Do Prisoners Deserve Christmas Gifts and Cookies?

[Mama Who]

A local church asked students in high school to make Christmas cookies for people in jail. The church members are taking the cookies, and socks and Bibles to the inmates.

I think if a person does something to land themselves in jail they have given up their right to Christmas gifts and cookies. They just don't deserve them. I would rather see the cookies and gifts be taken to a nursing home, or given out to the homeless in shelters, etc. rather than to prisoners.

What do you think?

No, they don't "deserve" them and they don't have a "right" to them. That's not the point. I'm glad these kids are stepping up and doing something they believe in and following their faith.

I'm sure your local nursing home and shelter will be happy to have the cookies and gifts you make and donate. It's nice that you've decided you want to do that.

 

[Patience]

Nobody "deserves" Christmas gifts but the person whose birth the season is commemorating reached out in love to thieves and other "lowlifes" so I believe the church the OP describes is merely following His example.

 

[Acklander]

I have a relative who's worked in a prison for over 25 years and another relative who has been in prison for the last year. Neither one of them describes prison life as a cakewalk so I don't think something small like cookies, a bible and warm socks is going to take away from the punishment they have to endure for their crime. From what I understand from the OP, the students were asked to make cookies, not told they had to make cookies, so each student can decide on their own how compassionate they choose to be this holiday season, and whom they choose to show that compassion to. So I have no problem with it.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I think if I was to answer completely, this would become a religious thread which isn't allowed. I would be asking myself WWJD...did He think the lost sheep was worth finding?

Ditto

 

[eliza61]

A local church asked students in high school to make Christmas cookies for people in jail. The church members are taking the cookies, and socks and Bibles to the inmates.

I think if a person does something to land themselves in jail they have given up their right to Christmas gifts and cookies. They just don't deserve them. I would rather see the cookies and gifts be taken to a nursing home, or given out to the homeless in shelters, etc. rather than to prisoners.

What do you think?

I think that the real meaning of Christmas is Christ, Jesus would show forgiveness and compassion to all, even prisoners.

I think its a nice gesture.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My husband and I are involved with prison ministry - we visit a man who has been on death row for almost 25 years, and became a Christian about 4 years ago, and my husband also does a weekly Bible class at our local jail. When we first started doing prison ministry, members of our own family were against it and said things like "Why don't you visit a children's home instead?" Well our church already had an established and thriving ministry to a children's home - it didn't have a prison ministry. Prison ministry is one area that is unpopular, both in the "world" and in the "church." Even among non-Christians, if you visit the sick and take care of widows you will be thought of as a good person, but if you visit prisoners people think you are crazy.

On our recent visit to the death row inmate, he excitedly told us about his new MP3 player - the state recently approved a certain type of MP3 player that the prisoners can buy from the prison canteen, and approved MP3s they can purchase. The inmate made a comment that he didn't deserve such a luxury and was grateful to have it.

Do prisoners deserve cookies? No. Do we all get things we don't deserve? Yes. Would prisoners be grateful for cookies received from a church group? Absolutely. I'm also surprised that they are allowed to take homemade cookies into the prison - the state prison where death row is located is extremely strict (of course, they have to be) about what you can take in and bring out, anything homemade, or even packaged and opened, is forbidden. DH says he would not be able to bring in anything to distribute to the prisoners during his classes, aside from his already approved Bibles. So if the group is planning to distribute anything to prisoners, I hope they have gone through all the correct channels to get it approved.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'm just very grateful it is "while we were still sinners" and not "after we had kept our noses clean for awhile."

 

[disfan07]

I'll ask since its been brought up more than once, but isn't the point of forgiveness to forgive those who are truly sorry? In that case, I'd check how many repeat offenders there are, those who are on their 2nd prison term fall on the naughty list. No gift for you....next!

But a second offense could be something like minor probation violation (nothing violent or terrible...just a minor violation). Thats what can happen in California. We have the most idiotic 3 strikes rule. So for example, if someone goes to jail for drug possession and gets out on probation, and they violate probation (say for example, being out past curfew) they can get sent back to jail. If they violate probation a second time (even for minor, stupid violations) they can end up in jail FOR LIFE because it is a 3rd strike. It is by far the WORST thing ever IMO and something we need to get rid of.

There is a difference between being in jail on a second major offense (violence, robbery, etc) and being in because of a minor violation. So just becaus ethey are serving a second term, does not mean that they are not truly sorry.

 

[brockash]

I agree.

OP you seem to think that anyone in prison is a monster. While there might be a lot of evil and sick people in prison there are also people who are waiting trial, those who are innocent and those that are in for minor offenses. Don't lump them all together.

I'm sure a couple of cookies and some socks aren't going to spoil them. They are still going back to their cold cell at night, being locked up.

You know, you say that, but if it were someone who tortured/killed someone, or a child molester or someone that did something to your child...I really wouldn't be able to support having an organization have a bunch of high school kids make the Christmas gifts. I think I'd be more along the lines of "are you fricken kidding me?"

I get that not all ppl. in jail are monsters, however there are monsters in jail, and either way, I still find it a little odd having high school students make gifts for criminals

 

[mrsklamc]

I didn't think the idea is to just go around forgiving people that truly aren't sorry for what they have done

It's not likely that the students are the direct victims of the crimes the inmates are in prison for, so forgiveness is not for them to give.

In human terms, forgiveness involves one person (the victim.) It is something they do for themselves, not for the person who wronged them. Reconciliation takes two people, and would require repentance.

I also don't think which prison sentence they are on is a good judge of the condition of their heart. Maybe they became sorry after their second or third crime.

 

[brockash]

But a second offense could be something like minor probation violation (nothing violent or terrible...just a minor violation). Thats what can happen in California. We have the most idiotic 3 strikes rule. So for example, if someone goes to jail for drug possession and gets out on probation, and they violate probation (say for example, being out past curfew) they can get sent back to jail. If they violate probation a second time (even for minor, stupid violations) they can end up in jail FOR LIFE because it is a 3rd strike. It is by far the WORST thing ever IMO and something we need to get rid of.

There is a difference between being in jail on a second major offense (violence, robbery, etc) and being in because of a minor violation. So just becaus ethey are serving a second term, does not mean that they are not truly sorry.

Ummm, they're still breaking the law repeatedly. It's really not that hard to follow the rules. Violent or not, someone that violates probation, still seems to not be able to follow the rules or the law. It's really not rocket science (for the criminal) you're verbally told and given a paper telling you in writing what the "rules" are...follow them, and you won't have an issue.

 

[disfan07]

I am always amazed that we want people who have broken the law to somehow become model citizens while they serve their sentence but we don't want to invest the time or the energy showing them how to do this. FTR, I do not believe in parole, a sentence is a sentence IMO but I do think that once a person is incarcerated it is important to bring some sort of humanity if as a society we believe that we want to rehabilitate those who have committed crimes.

I cannot understand how anyone can magically become a productive member of society if society refuses to place value on that person until they are released from prison. Kindness is taught, compassion is taught, work ethics and basic morality is taught..............all by example. If the example set is that one never deserves basic kindnesses until any given group decides that there is room for redemption what incentive is provided for a criminal to make positive changes while in prison. What is the use?And so that you know, many of those incarcerated have no family, no friends and no one to provide inventive to change the behaviors that got them there in the first place. And many do come out wanting to "keep their noses clean" but no one will hire them, they have no job, no home and no vehicle and no hope. Just sayin'.



Well said.



You are not wrong to believe whatever you believe. You cannot foist your beliefs on another and state that person is wrong if their opinion differs from yours. I believe respecting that others have the right to different opinions is the first step in learning how to play nice.

I completely agree with this. In my criminology classes, we have been taught that the most successful jails and prisons are the ones which focus on rehabilitation. The rehabilitation includes things like interacting with people outside of jail, classes, religious groups, drug counseling, job training, etc. And most of the prisoners interviewed state that they appreciate the kindness shown in those programs and appreciate that other pepole believe in them. And no, people do not just magically change because they are in prison. In fact, prison actually worsens behavior in many prisoners becaus of the conditions.


Oh...and as PPs have said...no one "deserves" or has a "right" to Christmas presents...or birthday presents, or Disney vacations, etc. So they might not "deserve" the treats...but neither does anyone else.

 

[mefordis]

Yes, unless they are in for rape, molestation or murder. Then no.

 

[disfan07]

Ummm, they're still breaking the law repeatedly. It's really not that hard to follow the rules. Violent or not, someone that violates probation, still seems to not be able to follow the rules or the law. It's really not rocket science (for the criminal) you're verbally told and given a paper telling you in writing what the "rules" are...follow them, and you won't have an issue.

Okay...so anyone who breaks a rule should not be given ANYTHING. I know of people who have broken worse rules than what some probation violators have and they are not in jail or have not been sentenced (involvement with the court system for criminology classes). So what about them. They are NOT in jail but they still broke a law/rule so what about them.

And if following rules (no matter how minor) then does that mean that EVERYONE who has broken a rule/law should not get anything.

It's not so black and white. There's a lot of gray with the court systems and jails that most people seem to ignore.

 

[Bluestars]

Sometimes the people who could use kindness the most are the ones who seem to deserve it the least.

 

[disfan07]

Does anyone "deserve" gifts and cookies?

A gift is just that, it's something freely given without the recipient having to "earn" it. At least that's what I always thought it was.

Yes but think about it...how many times on these boards have you read that people think thay "deserve" a Disney vacation. Peoples thoughts about what they "deserve" vary greatly. And it amazes me what some people think they "deserve"

 

[brockash]

Okay...so anyone who breaks a rule should not be given ANYTHING. I know of people who have broken worse rules than what some probation violators have and they are not in jail or have not been sentenced (involvement with the court system for criminology classes). So what about them. They are NOT in jail but they still broke a law/rule so what about them.

And if following rules (no matter how minor) then does that mean that EVERYONE who has broken a rule/law should not get anything.

It's not so black and white. There's a lot of gray with the court systems and jails that most people seem to ignore.

I work at the D.A.'s office, trust me, I know and see every day how our criminal justice system can be and is very flawed. My personal opinion is that no, I don't really think it's all the important to have any organization pick out criminals to make/buy gifts for, however I suppose in OP's case, if they aren't in jail, then they're (the ones not in jail you speak of, and the ones that haven't been caught/convicted) not being seeked out by an organization to receive gifts anyways.

Honestly, for smaller crimes, and non-violent ones, I could see the possible good outcome of supporting something like this, however for the monsters, I personally, think it would be disrespectful to their victims families to do something like this. Just my opinion though, and obviously it really wouldn't matter.

 

[okeydokey]

It's easy to be kind and generous to people who "deserve" it. How wonderful of those kids to be kind and generous to those who don't. It sounds like they understand the true meaning of Christmas.

 

[StephMK]

My church did something similar and I wondered about it too. They made a bunch of stockings for prisoners. I don't know, I would rather see time and energy spent taking care of kids and the elderly or even immigrants or the working poor who aren't eligible for much support. THEN if their needs were met, then maybe show some kindness towards the prisoners. I don't totally oppose showing a little goodwill, but not if it's at the expense of other groups who may be needy.

 

[Nancyg56]

You know, you say that, but if it were someone who tortured/killed someone, or a child molester or someone that did something to your child...I really wouldn't be able to support having an organization have a bunch of high school kids make the Christmas gifts. I think I'd be more along the lines of "are you fricken kidding me?"

I get that not all ppl. in jail are monsters, however there are monsters in jail, and either way, I still find it a little odd having high school students make gifts for criminals

I am not sure that I can agree with you. I actually am pretty hard line when it comes to enforcing sentences that are handed to criminals and I don't think we should spend money making lives of those folks who commit heinous crimes cushy. I don't think that there is a conflict between my beliefs and understanding that for many in jail a little gesture such as a cookie or a pair of socks from a stranger is much more than gift at Christmas.

I don't think any kindness will reach the truly deranged who thrive on violence towards others but I do believe not all those incarcerated fall into that category of human being. If a group wants to reach out to those jailed especially during the Holidays I think only good can come from that. If the gifts make a day a little brighter what harm is there? I support that some would not want to do this but I don;t think anyone can criticize those who do.

I think that the bottom line is that we all choose who we want to reach out to and that decision is a personal choice.

It's easy to be kind and generous to people who "deserve" it. How wonderful of those kids to be kind and generous to those who don't. It sounds like they understand the true meaning of Christmas.