Main difference is that German prisons are meant to (re-)educate people so that they won't commit crimes in the future. American prisons are private, for profit organisations, that require a certain amount of prisoners to run profitably.
Its profitable to have prisoners become recidivist, therefore it would not make sense to invest into a nice prison, if it would lead your prisoners into a healthy life, where they would become vital parts of Société
Actually, there's nothing wrong with making profit. Last time I heard that was in soviet socialist times. In virtually all countries of the world it costs a lot of money to run a prison. Your bread is made by a baker that's main goal is to make money.
That is not entirely true, only a small percentage is in private hands. There is a very good comparison on the channel " The Black Forest Family" which also presents numbers and "solid" data/statistics. Edit: Fixed error in channel name.
While that might be true , some of those „prisons“ focus a little too much on re-education and re-socialization for my taste, forgetting the punishment aspect of a jail sentence . While we should treat prisoners humanely and according to our constitution , they shouldn’t have a good time while inside .
@@bencze465in the private sector no there isn't. There is something fundamentally wrong with operating services the state should provide with the goal to maximize profit though. Streets, police, healthcare and prison are things that do cost a lot of money but that's what we pay taxes for.
In another video a scandinavian officer said, most prisoners will be out one day, and they may be your neighbor. So you want them to come out well adjusted and equipped to lead a better life, not the other way around.
That makes sense. And also, I don't know if there is really nothing else that can be done against people committing crimes, except saying "but it's bad in prison though, so don't do it." How about education, mental health support and any other kind of measures that assure people's safety? If they still commit crimes, they will suffer in prison, but their victims will suffer too. So the highest priority should be on creating a society where people don't want to commit crimes in general, not just because of the threat of prison. I don't know how that could be done exactly. But traumatizing prisoners and making them hate everything and anything when they get out probably doesn't help. Also, according to that logic, why should people go to prison if all they did was get addicted to drugs that might have even been prescribed to them?
@fairgreen2288 Scandinavian prisons ( especially Norwegian ones) are excellent examples how to treat prisoners with dignity and humanity and be successful with resocialisation.
@@phoenix72999 Reason people commit crime is because they get away with, when a teen gets away with small theft a few times without getting punished they think it is okay. It doesnt matter how big the punishment is, it is important that they get a punishment. Putting a 14 year old in prison for stealing something worth 50 bucks, just for weekend will prevent him from doing it again.
@@jonasstahl9826 Well, not if it ruins their life because it is on their record forever. And maybe it would also be enough to get a strict warning plus punishment from the parents to understand that the 14-years-old did something wrong. Some people also commit crimes because they are mentally unstable, which makes them very aggressive or something, even if they have never done something like that before.
@@phoenix72999 Teens that commit crimes are usely not from a well adjusted family, that want do much, a talk with a policeman isnt a punishment, the next time they steal they just get another talk. There have to be real consiquents for there actions, the records should be deleted atleast after the first time.
In germany it's all about rehabilitation, integration und fallback prevention. If you doesn't train someone how to act in public, how to get a life outside the prison, how to handle some conflicts - how can you expect someone who get free after 5-10 years to get it right in the free life? Treat people like humans not like animals is a very important imho
Especially with longer sentences wherepeopel need to (re)learn to navigate the world after release. At least people imprisoned in the GDR shouldn'T be an issue three decades post-unification anymore...
@@Auvas_Damask I'm absolutely with you. But we all know, that animals are hold in boxes unless we've got all vegan. And I don't think that it will be in the near future.
Correct! I think the German prison system is more capitalist than the American one. The prisoner is trained to be a reliable taxpayer in the future. He has to work in prison. If the prisoner does not have a job, he must learn one so that he can fend for himself outside of prison.
@@UndSieBewegt I see your point. But calling it being capitalist is not the right I would say. Learning a daily routine, save some money for the release from prison (a great part of the income from the work is put to an account for the inmate who get's it on release), getting confirmation for good work isn't capitalist. At least it's not only for the prison or the state so get some money out of the inmates - it's also good for their future out of prison. Maybe I'm a little bit to much in good faith - but I think it's an important and right way to do it.
My dad spent a couple of years in prison. As a professional chef, he was rather privileged. He told me that the punishment was not about being in the facility, it was about the feeling of having no freedom. That was what made the prison a punishment for him.
Also you loose life time. If you go out with the feeling that you appreciate a non violent life in that you do honest work you will miss the years you lost in prision and will not want to give up any more. You do quite normal jobs in prision and can also learn a new job by getting education. I think the usa could start by not privatising prisions (makes no sense to be profitible as there is no real finacial pressure for quality ) and making prisions for lesser crimes and younger people more rehabilitating
Prisons aren't supposed to be bad places The punishment you got was being in prison You already got your ability to leave stripped away Everything beyond is just senseless torture
@@onlyfoes sure but it should be about making them good citizens again, not about punishing them constantly for years. Most will come out eventually and then they should be well behaved and valuable citizens rather than criminals who'll commit crime again as soon as they set a foot outside the prison
@@onlyfoes are we ? Are you aware of the high number of innocent people in US private prisons ? There is a huge business of corruption going on that results in arresting and indicting people without a court case and guess who profits from that !
Fun fact: Most of the prisoners still say "getting out of prison" is there biggest wish even though it's "nice" just thinking about all the stuff they miss out on (family birthdays, vacations, taking a walk in a different park for a change, ...) is still a hell of a punishment.
Exactly! But even though (or maybe because of that?) nearly all return to prison at night when they get the privilege to leave prison for the day to do/get a job outside or visit family.
Thinking about this, it might be that having a certain amount access to the outside prevents people from getting used to being incarcerated and actually increases the effectiveness of incarcaration as punishment/deterrent for relapse. I mean, you don't get someone hooked on biscuits by feeding him only dry bread; you get someone hooked on biscuits by a) giving him a steady feed of biscuits but b) making sure that he never has as much biscuits as he actually wants.
@@sasas845 and think about it, being allowed to go outside into public is a privilege they get for good behaviour and a promising evaluation near the end of their term. They do not want to lose their privilege (which they would if they tried to run away while outside) and it helps them to get back into a normal life that does not include criminal activity most of the time.
That really depends on the person. Even as a free Person the only reason i leave the house is because i have to. If i have a PC in Prison i dont need to get out anymore.
German Prisons aren't just nicer, they actively try to give the inmates new options. Theres Therapy, Courses, classes, sports. The inmates are encouraged, to take the time in prison to reeducate themselves and leave their past behind, so they can have a perspective on Life when they leave prison. Actually a lot of Prisons in Europe follow that philosophy and the goal is to minimize the amount of repeat offenders.
So when peoples life is messed up, and they cannot find an education place and not a free psychtherapist, they do better by doing a crime! They can learn something, have therapy and sports and little apartment, all free! Instead of suffering in the bottom of the society in the "free" world. Probably they also more easily sell books, paintings, ... And afterwards they work as coach and speaker.
@@MiaMerkur Yup, that's my plan if my life goals go sideways. You won't find me being homeless and begging on the streets. I'll do some non-violent Crime that lands me in Prison for a few Years like Tax fraud or Embezzling Money.
@@itskyansaro I just had to think of a german film with Heinz Ruehmann. b&w from 40s?, 50s? Playing in 19th century. He was poor homeless winter was coming and like many others he wanted a prison cell to not freeze or starve to death. He took a stone and throw it throw a window of a shop. But policeman said: well, I know what you are up to, free food and bed, go away. Plan B was to eat and drink a big amount and not to pay, hopefully enough for 2, 3 months. He was well dressed ( even not new or expensive cloth, but not crazy) and he knew to behave, so he was served. And he had a good taste want specific wine to specialities, reordering when there was a change if menue. After several dishes he called for the "Ober". He looked up the bill, nodding proud to the big amount and said while laughing: I have no money, you can call the police. The servant went to the restaurant owner. First he was a difficult customer, changing menue and supporting wine so often and now he has no money. The owner looked up the things the man had ordered and asked: it was him arranging the menues and vines? In the next scene you see the man working as servant and sommelier. But that was in time, when it was more important what you are able to do in the job not like now how you look and lot of papers. (So prison was kind of social support system at that time, where you could go in jail for stealing food and other light crimes.)
And that is the bottom line. Looking at imprisonment as a chance to leave your past behind, and get the support to build on a substantial, criminal free future.
Politicians still ignore that wheneversooften (mostly when adhering to the principle would mean protecting the general populace from big corporations, who pay generous bribes ...errr... "lobby contributions"), but it's a good principle nonetheless.
Its German Law which existed before the Basic Laws of 1948. Constitutional and Civil Rights written down from 1896 have made it in to the Basic Laws. The Law that forbids to exploit the Worker or slave him came before the Basic Laws and was implemented in that Booklet. Freedom of Religion also. Animal & Wildlife Protection Laws also. The Social Wellfare System also. Such as Freedom of speech in word, picture, sound or film is old German Law. The Basic Laws didnt invent anything new. The new stuff is for example Articles like 120 which is stating that Germany (the Bund) is paying for the Occupation of the Allied Army in Germany. That law is not German law and exists only since 1948. The German Legal Sytem is based on Germany 1870. Its Law Books, to this day, are from 1896. From that time on upto 1948 you can scan through all the civil rights and will see that the "Basic Laws" doesnt give the Germans a new "Civil Right", that all Laws are from the Germans themselves. Its the other Articles which solve the occupation of Germany which are new. In this case, the USA did not give the Germans any new laws but the ones stating that the Germans have to pay for the US American occupation in (of) Germany. (including Armaments for Allied wars)= Tribute, Quotas ect. 🙂 The Paulskirchenverfassung from mid 1800s already implements Freedom of Speech in various forms. 🙂Allof those are connected to the Universal Human Rights Declaration in Mainz 1645 (Germany) and Germantown 1688 (America): Dignity. Man, Soul, Will, Free Will, Christian, God ect. The Kaiser made it Law of the Land, forever. Interesting ey?
Basically, you have a Basic Law (as Japan) , treat it as the Original German Constitution and you have Articles in there speaking of Occupation, Debts, Payments ect. A Constitution which includes payments, debts, occupation ect to other Nations, is not a "Constitution". Example: Russia and China invade the USA, destroy and plunder and occupy it, destroy its Original Constitution and create a Basic-Law booklet with some payment rules for the Invaded and occupied. Germany, Japan, Austria, Italy, Korea... When a Judge in Germany grabs a book, most of the times its the BgB and-or StGB from 1896 upwards. Germanys Law and Legal system is still Germany 1870. Just that it has Payment and Tribute Articles in the Basic Laws now, going to foreign Nations. And no Constitution has Articles like Article 120 on their sheet. 🙂
Question: Does the US Constitution have similar Articles as the German Basic Laws? Example Article 120 (which is just one of many). Does the USA have a Constitution where it states that it is occupied, has to pay for the occupation, pay quota and tribute and also arm up the Occupier? If you find me similar Articles in the US Constitution,let me know 🙂
I once saw a report on tv about younger men being in jail in Germany , which was very interesting. What i found very good , that in prison they could train as cooks, carpenters, gardeners, etc. and were encouraged to do so. They also had contacts with whom they could share their problems, which is also very important for young men. 🙂
I'd translate it as human dignity, but yes. And as the Grundgesetz is sorted by importance it is by being the first the most important of all the rules in the constitution.
@@Windwalker665 What? Can't you feel the human dignity when Elon Musk is spilling acid battery powder in a nature reserve in Brandenburg? You can now taste thd human dignity in your tap water! You can even breath in human dignity when you walk around cities "Thank you, Automobil-Lobby for pumping the air full of human dignity" I think to myself whenever I see a child coughing and wheezing Yummy yummy, human dignity into my tummy.
@@ngotemna8875 As much as I dislike Musk, this is about the most stupid thing I've read today. Not talking about oil leaking from ICE cars, what nature reserve? What acid battery powder? Geez.
It's actually logical how it's done in Germany. The guardians want well-behaving prisoners so the first thing they give the prisoners is something to lose! They give them books they like, they give them a TV, they give them flowers and green plants, once a week a meal of their choice and a few other little things the prisoners will definitely lose if they don't behave! In America there's actually nothing prisoners have left to lose, so why should they behave?
The American prison system is on the complete wrong way, in my opinion. How can broken souls find their way back into society. They didn't know how to come along without being criminal before prison. Thank you and Murat! It would be interesting to see what prisoners lifes could be after German / versus American jail.
It's not the goal to get them back to society. The most prisons are private and the goal is to keep as much prisoners as possible to get money. So if people are not rehabilitated they come back to prison quite fast.
@@bennymuller3379 Yes it makes sense for the business model of the prison company. But not for society (the voters). Because the criminals being taken out of society again each time requires them to commit a crime again first, after getting out. If the voters really just wanted them gone, they should just change the law so that the death penalty is mandatory for literally everything. But if they are ever gonna be released again, then the european way is obviously the way to go.
Well, I can tell you one difference: in Germany they are allowed to vote and be voted in a public election (the first also while they are in prison, the second depends on their punishment). In the USA they will (most likely) not be allowed to vote from the day they were convicted until they die.
Yeah. Full hour videos might be too long. But 20 minutes? Come on, bring it in! THe orst is all that tiktok-style "shorts" in smarphone format. If I wanted that, I woud be on tiktok, not youtube! 😈
The thing is if you treat people like they're worthless, they'll act like that. And it gives them the feeling they have nothing to lose. So committing crimes is more likely.
And if you know what awaits you chances are high that a criminal might want to avoid that at all cost especially by using deadly force against anybody trying to get in his way. There is a sentence in american films on and on: "I will never go back there - rather I kill everyone and myself". Don't know how realistic that is ?
also if you were imprisoned once in America from what you see and hear it is really hard to get any job afterwards, so your options to get money to live get limited too
@@6666Imperator oh yes, good point! In Germany, criminals have a right to remain anonymous most of the time. ETA: there's still a record which you need to show in some cases, for example when allying to certain jobs.
I played American football at a club in Northern Germany. We visited a prison and played against the inmates. After that we had a big barbecue together. It was nice to see them as they are and not just as bad people. I don't think the same system would work in America, especially for repeat offenders. On the other hand prison shouldn't only be punishment but showing them a better way and reintegrate them. Education is a key part. You can learn a trade in prison and complete a apprenticeship.
For a country that says it values freedom as much as the US, how do they not understand that taking away someones freedom is already a big punishment (over there it should be considered the ultimate punishment).
American culture is about valuing your own freedom, not freedom in general. When you look for a culture valuing freedom in general, you should probably look to Scandinavia.
Restorative justice is often practiced with juvenile offenders. Let's say some teens tag a wall with spray cans and get caught. The judge might order them to clean the wall with brushes (if possible) or (if not possible) to pay for the cleaning - restorative part - and then additionally to do "social hours" e.g. in a care facility - the actual punishment. It keeps juvenile offenders out of the prison system, reimburses the victims, and lets the offenders make new experiences that may change their life.
That still doesnt stop thusands of young adults from being incarcerated in the US and thrown in with hardened criminals under conditions that can only be described as soulcrushing and inhumane. As one warden from Sweden once so epicly said: "Every Prisoner will be released at some point. And they might become your neighbor. You want them to be well adjusted, able to lead a normal, social life and provide for themselves and perhaps their loved ones." This applies as much to Juvi's as it applies to a 40 year old guy. The original video suggested contains a guy who's like a 45yo trucker and murdered another trucker (in what he claims was self defense). The man has a family outside prison and gets to work a regular job as a metalworker outside prison every day. And he gets to go on weekend leaves to be with his daughter. He speaks sincerely of nothing but regret and the will to return back to a normal life. THAT is what restorative justice is like. And for those cases who are deemed to dangerous to release back into society (cuz lets face it some people will not ever be able of that due to mental illness or general tendencies of violence or sociopathy), we have "Sicherheitsverwahrung" in germany which is a bonus clause to your sentence that means you will not be released from prison even after your actual sentece has been served.
Finally! But I recommend to watch „the German prison that inspired Connecticut“ from 60minutes (it’s not that long) with more insight and a few interviews with the prisoners and arguments and facts, why those prisons work better!
In germany it's all about rehabilitation. I worked with forensic clients for years...the success-rate is very good. When I look to the United States, their horrific jails...I don't want this system in Germany. In the US people came out more criminal than they went in..
I once met somebody who had served a prison sentence for he was a heroin addict. He told me the real punishment starts when you leave prison because you have lot of debt to pay back, need to find a job, a place to live, and - like it or not- you are stigmatized, making your life much harder than it is for other people.
Oh, and you should definately watch that original video posted, even if you don't do a reaction video on it. It has some unique insight from someone with Jewish roots and also goes into the deeper reasons why prisons in Germany are so much different from the American ones...
many short videos may be good for the algorithm, but longer videos (longer _original_ videos) are required to be meaningful for you and us, and to really understand the background and details of more compli ated matters.
I'm sure he has watched several prison comparison videos before. He brought up so many of the points that are made in those. The kinds of points an American wouldn't just come up with on his own...
@@HenryLoenwind But I think he is rather smart than dumb and rather thoughtful than ignorant. He is sure more the type believing Gore than believing trump. Trump was elected, so most americans seem to be rather stupid.
It's another mindset, many people have in Germany. The most common point is Rehabilitation and Education, not Law and Order. There are for example programs, that allow prisoners to go to a regular work outside of the prison.
People enjoy freedom and being with people they like and love. Even German prisoners wanna go out eventually. I deal in healthcare so occasionally I'm doing work in a prison in Germany and people have dignity, they can buy glasses, they get hearing aids if they have hearing problems etc. And yeah, they still wanna be free
You actually nailed the part about prison being designed to enable prisoners to re-enter society. I’m impressed, most people take way longer to recognize that importance over failed logic like „it needs to deter as much as possible“. Well done.
Prison is meant to punish by having people locked, ie not free. You still gotta treat them like humans. American judges and juries send people to prison, not hell. The punishment is loosing freedom, you don't loose human dignity.
There is also another factor that I noticed when I spoke to some Americans: They are mostly about "not getting caught", while Germans are more about "adhering the rules". This is a fine difference; the Americans I spoke to were fully alright with breaking the law if you get away with it, while Germans search for loopholes, grey areas and borderlines to commit crimes. So the rehabilitation makes more sense for germans, while Americans would just learn how to do crimes better next time.
Ryan you fool! Murat send you such an amazing video. I watched that more than once and it's sooooooooooooo informative. We love to hear you talk, so talk for an hour!
10:00 Prison IS bad, also in Germany or Norway. You've got taken away your freedom, your own decisions and your own way of life. _That_ is the punishment. You having them into the most miserable situation as possible is on top of that. And being in the most miserable situation as possible for multiple years without any possibilities to improve doesn't make you a better person when coming back into a society, that also learns to hate you in every occasion. Thinking: Maybe the prisons are not miserable enough so people are not afraid and come back. Lets make them worse! Tha is repeating the error again and again in the hope it will work out differently. Same approach with your roads: "If we add one more lane, we fix the traffic... Ok, now we have 26 lanes and somehow the traffic is just as bad."
Well, almost all of our prisoners well get out of prison at some point. So our biggest concern should be reintegration into society. Therefore the focus needs to be on education, training and resozialization. Offenders will be part of our communities again and with the focus on resozialization, instead of punishment, a functioning part of our communities.
Hi Ryan, you should ´ watch "Where to invade next?" by Michael Moore. He gives great insight into the nordish prison system, and the motivation behind resocialisation is very well explained. I think you'll like his take on european workers rights, too.
In german constitution the first article is "The dignity of man is inviolable", the german people obligated them self to respect the dignity of human beings even prisoners in the aftermath of second world war and concentrations camps
What this video omits is about the so called "Freigänger" those are prisoners that are allowed to leave the prison on their own without any guard to go to work outside the prison and only return at night before bedtime. Sure those are only trust worthy prisoners but it's also an aspect of reintegration or keeping the integration into society.
Well besides the many colloquial names for "prison" in German, there are also two more descriptive official terms for it, one being "law enforcement institute" (Justiz-vollzugs-anstalt, Justiz /yoosTEETS/ meaning law, as an concept as whole) and the other something like *"improvement/rectifying institute" (Besserungs-anstalt)* since the use of prisons is not to keep people away from society, but to reintegrate them after they learnt how to conduct a normal life
To understand the criminal justice system in Germany, Americans, and unfortunately Germans as well, need to consider a few basic considerations: 1 Imprisonment is, of course, supposed to be a punishment. But the crime cannot be undone. So you should ask yourself whether you want to make someone pay with their freedom or whether you want to take revenge. Consequently, the reason for imprisonment must make a different sense. 2 No, you don't have to have comprehension for the motivation of a crime. But one must accept that there are social circumstances that favor someone becoming a criminal. At this point it should become clear that imprisonment can and should also be the start of a second chance. 3 What kind of people do we want to have after imprisonment? Broken souls who have learned that there is no mercy? Or people who have learned rules so that they can also make a meaningful contribution to society? The average rate of recidivism among offenders is 35%. So apparently our correctional system does manage to reintegrate an average of 65% of people who have committed a crime. That should be worth it for such a system.
Fun fact, until the age of 17 or so, I didn't believe that you Americans actually had these prisons as you show them I movies. I thought them figments of imagination for the sake of those stories. I thought the US was considered too developed a country for me to even consider that it could be real. 🤣 It was kind of cartoonish, historic.
Did you say „go fishing“? Because that’s illegal in Germany unless you have a license and I’m sure there are also regulations on where and when you are allowed to.
In Germany there is also a lot of people who think that our prisons aren't punishing enough. But I am convinced that our current approach focused on human dignity is the right one. A lot of those who become criminals went through difficult situations in their life and maybe in prison they find the peaceful environment to self-reflect and get their life sorted. Even if they actually enjoy the prison for some time and don't experience it as punishment, eventually everyone will miss their freedom and wants to get out.
I think it's ok to give inmates a dignified life in prison, but I do also think that sentences for certain crimes are far too low. Particularly violence against women often gets punished with too litle time.
Frankly, it is less that I want harsher prisons and more that I feels that judges are sometimes too reluctant to dish out prison sentences even to repeat offenders which obviously should be removed from their current environment one way or another.
Honestly Americans complaining about prisoners getting too lenient treatment says more about how badly the average non-prisoner American is being treated than anything else.
TL;DW: German prisons are about rehabilitation (if possible) and less about punishment. Yes, there are cases where someone can get a life-long sentence, in Germany we call that Sicherungsverwahrung and is reserved for those cases where the convict is irredeemably dangerous to society. And yet, even in that case, you get a re-evaluation every year to see if the convict is still a danger to society.
I'd say it's also a different mindset about laws and punishment. If the punishment is lossing your freedom, it's exactly this and nothing more and every further restriction besides you not being allowed to leave prison needs a special justification.
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 1 (Constitutional Order): "Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority." Pretty interesting though that this constitution for Germany were written by the German Parliamentary Council and approved by the allies in 1949. My point here is that US made sure by it's approval that every human being in Germany has its dignity secured by law but didn't thought about implement this at its own one.
The important difference between the US and Germany lies in what you perceive as the punishment. In Germany the punishment is that your freedom is taken from you. You go to prison, you can no longer decide when to wake up, when and what to eat, where to go, who to meet, where you live, who you talk to. That's the punishment. In the US people think that on top of that the person itself should be a punishment as in unsecure environment, lack of privacy, miserable food and housing.
How to fix it... 1) Do not make higher recidivism rates profitable for privately owned companies and their shareholders!!!! That's it! As long as for profit prisons can make more money by housing more prisoners this issue will never get fixed. Why this even needs to be said is beyond me...
well, i guess its a good thing that "the people" dont get to decide how prisons look. Cuz we all know what happens, when "the people" get to call the shots on justice...
Funfact: It's not illegal to try to break out. People getting punished for breaking stuff or other stuff, when catched. But it's not crime to try to flee. 🤷♀️ To German Grundgesetz the hardest punishment to control where they can go. Because taling your freedom to go where you like is bad enough. It's not usefull to lock ppl up, punish them more and don't try to help them being part of the community.
A while ago I had a conversation with someon who was a prioner in a German prison. He said that the most painful part was not being free and making own decisions what to do, where to go..... By the way trying to escap or escaping from a prison is not considered as a crime in Germany. If the prisoner is catched and back in prison there is no additional punishment or extension of the time he has to stay in prison. The German law respects that is the nature of human beings to be free and to achieve that. This relates to the concept that the prison is painful because prisoner are not free.
Everything you do to get out is punishable, though. Breaking the bars or hurting the guards... And as you can't really get out of a prison without committing some sort of crime, that is a rather mute point. But it is telling of the mindset behind our legislation.
I once saw a couple of German videos on a former German prisoner who had served 25 years in a German prison for murder and who now - being out and having gone through a long way of realisation of all of these mechanisms and mindsets - decided to be working, during his free time , with youth in difficult social environments to helps those young kids to escape the cycle of violence. I saw that he could defenitely relate to all of what those kids were going through and what their reality and mindset looked like - He said that , during the time he was serving his sentence, the combination of the setting in prison and the chance to opt for psychological counselling helped him hit rock bottom fully aware of what he had done and the reality of what he had done to others and their loved ones and families - plus understanding the mechanisms he had been living in as a growing up individual - the cycles of violence that only had automatically lead to higher levels of violence... - his understanding of the value and preciousness of life - When asked by the kids he is now trying to help if life inside of prison is the same as outside (what he himslef had been told by a relative who had been discharged from prison after serving a sentence at a time when he himself was building his 'carrier' as a criminal) he said - in some areas - but the most important part is that you do not own your life and your time - you are dictated what to do at what time, 24/7 - and you cannot leave. He always points out and helps to realise this in all of its consequences. And the way out -- if they want one - is hard work - and long and hard. - This man really impressed me. I thought you might like hearing this, Riyan. Thank you for your videos. I feel that you are pointing out in this video the way how prison environments could look like and how the chances of 'positive results' after spending time there seem to closely related to the results - and, of course, the mental capabilities and the willingness to reflect on things of someone serving there.
Let's be honest here: The American prison system isn't built around justice, it's built around the idea of state-sponsored vengeance. Society wants revenge upon those who have sinned and broke the rules. So you make your prisons hell-holes hoping that you can break the people there and make them obedient by force. Which obviously doesn't work: If you break them, once they come back to society they won't be able to contribute in any meaningful way which leaves crime as their only viable option. If you don't break them, once they come back to society they will just be tougher, and for them, too, crime will be the only viable option. It's genuinely a waste of people. Add the people you imprison over minor drug offenses - hello, mandatory minimums -, and people who shouldn't be in prison but in a psych ward getting treatment, and you needlessly create a perfect storm. And nobody gets out. Not really. The German system, on the other hand, assumes that people can do better. Will all of them? No. But the ones who simply needed a break, a structure, a path will benefit massively from their time in prison and can be coached back into society. Does this "idealism" backfire? Yes, from time to time. But at least most of us sleep well knowing that our government isn't systemically violating human rights. Which, given our history in the 20th century, is actually an impressive improvement.
I feel the American mindset about prisoners is very eye-for-an-eye Old Testament. The punishment for the crime is not just the fact that the prisoner should lose their freedom to go where they want to go or to decide about their daily life, activities etc. It is to get a person down. To actually take their dignity. At least that’s what the system looks like to an outsider. But I think the high numbers of repeat offenders is in direct correlation to that. To take a persons dignity and not focus on giving them the ability to function in society after prison and not to repeat behavior that let to their incarceration in the first place will set people up for failure. I watched a documentary about I think the Norwegian prison system. They have a startling low number of repeat offenders. Because they changed the way the prisoners are re-educated and prepared for life after prison. The punishment is the loss of freedom. But the focus is on preventing the behavior that got them there in the first place. Super interesting to watch.
The inmates can also study and learn crafts. The only punishment they can inflict on you is to take away your freedom, not to take a certain quality of life from you or to treat you badly, according to the German law.
The huge difference is what prison sentences are meant to do. In germany it is not meant as a deterrent, punishment, revenge and to make your life miserable. It is meant to keep you in a place where you can regret what you did and be rehabilitated and reintegreated into society. Studies show that punishment only works as a deterrent for petty crimes, for everything where you would actually go to prison for it does not work anyways. And punishment and revenge does not help society either, neither will it help preventing crimes nor will it make the crimes undone. As you already said, by making life in prison hell on earth you just reinforce their behaviour and make it a breeding ground for crimes as soon as they are set free... Also i would like to add: You can't go to prison in germany for less than a month, and usually everything less than 1 year will be suspended too. That way people who only did "minor" things won't get in touch with serious criminals in prison either.
The reason for that: Article 1 of the German constitution as provided by the Federal Ministry of Justice [Human dignity - Human rights - Legally binding force of basic rights] (1) Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority. (2) The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world. (3) The following basic rights shall bind the legislature, the executive and the judiciary as directly applicable law. Well, and that we want to resocialize them, not to get cheap revenge (or fulfil private prison contratcs) As part of that, escaping from prison is legal because it's human nature to crave freedom. YOu aill of course be charged for any actual crimes you commit doing so (stealing or damaging prison property, hurting people, that sort of thing)
The main differences are: We want our people out of there at some point. Prisoners get to leave to visit family or look for a job. You are legally allowed to lie about being in prison when applying for a job. It is not illegal to escape, but they will put you back. But it will not increase your sentence, just pause it while you are away.
I loved that video. Your thoughts are interesting. People wanting justice for the crimes is true here too. No one who lost their beloved family members wants the murderer to have a nice life BUT that person will come out one day... and do want a gang member who is more criminal than before. Or do you want a male/female who is kinda quite living next to you? Edit: changed girl/guy in male/female. Because they are mostly older when they get out.
@@laur4a768 hm.... kinda but also not really. Depends how old they were when they commited the crime. But when they were young and they are no danger to the society they will get out with 50-60 We have life sentence here too. But most of the time they redeem themselves and get out when they are reaaally old. BUT if they are not safe for the society they probably are criminal insane and they get a different prison. Because they would be a danger to other prisoners too
@@laur4a768 Germany has life sentence, but while this means that you can be imprisoned indefinitely, after at least 15 years you can request an early pardon from the court. This request is granted if your release can be justified in regard to the safety of the public (i.e. if it is reasonable to assume that you would not commit additional serious crimes). Upon the request being granted, you are released from prison on 5 years of parole, after which you are entirely free once more. Going by the stats on Wikipedia, sourced from the Criminological Central Office, between the years of 2002 and 2015, a total of 760 prisoners were released from life sentence, having served an average of 18.9 years, with 13% having served more than 25 years. An additional factor of interest is that, unlike the USA, Germany does not have additive sentencing. Meaning that, when you commit two crimes, one carrying 5 and the other 10 years of prison sentence, in the US you'd go to prison for 15 years, whereas in Germany you'd only be imprisoned for 10 years. This means that timed sentences that are effectively life sentences (such as 100+ years of prison) are impossible in Germany.
@@laur4a768 The threshold for a true life sentence is way higher in europe than america, if it even exists. I'm not sure about germany. But here in Switzerland there is something that is called a "life sentence" (lebenslänglich), but it actually means 25 years. There are some options to keep someone incarcerated longer, by assessing them psychologically and having a panel review their case every 5 years and then deciding they are still too much of a danger to society so they have to be kept inside for another 5 years. And then you do this every 5 years until they die. But sentencing an 20 year old to life without parole, and therefore taking away any incentive for them to change, as in the US isn't a thing here. And the continous extension (Sicherheitsverwahrung) is not done lightly. So way more than 99% of prisoners will get out one day (and most sentences are quite short). And thus the goal of the prison system is to make this vast majority of prisoners functional and law abiding members of society by then.
@@maxireigl1919 The German Sentencing Rules under German Penal Code are very complicated to explain for Common people. If there two or more felonies up for sentencing, First a judge has to decide, if felonies are judged to together (so called Tateinheit) or separated (so called Tatmehrheit). If you have both ways, you have to sentence the Tateinheit crimes First. The felony with heaviest Sentence defies the basic level. On your example the basic level are 10 years. For every crime, the are combined together, you defies separeted basic sentences (so called Einsatzstrafe) and the you increase the heaviest sentence, your Limits are 15 Years or the addition of all basic sentences, you have to considered the adeqacy of the increased sentence. For your example 10 years and 5years defies the upper limit at 14 years 11 months. A judge would increase the sentence in a sentencing Frame between 11,5 years and 14 years, depending on the criminal record, the Grave of guilt and so on. When you have the sentences on Tateinheit cases , you combined in the same way with the tatmehrheit cases. If the Basic Level sentence is a Life sentence, the life sentence is the Basic level and as a judge you now have to decide the Grave guilt clause, if yes the first try for a release on parole will not after 15 years inprisonment, normally at least 18 and up to 35 years. Sentencing under German Penal law isn‘t an easy matter, but a German judge have clear rules to follow and at the same time a great Deal of discretion.
Would be great to see some longer reactions from you, so maybe give it a try with some 20+ min vids^^ And the german Prison System wouldn't work this way, because they are huge moneymakers for the owners of the prisons, so it's more efficient for them to make them more criminal to get sure they come back to your expensive "hotel" for criminals :D
One important key difference between German and American prisons is that in Germany, all prisons are state institutions, in American they are private institutions commissioned by the state. You could say in the USA, the sate only commissions private businesses to just "store" their criminals. And because it's a business, the prisons are not interested in rehabilitating prisoners or the human dignity, they are just interested in storing as many prisoners as possible. It's actually even better for them if the prisoners are not rehabilitated, because then they might eventually come back after their release. In Germany, on the other hand there is no incentive to heavy as many criminals as possible. Quite the opposite, the owner of the prisons is the state and prisoners only cost the state money.
Nope. Not half of the people go back to prison, it is far worse in the US. And recidivism is much lower in countries with more humane prison systems (about 2/3 vs. 1/3). And there is no magic involved in fixing it. There are plenty of countries which swiched from systems which were as inhumane and dysfunctional or even worse then the US-version rather recently. And there have been projects which demonstrated that it also works in the US. The limiting factor is the political comitment to improve it.
I'm not too sure how I feel about the video because the ladies seem to almost romanticise the idea/concept of German prisons (trust me, there's still violence and gang mentality), but the main focus is indeed on rehabilitation of the prisoners, in order to sucessfully re-intergrate them back into society after their sentence.
The problem why this would never work in the US is, because the prisons there are privatized so the people in there are not seen as humans anymore, but as a product. That is why the rehabilitation is no priority there and they try to keep as many people as possible as long as possible in there for profit. Also the society has this going on for far to long so simply change the prisons now wouldn't work. The US would need to implement a lot of changes in their whole society so that their society as a whole would be better... And stuff like "people in the US want them to be dead or to suffer as much as possible" says a lot about the mentality in this country. I mean when you have a life or a death sentence in front of you and you know you will never come out of prison ever again, why should you behave there if your life in prison is as miserable as it is in the US? You literally have nothing to loose anymore. The next thing is, that even if you come out of prison, you are like branded for the rest of your life. In my opinion, when you have served your sentence, you should be able to come back into society. At least if you have shown that you want to be a better person and want to change your path in life.
There's a meme in Germany saying "We should put our elders into prison instead of elderly care homes, because there, they get 3 meals, a shower, high security and cozy rooms featuring a TV every day FOR FREE." That's because to have your parents/ grandparents stay in an elderly care home costs a lot in Germany and they don't even always feature all of that.
The modern European prison system is massively influenced by the philosophy of Kant. If you, as a state, act in the same way as your criminals, what is the difference then? Of course it's about punishment in Germany too, partly. But it does not cross the line to vengeance. Also even criminals are human beings and therefor deserve a respective treatment. You can also ask: what should be the task of condign punishment? What do you want to achieve?
It goes even deeper. Can not remember the correct term but germany sees imprisonment as a reflection of a failed society with the simple fact: Nobody is born as a criminal. So society uses the prison for a correction of its error not that one of the prisoner.
@@rudolfgernd8760 That's true. What gets punishment is the committed crime, the act. It's committing larcency not a thief acting. Therefor it doesn't make sense to treat a convict just as if he's e.g. a thief and nothing more but as a person who made a mistake.
Not wanting to make it worse than it is. But in Germany, big parts of rehabilitation efforts after prison sentences are simply dumped onto volunteer organizations and underfunded (with consistent cost cutting on public funding). Also, of course there are people here who spend so much time in prison over their life, that they DO go back intentionally because it's the only way of living they feel capable of. Still, the intention is great and I'm all for it. Things can always be better ;-)
„Of course prison is horrible. It’s meant to be.“ that’s what most of us think based on the topical picture we have of prisons. Until I found out how German prisons work. Are prisons really meant to be a place to only make life horrible for criminals or is there something else we can do for not only theirs but also our future.
You really should watch the video that was requested. When you don't want to react to it, that's okay too. It gives deeper insights into prison philosophies, it compares outcomes (recidivism rates), and costs. Maybe you can split the reaction into 2 or 3 videos. Many people watch longer videos when they're interesting enough and they keep coming back for further parts. Your nrother splits videos all the time.
In the US most (if not all?) Prisons are private and build for profit. If you want more money, you need more prisoners, what results in less space and overall bad conditions. whereas in germany they are run by the goverment and like you recognized the focus is on rehabilitation, to make sure they can live a normal life afterwards.
My Buddy gets soon released, he was charged with arsony. I often visited him and we were going out in the city. We were at restaurants, walk by the Sea, and even went on a Fair and on a Boat Ride! Without any security measurements. No Handcuffs and such. Only a (very nice) Social Worker was with us. And also you can get a Playstation here. although the newest one allowed is the first one, but hey... Also it seemed that Prison did him good, because he had really grown to the better characterwise.
The first of the German basic laws is "Human dignity is inviolable". That goes for prison inmates too. Not so much in the US, i guess.
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No need to guess. Just a tiny example: in the US, prisoners (all of them!) lose their right to vote. Not so in Germany, due to, of course, Article 1 (and others). Now… how much prisoners are actually technically *able* to vote, that's a different question…
For me one of the biggest problem you have to solve in America is in my opinion that prisons are private money making institutions. It is not about getting people out of prison and hopefully they learned the lesson and become an member of society again. From all I see and hear from America it is mostly the cheapest way to "keep" them and make lots of money. I guess as long as that change it maybe impossible to change it in a meaningful way. Then you have all those stories where prisoners basically are used as "slaves" forced to work for no money or if it is dangerous so little that I would not count it as being paid for their work.
You need to think of german prisons as rehabilitation centers with more security. When you've committed a not-so-serious crime (you know what I mean), and you've behaved well, you can actually start an aprenticeship or get education. If you behave really well, you might get to go outside (like outside the prison) during the day, but still having to come back at night.
Side note: deprivation of freedom is enough of a punishment in many cases, and as you want the prisoners to become good members of society you need to give them the chance to learn how to have a normal/good life. That's why having personal Items, like a TV or books, and job opportunities so important.
It starts with making sure that everyone outside of prison has a baseline better time? It's quite something when some poor people in the USA would be better off in a german prison…
That is impossible in America. Because they are companies and have to own there money. In Germany it will payed by the state. So when you have to look on the Numbers, that every guard gets paid and electricity can paid. You have to look what can you save to get more Money.
First article of the german constitution is about dignity not being negotiable. The state is not allowed to treat you like an animal... which the US constitution has no problem with.
It would not fly in the US because the prison system is a big business. Imagine how much it would an inmate cost to treat him humane ? No way, But also, not all prisons are like this. It's mostly for non-violent offenders and people at the end of their prison time so they can prepare for the outside world.
The most important point of a justice system is to protect the citizen from crime. Second is that every human has a right of his dignity. Focus on this topic.
Hey Ryan, I love your videos and I watch pretty much all of them but I noticed that the volume of your mic and the volume of the video you're watching a lot of the times don't match up. I constantly have to adjust so I can hear everything but not be screamed at. Could you please try and make the two volumes match up a little bit better in the future? I hope I'm not offending
Would have actually preferred if you looked at the long video. I find that in this short ones there is always so much information missing ... And you can't get the full picture.
I think it's quite simple. Think about what would happen to you if you are locked into a 2x2m room for 23 hours a day for years or in America even for decades. You can try it out in your home. Go into the smallest room of your house without smartphone or any sort of distraction and try to stay in this room as long as your mental health allows it. Afterwards think about the door being locked and you are forced to stay in this room for years. Add to this situation that whenever you finally are allowed to leave this room to go outside, you can be attacked or killed by anyone at anytime. No way you leave after several years this circumstance and be still mentally stable
I live about a mile away from a prison in Berlin's city center. It definately hasn't a park and that much space. I think that prison in Hameln is a showpiece.
I normally love to watch your reactions to all things Germany. But this episode was really kind of nerve-wrecking. You never let this lady get more than 2 words in. Maybe you felt you needed to stretch the 3 minute video, but it was just too much this time
The German word for justice is Gerechtigkeit. Justiz also means justice but it mostly is used as a collective noun for all the institutions of the judiciary system. Justizvollzugsbeamte for example means correctional officers. And therefore they have the word Justiz on their uniform and cars. So even though their uniform is pretty similar to those of police officers they don't enforce the law out in public but inside courts and prisons.
As a German, I think the way the prisons are run is very good the way it is. I just think that certain sentence lengths for violent or sexual crimes are intolerably low. I believe the court has a task of condemning behaviour if for no other reason, then for the victim's psychological sake. I find it a disgrace that our law seems to think theft was a more severe crime than things that disrupt lives. Disrupting a life warrants a life being disrupted.
Also we don’t have sentences like 6 times life long. The maximum ist life in prison, where you can’t get out before 15 years, but many stay longer, depends on the crime, and you could get out after 15 years theoretically. So most prisoners have a reasonable life span after prison and you want them to become functioning members of the society again. Abusing them and leaving them alone, rotting in their cells, won’t accomplish that. So for the sake of society and potential victims you should treat your prisoners that way, because helping the offender is keeping the potential victims Safe
Main difference is that German prisons are meant to (re-)educate people so that they won't commit crimes in the future. American prisons are private, for profit organisations, that require a certain amount of prisoners to run profitably.
Its profitable to have prisoners become recidivist, therefore it would not make sense to invest into a nice prison, if it would lead your prisoners into a healthy life, where they would become vital parts of Société
Actually, there's nothing wrong with making profit. Last time I heard that was in soviet socialist times. In virtually all countries of the world it costs a lot of money to run a prison. Your bread is made by a baker that's main goal is to make money.
That is not entirely true, only a small percentage is in private hands. There is a very good comparison on the channel " The Black Forest Family" which also presents numbers and "solid" data/statistics.
Edit: Fixed error in channel name.
While that might be true , some of those „prisons“ focus a little too much on re-education and re-socialization for my taste, forgetting the punishment aspect of a jail sentence . While we should treat prisoners humanely and according to our constitution , they shouldn’t have a good time while inside .
@@bencze465in the private sector no there isn't.
There is something fundamentally wrong with operating services the state should provide with the goal to maximize profit though.
Streets, police, healthcare and prison are things that do cost a lot of money but that's what we pay taxes for.
In another video a scandinavian officer said, most prisoners will be out one day, and they may be your neighbor. So you want them to come out well adjusted and equipped to lead a better life, not the other way around.
That makes sense. And also, I don't know if there is really nothing else that can be done against people committing crimes, except saying "but it's bad in prison though, so don't do it."
How about education, mental health support and any other kind of measures that assure people's safety?
If they still commit crimes, they will suffer in prison, but their victims will suffer too. So the highest priority should be on creating a society where people don't want to commit crimes in general, not just because of the threat of prison. I don't know how that could be done exactly.
But traumatizing prisoners and making them hate everything and anything when they get out probably doesn't help.
Also, according to that logic, why should people go to prison if all they did was get addicted to drugs that might have even been prescribed to them?
@fairgreen2288 Scandinavian prisons ( especially Norwegian ones) are excellent examples how to treat prisoners with dignity and humanity and be successful with resocialisation.
@@phoenix72999 Reason people commit crime is because they get away with, when a teen gets away with small theft a few times without getting punished they think it is okay.
It doesnt matter how big the punishment is, it is important that they get a punishment.
Putting a 14 year old in prison for stealing something worth 50 bucks, just for weekend will prevent him from doing it again.
@@jonasstahl9826 Well, not if it ruins their life because it is on their record forever. And maybe it would also be enough to get a strict warning plus punishment from the parents to understand that the 14-years-old did something wrong.
Some people also commit crimes because they are mentally unstable, which makes them very aggressive or something, even if they have never done something like that before.
@@phoenix72999 Teens that commit crimes are usely not from a well adjusted family, that want do much, a talk with a policeman isnt a punishment, the next time they steal they just get another talk.
There have to be real consiquents for there actions, the records should be deleted atleast after the first time.
In germany it's all about rehabilitation, integration und fallback prevention. If you doesn't train someone how to act in public, how to get a life outside the prison, how to handle some conflicts - how can you expect someone who get free after 5-10 years to get it right in the free life? Treat people like humans not like animals is a very important imho
Especially with longer sentences wherepeopel need to (re)learn to navigate the world after release. At least people imprisoned in the GDR shouldn'T be an issue three decades post-unification anymore...
First, we are animals ourselves and second, you shouldn't even treat other animals like that.
@@Auvas_Damask I'm absolutely with you. But we all know, that animals are hold in boxes unless we've got all vegan. And I don't think that it will be in the near future.
Correct! I think the German prison system is more capitalist than the American one. The prisoner is trained to be a reliable taxpayer in the future. He has to work in prison. If the prisoner does not have a job, he must learn one so that he can fend for himself outside of prison.
@@UndSieBewegt I see your point. But calling it being capitalist is not the right I would say.
Learning a daily routine, save some money for the release from prison (a great part of the income from the work is put to an account for the inmate who get's it on release), getting confirmation for good work isn't capitalist. At least it's not only for the prison or the state so get some money out of the inmates - it's also good for their future out of prison.
Maybe I'm a little bit to much in good faith - but I think it's an important and right way to do it.
My dad spent a couple of years in prison. As a professional chef, he was rather privileged. He told me that the punishment was not about being in the facility, it was about the feeling of having no freedom. That was what made the prison a punishment for him.
And that’s what the idea behind imprisonment is. It doesn’t have to be made worse by dehumanising people.
@@claudiakarl7888 depends on the crime. but yeah, no further harm should be done than to just shut em away
Also you loose life time. If you go out with the feeling that you appreciate a non violent life in that you do honest work you will miss the years you lost in prision and will not want to give up any more. You do quite normal jobs in prision and can also learn a new job by getting education.
I think the usa could start by not privatising prisions (makes no sense to be profitible as there is no real finacial pressure for quality ) and making prisions for lesser crimes and younger people more rehabilitating
@@creaturion_cosplay That has nothing to do with the type of crime.
@@steemlenn8797 well its debatable i guess how much punishment is needed untill the lesson is ''learned''
Prisons aren't supposed to be bad places
The punishment you got was being in prison
You already got your ability to leave stripped away
Everything beyond is just senseless torture
@@onlyfoes sure but it should be about making them good citizens again, not about punishing them constantly for years. Most will come out eventually and then they should be well behaved and valuable citizens rather than criminals who'll commit crime again as soon as they set a foot outside the prison
@@onlyfoes they're still humans. Humans have rights
@@onlyfoes It's about reintegrating people into society and preventing them from committing crimes in the future.
@@onlyfoes exactly, that's why they got their freedom taken away, not sentenced to being tortured to death.
@@onlyfoes are we ? Are you aware of the high number of innocent people in US private prisons ? There is a huge business of corruption going on that results in arresting and indicting people without a court case and guess who profits from that !
Fun fact: Most of the prisoners still say "getting out of prison" is there biggest wish even though it's "nice" just thinking about all the stuff they miss out on (family birthdays, vacations, taking a walk in a different park for a change, ...) is still a hell of a punishment.
Exactly!
But even though (or maybe because of that?) nearly all return to prison at night when they get the privilege to leave prison for the day to do/get a job outside or visit family.
Thinking about this, it might be that having a certain amount access to the outside prevents people from getting used to being incarcerated and actually increases the effectiveness of incarcaration as punishment/deterrent for relapse. I mean, you don't get someone hooked on biscuits by feeding him only dry bread; you get someone hooked on biscuits by a) giving him a steady feed of biscuits but b) making sure that he never has as much biscuits as he actually wants.
@@sasas845 and think about it, being allowed to go outside into public is a privilege they get for good behaviour and a promising evaluation near the end of their term. They do not want to lose their privilege (which they would if they tried to run away while outside) and it helps them to get back into a normal life that does not include criminal activity most of the time.
That really depends on the person. Even as a free Person the only reason i leave the house is because i have to. If i have a PC in Prison i dont need to get out anymore.
@@joel17721 there’s a big difference between not being allowed to go outside and to want to go outside
German Prisons aren't just nicer, they actively try to give the inmates new options. Theres Therapy, Courses, classes, sports. The inmates are encouraged, to take the time in prison to reeducate themselves and leave their past behind, so they can have a perspective on Life when they leave prison. Actually a lot of Prisons in Europe follow that philosophy and the goal is to minimize the amount of repeat offenders.
Aber es funktioniert nicht. Es ist aber eine wunderbare Anziehungskraft für Eineanderungen....okay, der kriminellen 😊.
Einwanderungen...😂
So when peoples life is messed up, and they cannot find an education place and not a free psychtherapist, they do better by doing a crime! They can learn something, have therapy and sports and little apartment, all free! Instead of suffering in the bottom of the society in the "free" world. Probably they also more easily sell books, paintings, ... And afterwards they work as coach and speaker.
@@MiaMerkur Yup, that's my plan if my life goals go sideways. You won't find me being homeless and begging on the streets. I'll do some non-violent Crime that lands me in Prison for a few Years like Tax fraud or Embezzling Money.
@@itskyansaro
I just had to think of a german film with Heinz Ruehmann. b&w from 40s?, 50s? Playing in 19th century.
He was poor homeless winter was coming and like many others he wanted a prison cell to not freeze or starve to death.
He took a stone and throw it throw a window of a shop.
But policeman said: well, I know what you are up to, free food and bed, go away.
Plan B was to eat and drink a big amount and not to pay, hopefully enough for 2, 3 months. He was well dressed ( even not new or expensive cloth, but not crazy) and he knew to behave, so he was served. And he had a good taste want specific wine to specialities, reordering when there was a change if menue.
After several dishes he called for the "Ober". He looked up the bill, nodding proud to the big amount and said while laughing: I have no money, you can call the police. The servant went to the restaurant owner. First he was a difficult customer, changing menue and supporting wine so often and now he has no money. The owner looked up the things the man had ordered and asked: it was him arranging the menues and vines? In the next scene you see the man working as servant and sommelier.
But that was in time, when it was more important what you are able to do in the job not like now how you look and lot of papers.
(So prison was kind of social support system at that time, where you could go in jail for stealing food and other light crimes.)
The first article of our Basic Law/Constitution guarantees human dignity. Our entire legal system is based on it.
And that is the bottom line. Looking at imprisonment as a chance to leave your past behind, and get the support to build on a substantial, criminal free future.
Politicians still ignore that wheneversooften (mostly when adhering to the principle would mean protecting the general populace from big corporations, who pay generous bribes ...errr... "lobby contributions"), but it's a good principle nonetheless.
Its German Law which existed before the Basic Laws of 1948.
Constitutional and Civil Rights written down from 1896 have made it in to the Basic Laws.
The Law that forbids to exploit the Worker or slave him came before the Basic Laws and was implemented in that Booklet.
Freedom of Religion also. Animal & Wildlife Protection Laws also.
The Social Wellfare System also.
Such as Freedom of speech in word, picture, sound or film is old German Law.
The Basic Laws didnt invent anything new. The new stuff is for example Articles like 120 which is stating that Germany (the Bund) is paying for the Occupation of the Allied Army in Germany.
That law is not German law and exists only since 1948.
The German Legal Sytem is based on Germany 1870. Its Law Books, to this day, are from 1896.
From that time on upto 1948 you can scan through all the civil rights and will see that the "Basic Laws" doesnt give the Germans a new "Civil Right", that all Laws are from the Germans themselves. Its the other Articles which solve the occupation of Germany which are new.
In this case, the USA did not give the Germans any new laws but the ones stating that the Germans have to pay for the US American occupation in (of) Germany. (including Armaments for Allied wars)= Tribute, Quotas ect.
🙂 The Paulskirchenverfassung from mid 1800s already implements Freedom of Speech in various forms. 🙂Allof those are connected to the Universal Human Rights Declaration in Mainz 1645 (Germany) and Germantown 1688 (America): Dignity. Man, Soul, Will, Free Will, Christian, God ect.
The Kaiser made it Law of the Land, forever. Interesting ey?
Basically, you have a Basic Law (as Japan) , treat it as the Original German Constitution and you have Articles in there speaking of Occupation, Debts, Payments ect.
A Constitution which includes payments, debts, occupation ect to other Nations, is not a "Constitution".
Example: Russia and China invade the USA, destroy and plunder and occupy it, destroy its Original Constitution and create a Basic-Law booklet with some payment rules for the Invaded and occupied.
Germany, Japan, Austria, Italy, Korea...
When a Judge in Germany grabs a book, most of the times its the BgB and-or StGB from 1896 upwards.
Germanys Law and Legal system is still Germany 1870. Just that it has Payment and Tribute Articles in the Basic Laws now, going to foreign Nations.
And no Constitution has Articles like Article 120 on their sheet.
🙂
Question: Does the US Constitution have similar Articles as the German Basic Laws? Example Article 120 (which is just one of many). Does the USA have a Constitution where it states that it is occupied, has to pay for the occupation, pay quota and tribute and also arm up the Occupier?
If you find me similar Articles in the US Constitution,let me know 🙂
I once saw a report on tv about younger men being in jail in Germany , which was very interesting. What i found very good , that in prison they could train as cooks, carpenters, gardeners, etc. and were encouraged to do so. They also had contacts with whom they could share their problems, which is also very important for young men. 🙂
„The dignity of man is inviolable“ is the first articel in the German constitution :)
I'd translate it as human dignity, but yes. And as the Grundgesetz is sorted by importance it is by being the first the most important of all the rules in the constitution.
Rushed down the toilet the last three years… 😢
@@Windwalker665 What?
Can't you feel the human dignity when Elon Musk is spilling acid battery powder in a nature reserve in Brandenburg?
You can now taste thd human dignity in your tap water!
You can even breath in human dignity when you walk around cities
"Thank you, Automobil-Lobby for pumping the air full of human dignity" I think to myself whenever I see a child coughing and wheezing
Yummy yummy, human dignity into my tummy.
@@ngotemna8875 As much as I dislike Musk, this is about the most stupid thing I've read today. Not talking about oil leaking from ICE cars, what nature reserve? What acid battery powder? Geez.
It's actually logical how it's done in Germany. The guardians want well-behaving prisoners so the first thing they give the prisoners is something to lose! They give them books they like, they give them a TV, they give them flowers and green plants, once a week a meal of their choice and a few other little things the prisoners will definitely lose if they don't behave! In America there's actually nothing prisoners have left to lose, so why should they behave?
I highly suggest you watch the video Murat sent you, it's highly educating and I think most of us won't mind a longer reaction video
The American prison system is on the complete wrong way, in my opinion. How can broken souls find their way back into society. They didn't know how to come along without being criminal before prison.
Thank you and Murat!
It would be interesting to see what prisoners lifes could be after German / versus American jail.
It's not the goal to get them back to society. The most prisons are private and the goal is to keep as much prisoners as possible to get money. So if people are not rehabilitated they come back to prison quite fast.
@@bennymuller3379 Yes it makes sense for the business model of the prison company. But not for society (the voters). Because the criminals being taken out of society again each time requires them to commit a crime again first, after getting out. If the voters really just wanted them gone, they should just change the law so that the death penalty is mandatory for literally everything. But if they are ever gonna be released again, then the european way is obviously the way to go.
Well, I can tell you one difference: in Germany they are allowed to vote and be voted in a public election (the first also while they are in prison, the second depends on their punishment).
In the USA they will (most likely) not be allowed to vote from the day they were convicted until they die.
@@bennymuller3379 Thank you for this information! This is unbelievable!
@@jennyh4025 That is hard to believe. Thank you!
I think I speak for everyone when I say we would love to see longer videos from you ❤
I wanted to write the same 😁 I usually watch 20-60 min videos on TH-cam ❤️
Guys, up vote the comment above, if you agree
I dont know why but he always gets recommended short and mediocre videos
Yeah. Full hour videos might be too long. But 20 minutes? Come on, bring it in! THe orst is all that tiktok-style "shorts" in smarphone format. If I wanted that, I woud be on tiktok, not youtube! 😈
The thing is if you treat people like they're worthless, they'll act like that.
And it gives them the feeling they have nothing to lose. So committing crimes is more likely.
And if you know what awaits you chances are high that a criminal might want to avoid that at all cost especially by using deadly force against anybody trying to get in his way. There is a sentence in american films on and on: "I will never go back there - rather I kill everyone and myself". Don't know how realistic that is ?
also if you were imprisoned once in America from what you see and hear it is really hard to get any job afterwards, so your options to get money to live get limited too
@@6666Imperator oh yes, good point! In Germany, criminals have a right to remain anonymous most of the time.
ETA: there's still a record which you need to show in some cases, for example when allying to certain jobs.
I played American football at a club in Northern Germany. We visited a prison and played against the inmates. After that we had a big barbecue together. It was nice to see them as they are and not just as bad people.
I don't think the same system would work in America, especially for repeat offenders. On the other hand prison shouldn't only be punishment but showing them a better way and reintegrate them. Education is a key part. You can learn a trade in prison and complete a apprenticeship.
"Justiz" is a general german term for the prosecutional apparatus. The translation for justice would be "Gerechtigkeit".
And it comes from Latin.
For a country that says it values freedom as much as the US, how do they not understand that taking away someones freedom is already a big punishment (over there it should be considered the ultimate punishment).
American culture is about valuing your own freedom, not freedom in general. When you look for a culture valuing freedom in general, you should probably look to Scandinavia.
Restorative justice is often practiced with juvenile offenders. Let's say some teens tag a wall with spray cans and get caught. The judge might order them to clean the wall with brushes (if possible) or (if not possible) to pay for the cleaning - restorative part - and then additionally to do "social hours" e.g. in a care facility - the actual punishment.
It keeps juvenile offenders out of the prison system, reimburses the victims, and lets the offenders make new experiences that may change their life.
That still doesnt stop thusands of young adults from being incarcerated in the US and thrown in with hardened criminals under conditions that can only be described as soulcrushing and inhumane.
As one warden from Sweden once so epicly said: "Every Prisoner will be released at some point. And they might become your neighbor. You want them to be well adjusted, able to lead a normal, social life and provide for themselves and perhaps their loved ones."
This applies as much to Juvi's as it applies to a 40 year old guy. The original video suggested contains a guy who's like a 45yo trucker and murdered another trucker (in what he claims was self defense). The man has a family outside prison and gets to work a regular job as a metalworker outside prison every day. And he gets to go on weekend leaves to be with his daughter. He speaks sincerely of nothing but regret and the will to return back to a normal life. THAT is what restorative justice is like.
And for those cases who are deemed to dangerous to release back into society (cuz lets face it some people will not ever be able of that due to mental illness or general tendencies of violence or sociopathy), we have "Sicherheitsverwahrung" in germany which is a bonus clause to your sentence that means you will not be released from prison even after your actual sentece has been served.
let me quote a movie here:
"I went in with a bachelors in weed
and came out with a masters in cocaine."
Finally! But I recommend to watch „the German prison that inspired Connecticut“ from 60minutes (it’s not that long) with more insight and a few interviews with the prisoners and arguments and facts, why those prisons work better!
That one I recommended before too.
"A society's degree of civilization can be judged by the condition of its prisoners."
Dostoyevsky?
In germany it's all about rehabilitation. I worked with forensic clients for years...the success-rate is very good. When I look to the United States, their horrific jails...I don't want this system in Germany.
In the US people came out more criminal than they went in..
@ryanwass look at this stuff Ryan...please :)
I once met somebody who had served a prison sentence for he was a heroin addict. He told me the real punishment starts when you leave prison because you have lot of debt to pay back, need to find a job, a place to live, and - like it or not- you are stigmatized, making your life much harder than it is for other people.
Oh, and you should definately watch that original video posted, even if you don't do a reaction video on it. It has some unique insight from someone with Jewish roots and also goes into the deeper reasons why prisons in Germany are so much different from the American ones...
many short videos may be good for the algorithm,
but longer videos (longer _original_ videos) are required to be meaningful for you and us,
and to really understand the background and details of more compli ated matters.
I'm sure he has watched several prison comparison videos before. He brought up so many of the points that are made in those. The kinds of points an American wouldn't just come up with on his own...
@@HenryLoenwind Oh come on, don't paint all Amis with the same brush.
@@HenryLoenwind
But I think he is rather smart than dumb and rather thoughtful than ignorant. He is sure more the type believing Gore than believing trump. Trump was elected, so most americans seem to be rather stupid.
It's another mindset, many people have in Germany. The most common point is Rehabilitation and Education, not Law and Order. There are for example programs, that allow prisoners to go to a regular work outside of the prison.
People enjoy freedom and being with people they like and love. Even German prisoners wanna go out eventually. I deal in healthcare so occasionally I'm doing work in a prison in Germany and people have dignity, they can buy glasses, they get hearing aids if they have hearing problems etc.
And yeah, they still wanna be free
You actually nailed the part about prison being designed to enable prisoners to re-enter society. I’m impressed, most people take way longer to recognize that importance over failed logic like „it needs to deter as much as possible“. Well done.
Prison is meant to punish by having people locked, ie not free. You still gotta treat them like humans. American judges and juries send people to prison, not hell. The punishment is loosing freedom, you don't loose human dignity.
There is also another factor that I noticed when I spoke to some Americans: They are mostly about "not getting caught", while Germans are more about "adhering the rules". This is a fine difference; the Americans I spoke to were fully alright with breaking the law if you get away with it, while Germans search for loopholes, grey areas and borderlines to commit crimes. So the rehabilitation makes more sense for germans, while Americans would just learn how to do crimes better next time.
Ryan you fool! Murat send you such an amazing video. I watched that more than once and it's sooooooooooooo informative. We love to hear you talk, so talk for an hour!
I was so dissapointed when you said you won't watch a 25 min video. I actually love watching long (like an hour or more) reaction videos.
10:00 Prison IS bad, also in Germany or Norway. You've got taken away your freedom, your own decisions and your own way of life. _That_ is the punishment. You having them into the most miserable situation as possible is on top of that. And being in the most miserable situation as possible for multiple years without any possibilities to improve doesn't make you a better person when coming back into a society, that also learns to hate you in every occasion.
Thinking: Maybe the prisons are not miserable enough so people are not afraid and come back. Lets make them worse! Tha is repeating the error again and again in the hope it will work out differently. Same approach with your roads: "If we add one more lane, we fix the traffic... Ok, now we have 26 lanes and somehow the traffic is just as bad."
You should definitely watch the original video. It is very good. There is much more context and information.
Well, almost all of our prisoners well get out of prison at some point. So our biggest concern should be reintegration into society. Therefore the focus needs to be on education, training and resozialization. Offenders will be part of our communities again and with the focus on resozialization, instead of punishment, a functioning part of our communities.
Hi Ryan, you should ´ watch "Where to invade next?" by Michael Moore. He gives great insight into the nordish prison system, and the motivation behind resocialisation is very well explained. I think you'll like his take on european workers rights, too.
Oh, another man of culture I see :D
I also recommended that. Sometimes his satire becomes a bit cringy, but overall his films are good stuff.
In german constitution the first article is "The dignity of man is inviolable", the german people obligated them self to respect the dignity of human beings even prisoners in the aftermath of second world war and concentrations camps
"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons." - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I learned: the degree of civilization in a society is shown by how they treat their weakest people.
What this video omits is about the so called "Freigänger" those are prisoners that are allowed to leave the prison on their own without any guard to go to work outside the prison and only return at night before bedtime. Sure those are only trust worthy prisoners but it's also an aspect of reintegration or keeping the integration into society.
I somewhere heard that a german prison is like a russian hotel.
Greetings from Germany
Well besides the many colloquial names for "prison" in German, there are also two more descriptive official terms for it, one being "law enforcement institute" (Justiz-vollzugs-anstalt, Justiz /yoosTEETS/ meaning law, as an concept as whole) and the other something like *"improvement/rectifying institute" (Besserungs-anstalt)* since the use of prisons is not to keep people away from society, but to reintegrate them after they learnt how to conduct a normal life
To understand the criminal justice system in Germany, Americans, and unfortunately Germans as well, need to consider a few basic considerations:
1 Imprisonment is, of course, supposed to be a punishment. But the crime cannot be undone. So you should ask yourself whether you want to make someone pay with their freedom or whether you want to take revenge. Consequently, the reason for imprisonment must make a different sense.
2 No, you don't have to have comprehension for the motivation of a crime. But one must accept that there are social circumstances that favor someone becoming a criminal. At this point it should become clear that imprisonment can and should also be the start of a second chance.
3 What kind of people do we want to have after imprisonment? Broken souls who have learned that there is no mercy? Or people who have learned rules so that they can also make a meaningful contribution to society?
The average rate of recidivism among offenders is 35%. So apparently our correctional system does manage to reintegrate an average of 65% of people who have committed a crime. That should be worth it for such a system.
Fun fact, until the age of 17 or so, I didn't believe that you Americans actually had these prisons as you show them I movies. I thought them figments of imagination for the sake of those stories. I thought the US was considered too developed a country for me to even consider that it could be real. 🤣
It was kind of cartoonish, historic.
Well, sometimes I still think so to protect my mind lol xD
Did you say „go fishing“? Because that’s illegal in Germany unless you have a license and I’m sure there are also regulations on where and when you are allowed to.
In Germany there is also a lot of people who think that our prisons aren't punishing enough. But I am convinced that our current approach focused on human dignity is the right one. A lot of those who become criminals went through difficult situations in their life and maybe in prison they find the peaceful environment to self-reflect and get their life sorted. Even if they actually enjoy the prison for some time and don't experience it as punishment, eventually everyone will miss their freedom and wants to get out.
I think it's ok to give inmates a dignified life in prison, but I do also think that sentences for certain crimes are far too low. Particularly violence against women often gets punished with too litle time.
Frankly, it is less that I want harsher prisons and more that I feels that judges are sometimes too reluctant to dish out prison sentences even to repeat offenders which obviously should be removed from their current environment one way or another.
Honestly Americans complaining about prisoners getting too lenient treatment says more about how badly the average non-prisoner American is being treated than anything else.
TL;DW: German prisons are about rehabilitation (if possible) and less about punishment.
Yes, there are cases where someone can get a life-long sentence, in Germany we call that Sicherungsverwahrung and is reserved for those cases where the convict is irredeemably dangerous to society.
And yet, even in that case, you get a re-evaluation every year to see if the convict is still a danger to society.
I'd say it's also a different mindset about laws and punishment. If the punishment is lossing your freedom, it's exactly this and nothing more and every further restriction besides you not being allowed to leave prison needs a special justification.
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 1 (Constitutional Order): "Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority."
Pretty interesting though that this constitution for Germany were written by the German Parliamentary Council and approved by the allies in 1949. My point here is that US made sure by it's approval that every human being in Germany has its dignity secured by law but didn't thought about implement this at its own one.
The problem with US prisons starts with the fact, that they are privately run business that make more money the more prisoners there are.
The important difference between the US and Germany lies in what you perceive as the punishment. In Germany the punishment is that your freedom is taken from you. You go to prison, you can no longer decide when to wake up, when and what to eat, where to go, who to meet, where you live, who you talk to. That's the punishment. In the US people think that on top of that the person itself should be a punishment as in unsecure environment, lack of privacy, miserable food and housing.
The Black Forest Family had a good in-depth video about prisons in the US vs. elsewhere if you want to check it out. Pretty long though!
How to fix it...
1) Do not make higher recidivism rates profitable for privately owned companies and their shareholders!!!!
That's it!
As long as for profit prisons can make more money by housing more prisoners this issue will never get fixed. Why this even needs to be said is beyond me...
well, i guess its a good thing that "the people" dont get to decide how prisons look. Cuz we all know what happens, when "the people" get to call the shots on justice...
Blood for the blood god!
Funfact: It's not illegal to try to break out. People getting punished for breaking stuff or other stuff, when catched. But it's not crime to try to flee. 🤷♀️ To German Grundgesetz the hardest punishment to control where they can go. Because taling your freedom to go where you like is bad enough. It's not usefull to lock ppl up, punish them more and don't try to help them being part of the community.
A while ago I had a conversation with someon who was a prioner in a German prison. He said that the most painful part was not being free and making own decisions what to do, where to go.....
By the way trying to escap or escaping from a prison is not considered as a crime in Germany. If the prisoner is catched and back in prison there is no additional punishment or extension of the time he has to stay in prison. The German law respects that is the nature of human beings to be free and to achieve that. This relates to the concept that the prison is painful because prisoner are not free.
Everything you do to get out is punishable, though. Breaking the bars or hurting the guards... And as you can't really get out of a prison without committing some sort of crime, that is a rather mute point. But it is telling of the mindset behind our legislation.
I once saw a couple of German videos on a former German prisoner who had served 25 years in a German prison for murder and who now - being out and having gone through a long way of realisation of all of these mechanisms and mindsets - decided to be working, during his free time , with youth in difficult social environments to helps those young kids to escape the cycle of violence. I saw that he could defenitely relate to all of what those kids were going through and what their reality and mindset looked like - He said that , during the time he was serving his sentence, the combination of the setting in prison and the chance to opt for psychological counselling helped him hit rock bottom fully aware of what he had done and the reality of what he had done to others and their loved ones and families - plus understanding the mechanisms he had been living in as a growing up individual - the cycles of violence that only had automatically lead to higher levels of violence... - his understanding of the value and preciousness of life - When asked by the kids he is now trying to help if life inside of prison is the same as outside (what he himslef had been told by a relative who had been discharged from prison after serving a sentence at a time when he himself was building his 'carrier' as a criminal) he said - in some areas - but the most important part is that you do not own your life and your time - you are dictated what to do at what time, 24/7 - and you cannot leave. He always points out and helps to realise this in all of its consequences. And the way out -- if they want one - is hard work - and long and hard. - This man really impressed me. I thought you might like hearing this, Riyan. Thank you for your videos. I feel that you are pointing out in this video the way how prison environments could look like and how the chances of 'positive results' after spending time there seem to closely related to the results - and, of course, the mental capabilities and the willingness to reflect on things of someone serving there.
Let's be honest here: The American prison system isn't built around justice, it's built around the idea of state-sponsored vengeance. Society wants revenge upon those who have sinned and broke the rules. So you make your prisons hell-holes hoping that you can break the people there and make them obedient by force. Which obviously doesn't work: If you break them, once they come back to society they won't be able to contribute in any meaningful way which leaves crime as their only viable option. If you don't break them, once they come back to society they will just be tougher, and for them, too, crime will be the only viable option.
It's genuinely a waste of people. Add the people you imprison over minor drug offenses - hello, mandatory minimums -, and people who shouldn't be in prison but in a psych ward getting treatment, and you needlessly create a perfect storm. And nobody gets out. Not really.
The German system, on the other hand, assumes that people can do better. Will all of them? No. But the ones who simply needed a break, a structure, a path will benefit massively from their time in prison and can be coached back into society. Does this "idealism" backfire? Yes, from time to time. But at least most of us sleep well knowing that our government isn't systemically violating human rights. Which, given our history in the 20th century, is actually an impressive improvement.
I feel the American mindset about prisoners is very eye-for-an-eye Old Testament. The punishment for the crime is not just the fact that the prisoner should lose their freedom to go where they want to go or to decide about their daily life, activities etc. It is to get a person down. To actually take their dignity. At least that’s what the system looks like to an outsider. But I think the high numbers of repeat offenders is in direct correlation to that. To take a persons dignity and not focus on giving them the ability to function in society after prison and not to repeat behavior that let to their incarceration in the first place will set people up for failure.
I watched a documentary about I think the Norwegian prison system. They have a startling low number of repeat offenders. Because they changed the way the prisoners are re-educated and prepared for life after prison. The punishment is the loss of freedom. But the focus is on preventing the behavior that got them there in the first place.
Super interesting to watch.
The inmates can also study and learn crafts. The only punishment they can inflict on you is to take away your freedom, not to take a certain quality of life from you or to treat you badly, according to the German law.
The huge difference is what prison sentences are meant to do.
In germany it is not meant as a deterrent, punishment, revenge and to make your life miserable. It is meant to keep you in a place where you can regret what you did and be rehabilitated and reintegreated into society.
Studies show that punishment only works as a deterrent for petty crimes, for everything where you would actually go to prison for it does not work anyways. And punishment and revenge does not help society either, neither will it help preventing crimes nor will it make the crimes undone. As you already said, by making life in prison hell on earth you just reinforce their behaviour and make it a breeding ground for crimes as soon as they are set free...
Also i would like to add: You can't go to prison in germany for less than a month, and usually everything less than 1 year will be suspended too. That way people who only did "minor" things won't get in touch with serious criminals in prison either.
The reason for that:
Article 1 of the German constitution as provided by the Federal Ministry of Justice
[Human dignity - Human rights - Legally binding force of basic rights]
(1) Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.
(2) The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.
(3) The following basic rights shall bind the legislature, the executive and the judiciary as directly applicable law.
Well, and that we want to resocialize them, not to get cheap revenge (or fulfil private prison contratcs)
As part of that, escaping from prison is legal because it's human nature to crave freedom. YOu aill of course be charged for any actual crimes you commit doing so (stealing or damaging prison property, hurting people, that sort of thing)
The main differences are: We want our people out of there at some point.
Prisoners get to leave to visit family or look for a job.
You are legally allowed to lie about being in prison when applying for a job.
It is not illegal to escape, but they will put you back. But it will not increase your sentence, just pause it while you are away.
You should absolutely expand on this topic, there is a great documentation by 60 minutes on exactly this topic. I recommended that video a lot
I loved that video.
Your thoughts are interesting. People wanting justice for the crimes is true here too. No one who lost their beloved family members wants the murderer to have a nice life BUT that person will come out one day... and do want a gang member who is more criminal than before. Or do you want a male/female who is kinda quite living next to you?
Edit: changed girl/guy in male/female.
Because they are mostly older when they get out.
yea but i'm sure that if it's terrible crime they will probably no get out, right? Does Germany have life sentences?
@@laur4a768 hm.... kinda but also not really. Depends how old they were when they commited the crime.
But when they were young and they are no danger to the society they will get out with 50-60
We have life sentence here too. But most of the time they redeem themselves and get out when they are reaaally old.
BUT if they are not safe for the society they probably are criminal insane and they get a different prison. Because they would be a danger to other prisoners too
@@laur4a768 Germany has life sentence, but while this means that you can be imprisoned indefinitely, after at least 15 years you can request an early pardon from the court. This request is granted if your release can be justified in regard to the safety of the public (i.e. if it is reasonable to assume that you would not commit additional serious crimes). Upon the request being granted, you are released from prison on 5 years of parole, after which you are entirely free once more.
Going by the stats on Wikipedia, sourced from the Criminological Central Office, between the years of 2002 and 2015, a total of 760 prisoners were released from life sentence, having served an average of 18.9 years, with 13% having served more than 25 years.
An additional factor of interest is that, unlike the USA, Germany does not have additive sentencing. Meaning that, when you commit two crimes, one carrying 5 and the other 10 years of prison sentence, in the US you'd go to prison for 15 years, whereas in Germany you'd only be imprisoned for 10 years. This means that timed sentences that are effectively life sentences (such as 100+ years of prison) are impossible in Germany.
@@laur4a768 The threshold for a true life sentence is way higher in europe than america, if it even exists. I'm not sure about germany. But here in Switzerland there is something that is called a "life sentence" (lebenslänglich), but it actually means 25 years.
There are some options to keep someone incarcerated longer, by assessing them psychologically and having a panel review their case every 5 years and then deciding they are still too much of a danger to society so they have to be kept inside for another 5 years. And then you do this every 5 years until they die. But sentencing an 20 year old to life without parole, and therefore taking away any incentive for them to change, as in the US isn't a thing here. And the continous extension (Sicherheitsverwahrung) is not done lightly.
So way more than 99% of prisoners will get out one day (and most sentences are quite short). And thus the goal of the prison system is to make this vast majority of prisoners functional and law abiding members of society by then.
@@maxireigl1919 The German Sentencing Rules under German Penal Code are very complicated to explain for Common people. If there two or more felonies up for sentencing, First a judge has to decide, if felonies are judged to together (so called Tateinheit) or separated (so called Tatmehrheit). If you have both ways, you have to sentence the Tateinheit crimes First. The felony with heaviest Sentence defies the basic level. On your example the basic level are 10 years. For every crime, the are combined together, you defies separeted basic sentences (so called Einsatzstrafe) and the you increase the heaviest sentence, your Limits are 15 Years or the addition of all basic sentences, you have to considered the adeqacy of the increased sentence. For your example 10 years and 5years defies the upper limit at 14 years 11 months. A judge would increase the sentence in a sentencing Frame between 11,5 years and 14 years, depending on the criminal record, the Grave of guilt and so on. When you have the sentences on Tateinheit cases , you combined in the same way with the tatmehrheit cases. If the Basic Level sentence is a Life sentence, the life sentence is the Basic level and as a judge you now have to decide the Grave guilt clause, if yes the first try for a release on parole will not after 15 years inprisonment, normally at least 18 and up to 35 years. Sentencing under German Penal law isn‘t an easy matter, but a German judge have clear rules to follow and at the same time a great Deal of discretion.
In Germany it's actually legal to break out of prison, as long as you don't break anything or harm anyone
Would be great to see some longer reactions from you, so maybe give it a try with some 20+ min vids^^
And the german Prison System wouldn't work this way, because they are huge moneymakers for the owners of the prisons, so it's more efficient for them to make them more criminal to get sure they come back to your expensive "hotel" for criminals :D
One important key difference between German and American prisons is that in Germany, all prisons are state institutions, in American they are private institutions commissioned by the state. You could say in the USA, the sate only commissions private businesses to just "store" their criminals. And because it's a business, the prisons are not interested in rehabilitating prisoners or the human dignity, they are just interested in storing as many prisoners as possible. It's actually even better for them if the prisoners are not rehabilitated, because then they might eventually come back after their release. In Germany, on the other hand there is no incentive to heavy as many criminals as possible. Quite the opposite, the owner of the prisons is the state and prisoners only cost the state money.
Nope. Not half of the people go back to prison, it is far worse in the US. And recidivism is much lower in countries with more humane prison systems (about 2/3 vs. 1/3). And there is no magic involved in fixing it. There are plenty of countries which swiched from systems which were as inhumane and dysfunctional or even worse then the US-version rather recently.
And there have been projects which demonstrated that it also works in the US. The limiting factor is the political comitment to improve it.
Me a German, learning more about Germany by watching an American TH-camr
I'm not too sure how I feel about the video because the ladies seem to almost romanticise the idea/concept of German prisons (trust me, there's still violence and gang mentality), but the main focus is indeed on rehabilitation of the prisoners, in order to sucessfully re-intergrate them back into society after their sentence.
Yeah, it reeks of propaganda. German prisons are nicer mostly just because German criminals are nicer.
The problem why this would never work in the US is, because the prisons there are privatized so the people in there are not seen as humans anymore, but as a product. That is why the rehabilitation is no priority there and they try to keep as many people as possible as long as possible in there for profit. Also the society has this going on for far to long so simply change the prisons now wouldn't work. The US would need to implement a lot of changes in their whole society so that their society as a whole would be better...
And stuff like "people in the US want them to be dead or to suffer as much as possible" says a lot about the mentality in this country. I mean when you have a life or a death sentence in front of you and you know you will never come out of prison ever again, why should you behave there if your life in prison is as miserable as it is in the US? You literally have nothing to loose anymore. The next thing is, that even if you come out of prison, you are like branded for the rest of your life. In my opinion, when you have served your sentence, you should be able to come back into society. At least if you have shown that you want to be a better person and want to change your path in life.
The punishment is not being free not being locked up in the worst place possible.... it is more about rehabilitation than punishment
There's a meme in Germany saying "We should put our elders into prison instead of elderly care homes, because there, they get 3 meals, a shower, high security and cozy rooms featuring a TV every day FOR FREE."
That's because to have your parents/ grandparents stay in an elderly care home costs a lot in Germany and they don't even always feature all of that.
The modern European prison system is massively influenced by the philosophy of Kant. If you, as a state, act in the same way as your criminals, what is the difference then? Of course it's about punishment in Germany too, partly. But it does not cross the line to vengeance. Also even criminals are human beings and therefor deserve a respective treatment. You can also ask: what should be the task of condign punishment? What do you want to achieve?
It goes even deeper. Can not remember the correct term but germany sees imprisonment as a reflection of a failed society with the simple fact: Nobody is born as a criminal.
So society uses the prison for a correction of its error not that one of the prisoner.
@@rudolfgernd8760 That's true. What gets punishment is the committed crime, the act. It's committing larcency not a thief acting. Therefor it doesn't make sense to treat a convict just as if he's e.g. a thief and nothing more but as a person who made a mistake.
Not wanting to make it worse than it is. But in Germany, big parts of rehabilitation efforts after prison sentences are simply dumped onto volunteer organizations and underfunded (with consistent cost cutting on public funding). Also, of course there are people here who spend so much time in prison over their life, that they DO go back intentionally because it's the only way of living they feel capable of. Still, the intention is great and I'm all for it. Things can always be better ;-)
„Of course prison is horrible. It’s meant to be.“ that’s what most of us think based on the topical picture we have of prisons. Until I found out how German prisons work. Are prisons really meant to be a place to only make life horrible for criminals or is there something else we can do for not only theirs but also our future.
10:38 No actually restorative justice means the culprit should learn to and be given the opportunity to repair the harm they have done where possible.
You really should watch the video that was requested. When you don't want to react to it, that's okay too. It gives deeper insights into prison philosophies, it compares outcomes (recidivism rates), and costs. Maybe you can split the reaction into 2 or 3 videos. Many people watch longer videos when they're interesting enough and they keep coming back for further parts. Your nrother splits videos all the time.
In the US most (if not all?) Prisons are private and build for profit. If you want more money, you need more prisoners, what results in less space and overall bad conditions. whereas in germany they are run by the goverment and like you recognized the focus is on rehabilitation, to make sure they can live a normal life afterwards.
My Buddy gets soon released, he was charged with arsony. I often visited him and we were going out in the city. We were at restaurants, walk by the Sea, and even went on a Fair and on a Boat Ride! Without any security measurements. No Handcuffs and such. Only a (very nice) Social Worker was with us.
And also you can get a Playstation here. although the newest one allowed is the first one, but hey...
Also it seemed that Prison did him good, because he had really grown to the better characterwise.
The first of the German basic laws is "Human dignity is inviolable". That goes for prison inmates too. Not so much in the US, i guess.
No need to guess. Just a tiny example: in the US, prisoners (all of them!) lose their right to vote. Not so in Germany, due to, of course, Article 1 (and others). Now… how much prisoners are actually technically *able* to vote, that's a different question…
The suggested video with Jeff Rosen is realy great. You should watch it, even its a bit longer. :)
For me one of the biggest problem you have to solve in America is in my opinion that prisons are private money making institutions. It is not about getting people out of prison and hopefully they learned the lesson and become an member of society again. From all I see and hear from America it is mostly the cheapest way to "keep" them and make lots of money. I guess as long as that change it maybe impossible to change it in a meaningful way. Then you have all those stories where prisoners basically are used as "slaves" forced to work for no money or if it is dangerous so little that I would not count it as being paid for their work.
You need to think of german prisons as rehabilitation centers with more security. When you've committed a not-so-serious crime (you know what I mean), and you've behaved well, you can actually start an aprenticeship or get education. If you behave really well, you might get to go outside (like outside the prison) during the day, but still having to come back at night.
Side note: deprivation of freedom is enough of a punishment in many cases, and as you want the prisoners to become good members of society you need to give them the chance to learn how to have a normal/good life. That's why having personal Items, like a TV or books, and job opportunities so important.
It starts with making sure that everyone outside of prison has a baseline better time? It's quite something when some poor people in the USA would be better off in a german prison…
That is impossible in America. Because they are companies and have to own there money. In Germany it will payed by the state. So when you have to look on the Numbers, that every guard gets paid and electricity can paid. You have to look what can you save to get more Money.
First article of the german constitution is about dignity not being negotiable. The state is not allowed to treat you like an animal... which the US constitution has no problem with.
It would not fly in the US because the prison system is a big business. Imagine how much it would an inmate cost to treat him humane ? No way, But also, not all prisons are like this. It's mostly for non-violent offenders and people at the end of their prison time so they can prepare for the outside world.
The most important point of a justice system is to protect the citizen from crime. Second is that every human has a right of his dignity. Focus on this topic.
Hey Ryan, I love your videos and I watch pretty much all of them but I noticed that the volume of your mic and the volume of the video you're watching a lot of the times don't match up. I constantly have to adjust so I can hear everything but not be screamed at. Could you please try and make the two volumes match up a little bit better in the future? I hope I'm not offending
Would have actually preferred if you looked at the long video. I find that in this short ones there is always so much information missing ... And you can't get the full picture.
I think it's quite simple. Think about what would happen to you if you are locked into a 2x2m room for 23 hours a day for years or in America even for decades. You can try it out in your home. Go into the smallest room of your house without smartphone or any sort of distraction and try to stay in this room as long as your mental health allows it. Afterwards think about the door being locked and you are forced to stay in this room for years. Add to this situation that whenever you finally are allowed to leave this room to go outside, you can be attacked or killed by anyone at anytime. No way you leave after several years this circumstance and be still mentally stable
I live about a mile away from a prison in Berlin's city center. It definately hasn't a park and that much space. I think that prison in Hameln is a showpiece.
I normally love to watch your reactions to all things Germany. But this episode was really kind of nerve-wrecking. You never let this lady get more than 2 words in. Maybe you felt you needed to stretch the 3 minute video, but it was just too much this time
A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Bro i gues 90percent would watch you for an hour
The German word for justice is Gerechtigkeit. Justiz also means justice but it mostly is used as a collective noun for all the institutions of the judiciary system.
Justizvollzugsbeamte for example means correctional officers. And therefore they have the word Justiz on their uniform and cars. So even though their uniform is pretty similar to those of police officers they don't enforce the law out in public but inside courts and prisons.
As a German, I think the way the prisons are run is very good the way it is.
I just think that certain sentence lengths for violent or sexual crimes are intolerably low.
I believe the court has a task of condemning behaviour if for no other reason, then for the victim's psychological sake.
I find it a disgrace that our law seems to think theft was a more severe crime than things that disrupt lives.
Disrupting a life warrants a life being disrupted.
Also we don’t have sentences like 6 times life long. The maximum ist life in prison, where you can’t get out before 15 years, but many stay longer, depends on the crime, and you could get out after 15 years theoretically.
So most prisoners have a reasonable life span after prison and you want them to become functioning members of the society again. Abusing them and leaving them alone, rotting in their cells, won’t accomplish that.
So for the sake of society and potential victims you should treat your prisoners that way, because helping the offender is keeping the potential victims
Safe
Hi Ryan.
Thank you for your videos.
I hope you will also make videos about the Netherlands 🇳🇱