Mega Prison in El Salvador

[Raffe]

"They"

[rabbitinheadlights]

I don't minimise the scale of the problem, and I entirely agree that it must be brought under control.
However the issues are multiple; here are just 3:
1) from what I understand, the tattoos mark these men as gang members but not as individual criminals; regardless of how likely that may be, you need to be able to pin a crime to a suspect and get him convicted in a court of law, and that hasn't happened.
2) many if not most of these men joined the gangs as a matter of survival precisely because not doing so would likely be a death warrant. And that is a consequence of the lack of state policing. This catch 22 situation needs to be resolved or the "recruitment" will not just continue but expand to replace those imprisoned and reconstitute their ranks
3) those numbers are considerable and represent a generation of young men from a very disadvantaged background. Their imprisonment will put their families under even deeper poverty which in itself will drive them to crime. Again, a vicious circle.
As I said, complex problems do not have simple solutions.

As you say it’s a complex situation. I’m sure the inmates didn’t start their lives wanting to be on this path of life. They have come from brutal lives that have been inflicted on them by the society they grew up in. The fact they live in a brutal dictatorship where they have very little choice and it’s be or be killed.

I fully appreciate that these people have committed awful crimes but can’t help pointing the finger at the government and any real lack of support. Not an easy one to sort however are any of them going to change in that environment ? Absolutely not I would imagine. Makes me sad for everyone concerned.


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[BSB]

Not one PM of support.

My information on your not liked status is one of many threads over the years where TZ members show their distaste of you.

Having met Marc for a drink and a pleasant watch transaction and chat, I'd like to declare myself as one of the '15%'. I can say from first-hand experience that's he's a great guy.