We learn about the high incarceration rate in the United States and the various reasons behind it, including racial and ethnic disparities, class, and poverty. The violence and sxuality in prisons is often a result of overcrowding, understaffing, and dehumanizing conditions. Prison gangs, which are social groups formed in correctional facilities that operate under a hierarchal structure and engage in criminal & sxual activities both inside and outside the walls of prison.
Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Black Gorilla Family, and Latin Kings as notorious prison gangs that establish control and influence through coercion, violence, and manipulation. The inmates may join a gang for protection and a sense of belonging.
The daily life and routines of prisoners
Prisoners face a catch-22 situation where joining a gang for protection is necessary but also dangerous. Prison gangs extend their influence beyond prison walls through connections with street gangs, organized crime syndicates, and corrupt individuals. They engage in various criminal enterprises like drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and even contract killing. Life in prison is monotonous and repetitive, with routines centered around meal times. Prisoners are not allowed many items considered contraband, such as mobile phones, which they have found creative ways to conceal. Medical care in prison is supposed to be equivalent to that in the community, but prisoners are required to undergo a medical screening upon admission. Prison education programs offer opportunities for academic, vocational, and life skills development, and studies show that inmates who participate in these programs are less likely to reoffend upon release.
Prisons are beginning to reform their structure to focus more on rehabilitation, with the federal prison system supposedly taking on a new approach. All federal prisoners are required to have a prison job, but pay is meager, amounting to only $10 to $20 per month. Prison rules and regulations vary, with supermax facilities like ADX Florence in Colorado known for their strict conditions, isolating inmates for 23 hours a day and limiting contact with other prisoners. Despite these challenges, some argue that improving rehabilitation in prisons is effective in preventing crime in the future.
The ninth point covers telephone access, which is a regulated means for inmates to connect with their loved ones and support networks outside of prison. While essential for maintaining family ties, the cost of these calls can be prohibitively expensive for inmates and their families. Prison phone companies contracted by correctional facilities often charge inflated rates, leading to financial burdens, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds. Despite the importance of telephone access, it is just one of the many challenges faced by inmates in the American prison system.
Prisons often lack adequate healthcare services for pregnant inmates, putting both mother and baby at risk. After giving birth, women may be allowed to keep their babies for a limited time, but separation is common and can lead to emotional, developmental, and long-term consequences for both parent and child. Research shows that maternal separation during infancy can disrupt attachment bonds, damage cognitive and emotional development, and increase the risk of behavioral problems and mental health disorders later in life. The issue of maternal separation in prison is a significant problem that needs to be reassessed for the benefit of society.
The severe overcrowding and dire living conditions in Abu Gra prison in Iraq. Originally designed to hold around 800 inmates, it now houses up to 4,000 detainees due to the country’s slow-moving judicial system and long pre-trial detention periods. The overcrowding results in poor living conditions, health risks, and human rights concerns. Abu Gra prison gained notoriety during the Iraq War for using torture methods, including sleep deprivation, stress positions, humiliation, and emotional and mental abuse. Despite euphemisms used to describe these techniques, they were simply another way of saying torture.