[GH85Carrera]

Way back in the late 1970s Alabama had the federal courts take over the prison system because of the horrid conditions. I was part of a team of press allowed to take a tour of one of the prisons. I 100% KNEW I was leaving after a short tour, and yet when the big steel gates of the prison slammed shut behind us I felt a chill down my spine. I was standing next to a large prison guard as we walked down the rows of cells. I took pictures for the local paper, and Time Magazine. One of the photos was published in Time, several in the Birmingham News.

I can tell you the sights were bad, but the smell and the noise was way worse. We toured the cafeteria and the smell of the food was revolting. I was real happy to get the hell out of there.

I have never had a propensity to be a crook, but that experience reinforced be goal to never commit a crimes, and not be involved in any sort of criminal activity of any sort. To this day I have never been arrested, or had handcuff on. I plan to keep that streak going.

I said back then, and I will say it again, the courts need to set up a way to send juvenile defendants to a secure and separate area, yet right in the middle of it all, so they can spend a few days really seeing the reality of prison is. Eat that food, smell the smells, see the life of prison, yet keep them away from the prisoners. Anyone willing to risk going back is just a criminal at heart, and needs to be in prison away from the rest of us.

I saw in the new the other night the Alabama prison system is once again about to be taken over by the feds.