Analyzing Prison Life for Inmates Research Paper

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Prison Life for Inmates

Sending offenders to prison has been used as a way of dealing with prisoners for a long time. It was not always seen as a way of punishment; rather, it was used as detention pending the actual punishment of these offenders. The application of imprisonment has been around, perhaps, for as long as humanity has existed. In Old Testament times, prisons were used in Jerusalem. Some prominent personalities have been reported to have been born in prison environments. Others have been imprisoned. It is reported that Lord Krishna was born in prison at a place called Mathura. Shahjahan was imprisoned by his son at Agra. The British constructed the historic cell at Port Blair for detaining for life those who revolted against their rule. Prisons have not always been viewed as a way of punishing offenders; rather they have been used to detain offenders before the actual punishment. In the recent past, imprisonment has been largely perceived as a way of reforming the inmates and not necessarily punishing them. Mahatma Gandhi once said acts of crime are a result of a diseased mind. He proposed that the prisons that host the offenders must be crafted as hospitals for their treatment and care (Kumar).

The issue of the ability for prisoners to cope with the reality of imprisonment has been a subject of research and even debate in legal circles. The reality has a negative impact on inmates and affects their ability to adapt to their new life. The process of adapting to prison life is usually affected by a variety of factors. Eight factors that negatively influence the ability for prisoners to cope with life in prison are Structure, safety, support social stimulation, emotional feedback, freedom and activity. They are central influences in the adaptation process. If these factors are not addressed, the ability for inmates to cope is greatly compromised. The inability may be manifested in ill physical health by the inmates, heightened aggression and violence (Covert).

There are various ways to define the quality of life but it is generally about the extent of one's comfort in life, their satisfaction levels, and their mental health status. A number of significant negative and positive events often affects the quality of life. According to research by Covert, many people derive their sense of a great quality of life from family and home. They also get it from supportive networks such as friends and their colleagues.

The propensity to commit crime is a potential of all humans. Impulsiveness, aggression, self-control and conditionality have a direct effect on a person's propensity to commit crime. These acts pose a risk to the well-being of society members. Research studies have also shown that those with high propensity to commit crime show a marked level of neurotism, psychotism, extroversion and inclination for lies (Khurana A. and Dhar)

One of the major effects of imprisonment on inmates is the fact that they lose control over their activities. Such lack of control is manifest in all prison environments. Prisoners lose their privacy and are under surveillance at all times. It is essential to understand the quality of life that prisoners lead in order to figure out how their state is at the moment. It is an understudied group. If only we could understand the dynamics that influence their quality of life and satisfaction, we will be empowered to device more effective rehabilitation programs. This reasoning forms the basis of inspiration for researchers to pursue this research -- to find out the important facts about the life of inmates at prison, and use the research to formulate polices for community extension programs that are deemed possible at the college of criminology.

Generally, the life of a prison inmate depends on the physical environment of the prison comprising of aspects such as safety, diet, activity, freedom and privacy. The significance of the quality of life relies on the experience of life one experiences; therefore, such an individual (an inmate) is the only one to best valuate it based on his preferences and values (Kimura).

Studies have also shown that the issue of quality of life is subjective and that the perception is determined by each individual's view of each subject. The subjective view of the satisfaction towards varying domains is regarded as the main determinant for making a negative or positive judgment of the quality of life. As a cognitive experience, satisfaction implies a lasting judgment about one's quality of life and seems more stable.

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Questions raised by the Thesis Statement

1. How does pursuit of activity influence the life of an inmate

2. Is the life of an inmate affected by freedom or the lack of it?

3. How does food/diet affect the life of a prisoner

4. Does safety affect the life of an inmate?

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

The goal of this study was to establish the dimensions of prison environment. The dimensions include emotional feedback, activity, safety, social structure, privacy and support. Available literature points out that these dimensions arise as independent manifestations in the prison settings and come with their unique make-up. These are common factors in prison environments. They form a set of prison morals, norms and the behavior prevalent and common in prison environments.

Departure Time Calculation

Once one is sent to prison, the exit time is of central importance to them. The calculation of the actual point and time of being released has often proved confusing to many inmates. There are many factors to consider when analyzing the actual period. Knowing their potential date and time of release can be instrumental in helping one prepare for their life in prison. Information on Half way homes is essential for any inmate. It is not about the inmate alone; rather, their families also benefit from such data. When the families of an inmate are provided with information on when a person that supports them is likely to be released, they can plan more easily on how to survive in the meantime. Such information helps the inmates and their families to handle issues regarding business, employment and general interest (The definitive Guide to Fideral Incarceration)

The placement of inmates is influenced by their classification. It is done on the basis of such factors as progress, behavior adjustment, and their general programming in the course of their imprisonment (Department of Corrections).

Activity

In pursuit of the intention that was incorporated into the prison structure, the basic aim was to help prisoners learn various skills that could help them in life. These activities include making baskets, brooms and shingles. Unfortunately, the concept failed because the inmates spent a relatively short time here. In time, the basement was transformed into minimum security confinements.

Prison graffiti is one of the least supervised inmate activities over the years. The images portrayed despair, humor and belated piety. There have been several pieces of this form of art conserved in the building for many decades now. The twenty-foot wall of the felon's eating room provided limited and controlled access to an exercise space. Prisoners were also allowed to tend to small vegetable gardens outside. A section of the yard was set aside for the gallows. These were destroyed and kept between hangings (Burlington County)

Emotional Feedback

The extent of emotional feedback is broad and wide. It has to do with the bonds that inmates form with each other, the rapport they strike, and the general relationships with other inmates. The dimension also includes the amount of communication they have with their families and friends on the outside. Visits have a profound effect on the emotional state of the inmates. They give an inmate a temporary release from the boring routine of prison life, perspective, and loneliness.

In a study that probed how inmates adjusted, it was found that females on lengthy prison sentences are not visited as much as their male counterparts as they grew older. The findings compare with another research done in a British female prison. In the latter, it was found that there were marked lower contacts with the local community (Kractoski). The research was based on the location and security status of the prison facility. It indicated that if the facility was located in a rural area, the inmates were less likely to receive visitors because of factors such as distance and general accessibility options. (Kractoski) discovered that anxiety and depression were common in these locations.

In summary, it is evident that emotional support is essential and goes beyond the social networks and friendships that inmates form among themselves. The friends and family on the outside along with the correspondence they pursue with inmates is part of the picture. Thus, these two have a tremendous effect on inmates (Bradford).

Freedom

Freedom in prison has to do with the levels of autonomy allowed. Such freedom is influenced by a range of other factors; including fellow inmates and staffs. The oversight by the correctional staff is often construed as being unfair and often leads to.....

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