Positive Sociology

I just read an LA Times article about a new prison program in Santa Rita Do Sapucai, Brazil.  In exchange for reduced sentences, p risoners ride stationary bicycles that generate power for a city boardwalk .   The program was created by a local judge, Jose Henrique Mallman, who got the idea for this program after googling "renewable energy" on the Internet.  Mallman, like many progressive minded folks, started realizing that prisons were doing little to reform inmates and had little effect on violent crime rates.   Mallman is also moving to create a program that would reduce prisoner stays for reading and submitting book reports.   Prisoners are already singing the praises of this program.  The program has kept some prisoners busy, who report feeling physically and mentally healthier as a result. The Dancing Prisoners of Cebu Prison, Philippines Reading about this program reminds me of a 2007 viral video of prisoners in the Philippines doing...