Is Prison a Life Sentence? by Shale Gneiss

       At the beginning of 2014, the U. S. population stood at 317 million, about five percent of the 7.1 billion people of the world. One out of every 100 Americans is a prisoner--we imprison more people, more quickly, than anyone. Twenty five percent of the world’s prisoners are housed in our prisons. At last count (2009), Rwanda was coming in at a distant second.

       Opinions differ drastically on the purpose of prison. Theories aside, most prisoners end up coming back into a world they’ve been cut off from for years. Time has few markers in prison and without the support of society, family, friends there may be little incentive to change for the better while serving time.

       “It is hard to train for freedom in a cage” said Morris and Rothman in their 1995 historical book about prison. But where do you put a rapist who repeatedly rapes, even after spending time in prison? There is no one answer for fair and progressive treatment of prisoners. They are all people, therefore different. They need individual plans. Many have reached their destination because no one has wanted to deal with them.

       Recently the incoming head of Colorado’s corrections department, Rick Raemisch, subjected himself to a night in solitary (now called Ad Seg) to attempt to understand part of something he will inherit and control. During the 20 hours he spent in the cell he broke his one rule during the short stay. He asked what time it was. Not quite 17 hours and “I felt as if I’d been there for days”.

       Many states are beginning to examine and change their use/misuse of solitary confinement and the percentage of prisoners being released into society, directly from years in solitary. In 2001, of California’s 132,000 released prisoners, only 8,000 were involved in any type of reintegration program prior to “going home”. In 1998, it was reported that California released a minimum of 1,200 inmates from isolation units (level 4, violent and dangerous criminals) right back into society.

       Sung Yim, a student in Chicago, says, “The conditions only give “criminals” less to lose--we forget that these people, who are often impoverished and underprivileged minorities, embrace strife and acute suffering as a result of the lifelong hopelessness inflicted by the classic rock vs. hard place model: you starve or you go to jail.” She also thinks prisons should be run by psychologists and social workers.

       Exploitation is rampant within the business of prisons and supposed reforms are often a disguise for a business opportunity; such is the case for the innovation of video communication for prisoners and their families (at a cost of $1 a minute, or more). As a requirement for access to their services, companies like Securus are requiring an end to in-person visits. They are successful with their contracts since prison staff no longer need to screen visitors, saving money and headaches, and the kickbacks for the facility are lucrative.

       Illana Buck, a criminal justice major at Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, says, “Prisons need to be a mix of rehabilitation and punishment but I think the punishment needs to fit the crime. Judges do not always follow guidelines and punish people much too harshly for “small” things, based on their race, sex, or something else not connected to the crime. Most places do not have enough rehabilitative programs for people to try to change. That’s something that needs improvement.”

       The civil disabilities of convicted felons include right to vote, parental rights, divorce, public employment, right to serve as a juror, right to hold public office, right to own a firearm, and criminal registration. Each state has different rules and regulations governing the forfeit of these rights.

       Susanne Glazbrook, a retired attorney, says, “Mandatory sentencing unilaterally discredits the argument that harsh jail terms deter criminal activity. The effect was simply to incarcerate more and more individuals. In those circumstances it’s simply a political panacea, not achieving the long-term goal of reducing crime. I'm not advocating against all jail sentences, but for the recognition that jail does not deter.”

       The irony of our justice system and it’s feeder role in the prison business cuts too close to be coincidental. The intentions of the “system” no longer matter if the outcome is worse that the input. A tiny picture of a massive broken system may be visible in most cities. The realization that all-around reform and the public’s involvement and backing will be necessary, cannot be understated.