The justice system during SHTF

[milton6994 Profile]

I have a few questions about the justice system during a prolonged crisis.

At what level of SHTF will we have to worry about the prison system becoming compromised? Will the prisoners be left locked up and abandoned? Will they be let out? Will the guards and other personnel go home to take care of their families? Will the military take over the prisons? Federal prisons? State prisons? County and city lockups? What happens when the supply chain to the prisons is interrupted?

Will the citizens be ordered to "self-quarantine" under a possible 24-7 curfew?

Will new tent cities spring up to house suspects picked up during the crisis? What about the court system? Juries? Fuel for police cars and prison buses?

[missouriwarrior Profile]

Great question.

About the inmates, I suppose they would leave them locked.

The court system would be interrupted. The other day I read on the news that one town had started releasing inmates a month ago, due to lack of money. So, this is just conjecture, but I bet in a SHTF they wouldn't be releasing anybody. Perhaps the military would take over, or the national guard, giving a hand to prisons and stuff.

One thing is for sure, the court system wouldn't be active.

[Brwlyan Profile]

I wonder if they would just release them if some big disaster happens. I am sure if something like an economic meltdown comes by, they will still be locked.

[beckyv1265 Profile]

That would be an issue. Do we want them just running around causing mayhem? Would it be murder or justice to let them starve in their cells. Would lining them up and putting a bullet in their head be more kind? It is a problem I have often wondered about.Do we want rapist and murderers and pediphiles running about unprepared for a crisis? Their is enough of them already running about.

[Supertanker Profile]

The one good thing is, if the power goes off, the doors remained locked. If the power grid fails, or damaged, etc... the doors can be opened with a key at that point. At least the inmates will be contained until someone releases them. I worked at a prison back in the 90's, and the armorer told me that in case of invasion, the prisoners would be gased so they couldn't be conscripted into the ivading force. I always though that was a hold over from the cold war era. Other than that, I never learned any other contingency plans for various scenarios.

[milton6994 Profile]

The one good thing is, if the power goes off, the doors remained locked. If the power grid fails, or damaged, etc... the doors can be opened with a key at that point. At least the inmates will be contained until someone releases them. I worked at a prison back in the 90's, and the armorer told me that in case of invasion, the prisoners would be gased so they couldn't be conscripted into the ivading force. I always though that was a hold over from the cold war era. Other than that, I never learned any other contingency plans for various scenarios.

So does that mean the prisons have a stock of "gas" on hand?

...sure would hate for that to fall into the wrong hands.

[aliens51 Profile]

The one good thing is, if the power goes off, the doors remained locked. If the power grid fails, or damaged, etc... the doors can be opened with a key at that point. At least the inmates will be contained until someone releases them. I worked at a prison back in the 90's, and the armorer told me that in case of invasion, the prisoners would be gased so they couldn't be conscripted into the ivading force. I always though that was a hold over from the cold war era. Other than that, I never learned any other contingency plans for various scenarios.

Woah! Gas as in killing them?

[Zombie-Hunter Profile]

The one good thing is, if the power goes off, the doors remained locked. If the power grid fails, or damaged, etc... the doors can be opened with a key at that point. At least the inmates will be contained until someone releases them. I worked at a prison back in the 90's, and the armorer told me that in case of invasion, the prisoners would be gased so they couldn't be conscripted into the ivading force. I always though that was a hold over from the cold war era. Other than that, I never learned any other contingency plans for various scenarios.

Woah! Gas as in killing them?

Yep. As in killing them, with gas. Crazy stuff uh?

[drewsathlon Profile]

i think that the non violent criminals would be let loose and the violent ones would be consolidated into federal prisons under military jurisdiction. otherwise, it may end up as that country song "whiskey for my men and beer for my horses" where justice is dealt by "posse" and a rope. in a deep sh*t situation, it is likely that the prisoners would be left in their cells to die as the people who could let them out simply did not care enough about them to let them out.

[Jennifer Profile]

i think that the non violent criminals would be let loose and the violent ones would be consolidated into federal prisons under military jurisdiction. otherwise, it may end up as that country song "whiskey for my men and beer for my horses" where justice is dealt by "posse" and a rope. in a deep sh*t situation, it is likely that the prisoners would be left in their cells to die as the people who could let them out simply did not care enough about them to let them out.

That's kind of what I was thinking. But I doubt they will have the time to sort that out. They wouldn't care less; leaving them both violent and non violent left to die. I know it is unfair, but I am sure the guards wouldn't have time to sort it out. Sad, actually.