Title: Do Prisons Really Make Offenders Worse? | Psychology Today
Headings: Do Prisons Really Make Offenders Worse?
Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D.
Do Prisons Really Make Offenders Worse?
Prison may be a turning point toward a responsible future.

Content: Confinement is just one more arena in which to conduct criminal operations. Others, however, have an entirely different view and make choices in an entirely different decision. They adhere to the prison rules and policies while remaining out of the "action." Fed up with how they have lived, they desire to change or, at the very least, not risk incurring new charges which will extend their time in prison. They participate in programs and try to get along with other inmates and with institutional staff. Inmates who abstain from criminal activitiesin prison remain cordial, to other inmates. Not wanting to be tagged as "snitches" or informants, they participate in a variety of activities that do not violate the rules. And they have no interest in committing new crimes. Some develop disgust (that they do not express publicly) with their fellow inmates who are perpetually devising new schemes, con games, and manipulative maneuvers. They report that others leave them alone and do not try to pressure them into involvement in more violations and crimes.