Life in Prison Free Essays

Prison life in most society is not considered a life worth mentioning. When a person decides to break the law and take up a life of crime, he or she should be aware of certain circumstances that lie ahead. When individuals break the law in our society, the pathway to a life in jail or prison is almost certain. We will write a custom essay sample on Life in Prison or any similar topic only for you Order Now Life simple freedom that most of society enjoys are limited in prison, and in some case none existence. Told where to go, how to act, when to speak, when to rise for the day or when to sleep can be torture. While enduring this he or she is confined in a small cell surrounded by the worst criminals society has to offer can make what life one has left a living nightmare (Heydoorn, 2008). In this paper, I will discuss my personal perspective that I have on Life in Prison. I will also discuss the policies that I would enforce, inmates need for respect, change in correctional policies that I would implement, and my beliefs on why people become criminals. After reading various topics on prison life during this course of study, along with my personal experience as a law enforcement officer, my perspective and understanding of prison life has not change. The main purpose of jail and prison has not change since the early days of our society. Prisons in our society are to house those citizens, which have committed crimes, like murder, rape, arson, and burglary. These citizens are held until their day in court, their trail has been set, and punishment has been rendered. Our ancestors intended purpose of jails and prisons were used as a form of punishment against the offender, a deterrent against the offender from committing crimes, removing dangerous criminals from our society and rehabilitation of less violent criminals. The system I think is ineffective so my understanding is that the system works. However, I am not supportive of the harsh conditions that some inmates will experience while incarcerated. The subculture of gang life and having to choose between living prison life safe or a victim of prison life is a difficult choice (Latessa, 2004). Some policies that I would make to aid the adjustment of prisoners to prison life are first address the subculture mentality that all inmates will experience. This unwritten inmate code, which is nothing more than a certain rules, and belief that used to bind inmates together. Prison life within this culture sees prison as nothing more than a training ground for gladiators. Here is where the strong will survive and flourish in this culture or weak shall become victims. This one area seldom addressed in the majority of prisons. In some cases, prisons officials allow this system to operate for fear of staff safety and gang retaliation. If this were the first order of attack, an inmate might have the chance at rehabilitation and reeducating themselves for reentry back to society (De Viggiani, 2006). In prison life for an inmate, his or her very existence is based on respect, hope, and safety that he or she will survive their sentence. If respect is given to an inmate as, a human being than respect should be rendered in return. Respect can be the difference between a prison riots or safe staff. Giving an inmate hope can change an individual whole outlook on prison life. Though hope an inmate can, one acquires his or her GED, learn a trade, kick drug addiction, and one-day walk out a free man. Other changes in policy that I would suggest in both state and federal prison would first start with the correctional management staff ideology. In almost every state in the United States prison system operates with the idea that if a plan worked good one day why change it the next. In other words if the system is not broken why fix it. The correctional system is like any other field in our society reluctant to change even when it is long overdue. The hearts and minds of correctional professionals, is a start in the right direction. In the last 100 years, there has been very little difference in how our prisons are operated this needs to change. Just because it was successful in 1950 does not mean it is for 2011. During this course of study, I do not think that there is no definite reason people become criminals. It is hard for me to think that individuals are merely born criminals and its is beyond that person control to do otherwise. I think that some people just take up criminal activity because the lifestyle and danger of being caught appeals to their behavior. Others might do strictly for financial gains that might override any rational thought. Some because of their environment see it as easy ticket out of poverty in which he or she grew up. The list could go on with no simple answer. However, I am confident that if the majority of our society were taught at an early age that criminal behavior is a no win scenario that will only led them to a life in prison. How to cite Life in Prison, Essays Life in Prison Free Essays Life in prison is difficult to understand for those who have not experienced this kind of life. This paper will discuss the how my understanding of prison life has changed since reading the assigned materials. Change in Understanding of Prison Life My understanding of prison life since reading the course’s assigned readings and ERR articles has changed, to the extent that I originally viewed some prisons to be more of a vacation spot for some criminals as opposed to being a place that criminals are sent to serve harsh, sentence with the fear of facing other dangerous criminals. We will write a custom essay sample on Life in Prison or any similar topic only for you Order Now I also believed that prisoners did not deserve any sort of rights under the Constitution, because of the crimes they committed, but after reading the material I no longer believe this. Most do not realize the multitude of issues that inmates have to deal with on a daily basis while just trying to survive his or her time in prison. My view remains that criminals who have been convicted of committing a crime and sent to prison should be there. Inmates even though locked up still have to go through the experience of racism in prison this racism comes from both other inmates and prison staff. An obvious risk that inmates must face is the risk of having to participate in sexual acts that can include rape. I could not imagine anything worse than being sexually assaulted and I could never imagine the feeling that must go with being sexually assaulted by someone that is the same sex as me. All criminals deserved to be punished but no one deserves to be assaulted like this. Gangs are another dangerous issue that inmates must deal with on a daily basis. I could not begin to fathom the idea of facing gang violence while in prison, with the constant threat of being attacked or killed because I would chose not a part of the gangs. In regards to drug addictions, it has to be extremely difficult to suffer through withdrawals while in prison. I would imagine that this can make an inmate begin to believe he or she is crazy and begin locked in a cell has to make that inmate feel even worse. With most prisons lacking substance abuse programs and treatment this too has to make the situation worse. Policies One Would Enforce One of the biggest issues in the state and federal prison systems is overcrowding. To address the all-important issue of overcrowding, I would enforce a policy that would prevent the overcrowding of prisons by ensuring that prison staff strictly adhered to a maximum occupancy guideline. This policy would ask that not only prison staff but courts all follow the guidelines that prisoners must be transferred to other prisons if one has reached it occupancy level even if this meant to enter other jurisdictions. Another policy that I would enforce is the need for substance abuse programs that will assist with treatment of addictions and mental health services for those with mental illnesses. As of today there are few prisons that offer these services to inmates. The new policy will address this issue, make it possible for inmates to receive medical treatment and substance abuse treatment. Finally, I would implement a policy to address the violence within the prison system. This policy would implement severe punishment for those involved in violent activities. Depending upon the seriousness of the violence, the offending inmate could face solitary confinement and possibly place in a maximum security ward of the prison. How Inmate’s Needs Contribute to Correctional Policy The needs of inmates greatly contribute to correctional policy. Even with the consideration of the crime that was committed, prison inmates are people and must still be treated fairly and equally. Prison inmates still deserve respect, provided with a sense of hope, should be afforded proper medical treatment, and even though they are criminals inmates deserve to be kept safe from harm. It is the responsibility of the prison staff to be sure that the inmate receives everything that he or she would expect for themselves if the roles were reversed. Changes in Correctional Policy An important change in correctional policy that I would suggest to be implemented in the correctional facilities is regarding medical and drug treatment. Along with this policy I would ask that all inmates receive a full medical examination upon commitment to the prison, this exam would also test for sexually transmitted diseases this exam would ensure the health of inmates as well as provide prison staff with the knowledge of who needs medication. Many people suffer from diseases that require strict medical treatment such as diabetes and inmates often suffer from the same diseases as free people. I would implement urine screening to make the staff aware of any possible drug addictions of the inmate, and offer that inmate drug treatment if needed. Why People Become Criminals I believe that people become criminals for many reasons. Some people become criminals a need to feed themselves or family members, others become criminals for the monetary gain that can be received from his or her criminal activities. Some even become criminals just to inflict pain upon others. There are many other reasons why people chose to become criminals. Money, need and hate are the usual causes for people’s criminal activities. How to cite Life in Prison, Essay examples