# Could this be a better solution for our worst murderers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-better-solution-for-our-worst-murderers/17586>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 29, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-better-solution-for-our-worst-murderers/17586 "2000-02-29T19:02:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Sage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Sage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-better-solution-for-our-worst-murderers/17586/21 "2000-03-03T00:58:00Z")

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If they **could** be isolated, on Alcatraz or an island which could be encircled so there would be no escape, would any here really object?

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-better-solution-for-our-worst-murderers/17586/22 "2000-03-03T06:14:00Z")

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Robert Heinlein’s _Coventry_ was already mentioned. Another fictional depictation of this idea was Robert Silverberg’s _Hawksbill Station_ in which political prisoners were sent on a one-way trip millions of years into the past.

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**Author:** ![Sage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Sage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-a-better-solution-for-our-worst-murderers/17586/23 "2000-03-03T12:53:00Z")

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Okay, I get that. But I can’t go read those books tonight.

What are your opinions on a secure penal colony solution **today** (non-fiction), given today’s politcal realities?

IMO, such a solution would greatly **alleviate prison overcrowding.** These “life without parole” convicts will be there in our prison systems for a very long time. Given the number of such prisoners and the length of their lives (does anyone know the actual numbers?) their years incarcerated really adds up. Other prisoners are in and out.  
One lifer’s cell, freed up, could be used a number of times for other criminals.

**Humane vs Inhumane?** In a penal colony they would have a freedom they would never have in a cell for life. What they would do with that freedom would be totally up to them. Theirs lives would no doubt be more productive than living in a cell waiting for their meals to be delivered.

{ **Cost ?** Far less than the cost of housing in current prison, and building new prisons; 24/7 prison guards, cooks, medical, administrative personnel.

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