The latest statistics on the American prison system:

200,000+ children are in juvenile detention centers and jails.

2 Million Americans are currently incarcerated in our prison system ( that is approximately the size of the entire city of Soweto, South Africa)

1 out of every 75 men is currently incarcerated.

Sixty percent of all incarcerated for drug related crimes are first offenders.

We also have the highest prison population in the world.

And 100% of those incarcerated are also at risk of being tortured in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States constitution, and many have been and are still victims of a brutal prison system, it's tactics being implemented from Georgia, to California, to Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo.

The moral degradation and torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison and others in this "war on terror" (led by many who were and are also affiliated with the American prison system) at the hands of the U.S. military and the Pentagon is not new to the American prison system, nor should it be a shock to those who have researched this topic. This inhumane and unconstitutional treatment has been normal practice in the American prison system for decades.

Our own Congress as recently as 1996, passed a bill (Prison Litigation Reform Act) in order to ensure that in most cases, those abused by this system do not receive compensation for their abuse. It would also now appear that by voting for Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General and allowing Donald Rumsfeld to retain his position as Secretary of Defense, even after proof emerged that this procedure was OKed from the highest levels of our government, that our leaders also believe in violating the United States constitution, and in the torture and humiliation tactics employed in our own prisons and around the world that does nothing to further justice. This should not stand with Americans of conscience and morals.

This petition is then hereby written in order to protest against the unconstitutional, unAmerican, and inhumane treatment of those in our prison system, and to call for an investigation of such tactics by the Governors of all states, and to also recommend a revision of existing Federal sentencing standards in regards to first time drug use offenders. These procedures overcrowd our prisons, thus putting a tremendous strain on our budgets and robbing the lives of many of our young people who are ruined forever because of one mistake.

We are also protesting the unprofessional and deadly tactics implemented by Prison Health Systems, a company whose presence now in 36 states concerns us, based on a NY Times expose' dated, February 27, 2005. We then request a thorough investigation into their practices by non-partisan state commissions in all states this company operates in, and for proper compensation to be made to the families of all of those who have lost loved ones in their care. We also applaud New York state for investigating these allegations, and call on all other states where this company operates to do the same.

Congress must also seriously consider legislation to repeal or at the very least fine tune the Prison Litigation Reform Act, in order to truly and fairly represent those prisoners who are unjustly and unconstitutionally attacked and tortured in regards to compensation, and to provide for proper medical attention to patients in our prisons, especially children and the mentally retarded who are too often silent victims.

We as American citizens can no longer sit by and watch while our fellow citizens are tortured and abused in a system based on political kickbacks and greed and say we have a soul. The time for action is now, and by signing this petition you tell all of those in Congress and our states who condone such behavior over the wellbeing of all of our citizens by looking the other way, that we will no longer tolerate torture in America.

The absolute lack of professionalism and ethics that have led to this country's prisons being no better in many instances than those in third world countries must be addressed. This also isn't about defending criminals, this is about defending justice, dignity, and our children. It is unconscienable that this is being allowed to take place in our country. Profit should not come before people, as we are literally privitizing them to death. This goes against all we stand for as Americans in a country where the current leaders now talk about "compassion," but know absolutely nothing about it in practice. We demand change. We demand justice. We demand that our constitution be respected, and that those who violate it be made accountable for their actions.

Thank you,
Jan Moore Chairperson,
Patriots for Al Gore

Erin Bidleman,
Co-Chairperson, Treasurer,
Patriots for Al Gore
http://www.patriotsforgore.com

Acne Life Insurance Death Insurance Bextra Asbestos Car Insurance Dental Plans 0 Private Jets Debt Consolidation credit Cards Rewards Cards Equity Loans Equity Line credit Loans Mortgages Pay Day Loans Cash Advance 0 Bankruptcy Reduce Debt Refinance Jet Charter Vioxx Wrongful death Legal Advice Taxes Investing Bonds 0 Online Trading IRA Rollover Refinance Quotes Adult Education Distance Learning Alcohol Treatment Rehab Drug Rehab Spyware Cell Phone Plans 0 Calling Cards VOIP Weight Loss Canadian Pharmacy Depression Spam Filter Lasik Facelift Teeth Whitening Annuity 0 Anti Virus Protection Adult Diaper Free credit Report credit Score Satellite Anti Spam Software Dedicated Hosting Domain Name Need Money Bachelor Degree 0 Master Degree Doctorate Degree Work at Home Quick Book Extra Money Eloan Malpractice Lawyer Lenox China Cancer Payperclick 0 Personal Injury Attorney Lexington Law Video Conferencing Transfer Money Windstar Cruise Casinos Online Term Life Online Banking Borrow Money Low Interest credit Cards 0 Personal Domain Name Cellular Phone Rental Internet Broker Trans Union Cheap Hosting University Degrees Online Online Marketing Consolidate Helpdesk Software Web Host 0 Homeowner's Insurance Yellow Page Advertising Travel Insurance Register Domain credit Counseling Email Hosting Business credit Consumer credit Blue Cross Laptop Computer