Do You Care About What Goes on Inside Prisons?
A typical prison cell in the United States is about 6 by 8 feet and contains a bed, toilet, and sink. Newer prisons may have doors with a small window and a metal flap for serving meals.
I haven’t written much lately. I’ve spent years focusing on trying to help people understand substance use disorder and mental health issues and think I’ve exhausted those topics. Plus there are plenty of other advocates out there sharing great content.
The other area of passion I have is for incarcerated persons who are forced to live in inhumane conditions in the U.S. prison system. Very few people understand what really goes in there, what it takes to survive, the terrible nutrition of the food, how they have to pay for the very basics (hygiene products, clothes, etc.) and the lack of medical care - just to mane a few of the problems.
I think there are several reasons most people don’t think or care about this, my goal is to share the truth and hopefully gain some compassion and empathy for the incarcerated individuals in the United States.
Why some people don't care:
It doesn’t directly affect them They’ve never known or loved an incarcerated person. What happens in prison doesn’t affect their everyday lives. They think of incarceration as punishment for bad behavior and is therefore deserved. They feel little or no empathy for those who are in jail/prison.
Inaccurate Media Portrayal The media often sensationalizes crime and gives the impression that prisons are full of hardcore criminals that are a threat to society. This simply isn’t true. Sure, there are people like that in there, but the vast majority of people there have not committed a violent crime that makes them a danger. The media also shows life in prison differently than reality because reality is way too boring for TV or movies.
Lack of Awareness Few people are fully aware of the conditions in prisons or the challenges that incarcerated individuals face. That’s what motivated me to write about it. It's easy to be apathetic about something you don’t understand or aren't educated on.
Political and Social View Some people hold strong beliefs about crime and punishment, viewing tougher prison conditions as necessary for safety. This way of thinking can overshadow concerns for humane treatment.
Perception of Guilt There's a common perception that incarcerated people have made poor choices and, therefore, don’t warrant sympathy or advocacy for better treatment. So many people are in there as a result of drugs and the lifestyle they developed to be able to feed their addiction. Many are young and haven’t even fully developed mentally or emotionally. Some are guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Misconception of Rehabilitation Here in California we call our prison system “The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” This is almost laughable due to the lack of rehabilitation that takes place. Inmates are used as free labor, they are given some educational opportunities, but most aren't much better off when they leave than when they got there and many are far worse off (like my son for example…more on that later.)
Bottom line: If you don’t have a loved one in jail/prison you probably don’t think about it and may not care about what goes on in there. My hope is that if you knew, you would gain some empathy and understanding which would have a positive impact on our society. It would change the way employers look at felons. It could change the way we vote for certain Bills to pass. It would give decent people with good hearts a chance to rebuild their lives. It would hold the prison systems accountable for not giving inmates the medical treatment, nutrition and mental health services they need.
So stick around if this is a topic that interests you. I can almost guarantee that for those unfamiliar, a few things I share in the upcoming weeks will upset you and possibly shock you.
Interesting topic to me! Thanks!