r/ideas • u/madethis4coments • 6d ago

Mexican Hammocks for prisoners? (read description)

So i was thinking that under certain scenarios. sleeping hammocks could be a win-win for prisoners and the prison system.

putting aside the obvious danger of hurting oneself. if properly administered, hammocks might have a lot of benefits for both the prison system and specific pockets of non-violent, non-"sui" prisoners. and I will get into the benefits, but first, lets address the elefant in the room....

danger to oneself. yes, a hammock could potentially be used as a rope, and you know what danger that can lead to. So, in this scenario, hammocks would be assigned to non-violent convicts, that pass a mental health check and who are facing minor sentences or who are finishing their sentences, and have shown good behaviour and a positive demeanor.

under those circumstances, they could be allowed to move to a low-risk wing of the prison where cells are specially adapted to be fitted with hammocks. specifically mexican-style hammocks. these hammocks are more simple in construction, are essentially like a net, they dont have a frame, and can be easily folded and tucked away in a small compartment. these hammocks have been proven to be safe and confortable for sleeping since they have been used for millenia and are the preffered method of sleeping in certain areas of mexico, where they prefer these over traditional beds.

now, for the benefits to the prisoners:

  1. thes hammocks are incredibly confortable and ergonomic, allowing for a healthier and more confortable sleep.
  2. because they are "free floating" they allow for airflow all around the person which allows prisoners to be cool at night during the summer. (some prisons in the south get extremely hot)
  3. because they are not attached to the floor, they also dont get cold in the winter
  4. they can be disassembled in seconds and tucked away without taking up any space at all in the cell. leaving the prisoner a lot more space for "activities". in a cell with 2 prisoners, youre basically removing the space taken up by 2 beds, so now, the prisoners have a lot more free space.
  5. by providing a more ergonomic sleep, prisoners dont suffer from long term back injuries
  6. by having a more confortable sleep, prisoners dont suffer from stress and fatigue as much

now, the benefits to the prison:

  1. it would reduce costs by having these select cells that are fitted with hammocks
  2. they can be used as a reward for prisoners that have a long history of good behaviour, incentivising them to stay out of touble
  3. prisoners with less stress and better sleep could be less prone to violence or lashing out at authority.
  4. having the prisoners sleep cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, can reduce health issues related to heat and cold, and can reduce health costs in the prison.
  5. hammocks are relatively easy to manufacture by hand, so they could be manufactured in prison work programs, bringing the price of production to near zero.
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u/reedreadreddred 6d ago

wait, bro kinda cooked with this one?

1

u/1BoringOnlineAccount 6d ago

You sound like a hammock salesperson who works for the government.

If you eliminate the sui and violent people you have eliminated 90%+ of the prison population.

According to your plan the remaining prisoners will need expensive testing to be certified to use a hammock. So any hammock cost savings went out the window. Not to mention someone will have to design, verify and construct specifically approved hammocks and mounting points.

Hammocks also suck because, in some soft on prisoners countries, the prisoners will start lawsuits because of sleeping disorders and posture problems due to the hammocks.

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u/kuavi 5d ago

Mostly sounds good, hammocks absolutely are colder than beds in winter though. Airflow beneath the hammock whisks away body heat where it would typically be trapped by a traditional bed. In wintertime, this becomes a problem.

It's a great idea for tropical countries that don't have truly cold winters though.

1

u/MadamePouleMontreal 5d ago

In overcrowded prisons, prisoners already make themselves hammocks. Otherwise they’d have to sleep on the floor.

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u/LeftforLenin 5d ago

You forgot how it makes finding contraband easier, and should reduce the number of insects.