Life_in_Prison

Life in Prison University of Phoenix BSAO07P712;CJA/383 Bob Bennett Life in Prison The primary task of prisons, despite any arguments to the contrary is custody. The internal order of the prisons is maintained by strictly controlling the inmates and regimenting every aspect of their lives. In addition to their loss of freedom and basic liberties, goods and services they are deprived of their personal identities. After reading Behind a Convicts Eyes, I have been exposed to prison life that I didn’t have a clue that goes on. I often wondered how life would be for others behind bars. I have learned that prison has an inmate social system, characterized by social roles and an inmate code. Exposure to the social system of the prison community begins as soon as a prisoner enters the institution. I have observed that inmates become quickly aware norms and values that are shared by their fellow inmates. After reading the text I found that inmates don’t have a choice of life, no freedom, and no way out. Anonymous N. Inmate (Carceral 2004 pg.27) states, after being incarcerated for five years he have mastered prison proper. Adjusting to prison life comes easily because there are a new meaning to conditions that should have came easily. The fact that food, shelter, clothing, and work activities that makes no impression. The inmates have to adjust to not getting what they want and when they want (Carceral2004 pg.68). When incarcerate you have to learn the prison slang to survive. Prison proper was mandatory to survive in prison; the inmates had to learn because it was vital to communicate efficiently with other inmates. Inmates knew if they used the word “Punk or Niggas” there will be a fight if you weren’t close with a black inmate. Anonymous found that blacks spoke more differently than whites. It was okay for another black inmate to call another nigga not being racist another word for homeboy or friend. The inmates also learn to adjust if they heard the words “throw down, or “bring the drama, get ready to fight (Carceral 2004 pg 25). The facility where Anonymous N. Inmate is housed should be a place that furnishes barriers to social interchange with the world at last. It has been proven that correctional officers duties are onerous and difficult, and they must be performed under the most unpleasant of circumstances. Their careers unfold while they are locked up an unattractive and depressing environment. There are a variety of types of prisons differentiated by their level of security. This prison should be a maximum security unit that’s characterized my massive concrete walls, and strategically located guard towers and their overwhelming emphasis on custody and control of inmates. After reading the text it didn’t mentioned to much of any programs that was offered. I think an education program should be in the correctional facility. With all of the slang I believe many inmates should have confidence in education as mechanism for upgrading skills and understanding, for shaping attitudes, and for promoting social adjustment. Inmates need for respect, hope, and safety is to stick to themselves and remain alert at all time. There are many cliques in prison; inmates find there selves getting in trouble with cliques creating riots. Aside from the loss of liberty itself, perhaps the most obvious deprivation associated with prison life is the loss of heterosexual activity. The most disciplinary violations in prison involve drugs, gambling, fighting, and stealing. If all these rules are abide inmates are likely to be respected and provide safety to his or herself. The text further describes toxic shame, not as an emotion but as a state of being. The other aspect to look at is the possibility that the inmates may carry the Toxic Shame even before they step into a prison. They may have been abused all of their life and feel completely worthless about themselves. They begin to feel that they are truly bad people and that they deserve what they get. I am aware that people do not go to prison for good behavior. However the prison system appears to remove all autonomy from the lives of the inmates, because now they are just numbers in a prison. Being incarcerated is a severe punishment and the toxic shame that is attached can be detrimental to the emotional well being of the inmates. Due to the fact that there is no transition period as to the reality that they are about to encounter, they have no chance to emotionally prepare.  It has the power to make the person feel worthless, and not even human. The treatment of inmates is definitely a large factor in this because they are in a very vulnerable state when entering the prison system. Toxic shame is a potent state of being; having the inmates weaknesses exposed in front of others is not healthy. I am not sure that Toxic shame is an avoidable state for inmates. This could explain why they would have no conscience as to why they have committed crimes. They may have been through traumatic experiences in which they never received any therapeutic treatment for, which then only allowed the Toxic shame to grow. In conclusion, I am astonished by the information I read about being incarcerated. This has made me very emotional, the living space relatively unregulated, so that the burden of overcrowding falls disproportionately on certain prisoners. Sometime I often have my feeling on my shoulder when it comes to inmates, but I have to learn that they are there for a valid reason. Although they committed crime, I feel as if they should be treated with dignity and respect as a person. There are many rules that were designed to prevent disturbances, violence, and escapes. Many regulations however are punitive in nature. I enjoyed reading Life in prison and it has taught me many things including the prison slang. Reference Carceral, K.C. (2004). Behind a convict’s eyes: Doing time in a modern prison. Retrieved from \Wadsworth / Thompson-www.wadsworth.com (No Arthur) 2008. Human Rights Watch. Retreived November 23, 2008 from www.hrw.org