This is a topic that sounds controversial but is actually not. Since we can all use a good distraction now, I'd like to discuss this topic and see how it's applicable today.

The Bible in Exodus chapter 21 discusses the laws of a slave. Basically, slavery discussed in that chapter was in place of the prison system that we have today.

In biblical times, if a person stole, they had to pay back the theft; sometimes with additional penalties. If the person didn't have anything to pay, the court sold him for work for a maximum of six years. The proceedings of the sale goes to the slave minus the amount that he stole, which is given back to the victim. These laws were applicable to anyone, any citizen who was caught stealing through witnesses.

There are many biblical laws to protect the slave from abuse. If the owner breaks a body part of the slave, even a tooth, the slave is freed right away. The owner has to give food, shelter, and clothing for the slave first, even before himself. The owner has to provide also for the wife and children of the slave and they are not subject to work.

What lies behind this system is as follows. The best education for a person who steals and is uncivilized is not to lock them into a compound but to get them to work and to live a normal life. Once a person tastes normalcy they become attracted to it. Just like doing something bad once, makes it easier for the person to do it again, so too with good deeds. One good deed pulls the next.

When the person who stole is a slave for the family of the owner for six years or less, they get to taste what it means to lead a normal life.

Also, the work they do gives them the experience and the spirit to continue to work once they are freed.

How is it applicable to our times? Very simple. Our country has a very big prison population. I don't suggest selling them for work... but just keeping them locked up is not going to help anybody. The people become even more removed from normal life after going through prison.

Instead, my suggestion is to develop schooling and work for inmates that will be mandatory and part of the sentence. The work has to be as close to real life as possible. They should earn real money by being hired remotely or by producing a product. The money would then become available upon release or it can be used to pay off thefts and in turn the sentence would be shortened. Alternatively, an inmate can choose schooling, to study or to train themselves in particular fields, and be rewarded for it.

We can't force people in general to study or to work. However, a person in prison, has very few rights anyhow, so at least the coercion shouldn't be just about good behavior but to nurture back the person to normal life. Of course, everything has to be sensitive to each individual person.

Especially with younger people. Imagine an inmate who exits prison and knows how to code on the computer, or how to do electricity or plumbing, they become a different person. They feel they know something and capable to do something to earn a living in a normal manner.

These ideas need enormous investment, but at the same time it will help so many people and it will help the whole nation by transforming criminals into happy and productive people.

This can be learned from the biblical laws.

Comments? Email me: moshe@mosheunger.com.