrong" for not giving a clearer warning that the post was in jest...a fantasy...a failed attempt at humor...

Yes, yes, yes...based on my own past 19 years working and volunteering in prisons I understand quite clearly that the idea could not possibly be accepted by prison administration or inmate culture...that was supposed to be the funny part.

Its a lead balloon folks...I launched it....maybe we can let this fiasco die a quiet death...please...please....please...

[pastorsteve]

Me thinks much ado, about little. Now for the sake of tranquility Macallan's all around. ith: