Title: why prisons don’t work – Barbra Dozier's Blog
Headings: Barbra Dozier's Blog
Barbra Dozier's Blog
why prisons don’t work
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Content: The inmates in prisons usually involve themselves in the use of drugs such as heroin, tobacco and cocaine, a habit they pass on to new inmates not used to drug use, thus frustrating the rehabilitation process. Prison reforms mainly intend to curb criminal activities before they happen. For the inmates that are already in prison, prisons should serve to teach the inmates to have respect for humanity and lead dignified and productive lives. However, too much violence present in today’s prisons only worsens the characters of inmates. For example, Steve (2003) gives an account of violence involving an inmate that went to prison for shoplifting. The inmate encountered violence on a frequent basis from older and stronger inmates that had gone to prison for worse offenses than his. Such experiences only worsen inmates as they develop and embrace violent behaviors through experience. Moreover, these inmates usually go to the extent of raping fellow inmates that are weak when lights go out. For example, Pittman (n.d) notes that rape cases in prisons are quite common as he narrates an experience of a former inmate who encountered rape regularly from former inmates. Such violent assaults traumatize other inmates, making them commit worse offenses in bid revenge and vent out their anguish and frustration.