Amanda
Rogers
English 102
Dr. Sonia Begert
May 20, 2014
English 102
Dr. Sonia Begert
May 20, 2014
Outline
I)
Introduction: Provide a summary
of my topic, and include my thesis statement as the final sentence.
a)
America
is home to the highest number of incarcerated criminals in the world.
i)
Our
country holds just 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of the world’s
incarcerated population (Green)
ii)
In
order to keep a level of justice in society… criminals should endure some sort
of punishment for their crimes committed.
b)
It
is important to distinguish between the act of being hard on crime and being
hard on criminals.
i)
Punishment
in prison has become the main focus of the correctional system in America
ii)
Confinement
conditions, along with a lack of criminal rehabilitation programs, make it difficult
for inmates to properly adjust to prison life, and improve their lives overall.
c)
Thesis
Statement: Prisons should take steps to mitigate the “punishment” aspect of the
correctional process, and focus more on the rehabilitation of inmates for the
sake of alleviating mental health issues, and ensuring a successful re-entry
into society.
II)
Prison as a Response to Crime: America exhibits extensive use of prison as a
response to crime.
a)
America
exhibits extensive use of prison as a response to crime (Jeremy Travis)
i)
It
is a well-known fact that the prison population is rapidly growing in America
(Jeremy Traivs)
ii)
In
the United States, at year-end 2009, 743 adults were incarcerated per 100,000 of
the national population. (International Center for Prison Studies)
iii)
There
were 2,266,800 incarcerated in US and Federal state prisons at the end of
2011 (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
iv)
These
numbers represent millions of lives that changed forever
b)
The
cost of prison
i) The aggregate
cost of prisons in 2010 was $39 billion. The annual average taxpayer cost in
these states was $31,286 per inmate. (Vera institute of justice)
c) Transition: The cost of prison goes far
beyond money. The cost is to people, our communities, and families.
III)
Punishment in Prison: The rising
severity of punishment in prison in negatively affecting inmates.
a)
Punishment
in prison is becoming an issue regarding the overall health of inmates.
i)
The
punishment aspect of the criminal justice system severely outweighs the
corrections part.
ii)
Prisoners
are regularly subjected to degradation, overcrowding, and unchecked violence
(Robert A Ferguson)
iii)
These
punishments only increase instability and violence in inmates, and ultimately
high recidivism rates (Dvoskin)
iv)
Solitary
confinement is a major part of the incarceration experience, and is considered
by international law to be torture. (Green-video)
b)
Transition:
The punitive nature of prison severely affects an inmate’s mental health, making
it difficult and unfair for inmates trying to adjust to prison life, and those
hoping to live a normal life post-release.
IV)
The Psychological Effects of Prison:
Prisoners are experiencing a high number of mental health issues due to the
punishment-oriented corrections system in America.
a)
Many
negative psychological effects are associated with the harsh discipline
policies in prison.
i)
Psychological
harms inflicted on prisoners have increased over the past 10 years due to harsh
policy, and lack of rehabilitation programs. (Haney)
ii)
While
incarcerated, prisoners lose their autonomy, self-esteem, identity, friends,
choices, recreational outlets, and privacy. (Restorative Justice
Project)(Haney-quote)
iii)
The
tension, frustration, and stress of being in prison can damage an inmate
emotionally, making for a difficult adjustment to prison life.
iv)
There
is an extreme lack of mental health help for inmates in America (Crawford)
b)
Prisoners
gradually become “institutionalized”
i)
Overtime,
prisoners adapt to the inhumane nature of prison, and begin to become
“institutionalized”
ii)
The
way of prison becomes natural and second-nature to inmates serving long term
sentences. (Haney)
iii)
Because
the process can be subtle and difficult to recognize, inmates often to do not
recognize that have become dependent on institutional structure. (Haney)
iv)
Because
inmates experience so much control over day-to-day decisions, overtime, many
inmates rely on prison officials to make decisions for them, diminishing their
ability to think, make decisions, and function on their own.
c)
Transition:
In order to break the cycle of the neglectful prison-related harms imposed upon
inmates, we must stop the process of inmates becoming dependent on
institutional structure by incorporating proper correction techniques to help
them cope with prison life, become self-reliable, and ultimately prepare them
for a successful re-entry into society.
V)
Correctional Courses in Prison:
The variety of correctional courses prisons offer to inmates are not mandatory,
and in most cases, are seldom used by prisoners.
a)
Prisons
commonly offer a variety of correctional programs
i)
These
programs include education, vocational training, prison industry, substance
abuse treatment, and counseling. (Austin)
ii)
In
most cases, these programs are voluntary, and a set of restrictions apply
(Austin)
iii)
According
to a Criminal Justice institute study in 1999, 1 quarter of inmates remain idle
in prison, and do not participate in any kind of correctional programs (Austin)
iv)
Aside
from these programs being voluntary, the lack of full inmate participation is
also due to the shortage of programs staff, and crowded facilities that are not
suitable for program services. (Austin)
b)
In
order for inmates to utilize their prison sentence in the best possible way,
prison officials should make the participation of correctional courses
mandatory.
i)
Participation
in proper correctional courses and techniques would prevent inmates from
becoming “institutionalized”, and aide them in becoming self-reliable citizens
ii)
By
making correctional courses mandatory, inmates would have the opportunity to
earn certain work skills, certificates, and degrees that would be of great use
to them once released into society.
VI)
The use of such correctional
courses has been proven effective by one particular prison in Louisiana.
a)
Louisiana
State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana is the largest maximum security prison
in the United States
i)
It
was once known as “the bloodiest prison in America” (Blackwell)
ii)
Now,
with Warden Burl Cain’s use of techniques for moral rehabilitation, Angola
provides inmates with opportunities they may have never otherwise had.
iii)
Warden
Burl Cain’s philosophy: “good food, good medicine, good play and good
praying….We do all those four components and we just rock and roll.” (Loren
Ghiglione)
iv)
[Incorporate
Alex Hennis Interview Responses on the ministry and education]
b)
In
addition to encouraging redemption through religion, if you can cooperate with
the rules of the prison, Cain grants inmates unprecedented privileges.
i)
At
Angola, inmates can earn an admirable “trustee status” which allows them the
opportunity to work on the prison ranch, and ultimately the chance to partake
in the annual Angola Prison Rodeo.
c)
The
Angola Prison Rodeo give inmates the opportunity to compete, earn money, and
ultimately experience what many inmates describe as “freedom”
i)
The
Angola Prison Rodeo occurs twice per year
ii)
The
rodeo gives inmates the incentive to show good behavior, as only the most
well-behaved inmates get to participate
iii)
Participating
in the rodeo keeps inmates minds occupied, as well as gives them a sense of
pride and accomplishment (Gary Frank)
iv)
[Incorporate
Myron Smith Interview Responses on the rodeo)
d)
Transition:
Providing inmates the opportunity to strive behind prison walls enables them to
lead a productive life, and conclusively, gives them the skills they need to
continue to strive post-release,
VII)
Conclusion
a)
The
proper use of correctional programs in prison is good for inmate’s mental
health, and moral value.
b)
We
must encourage prison officials to improve correctional programs within
prisons, and ultimately instate the mandatory use of these programs by inmates
currently incarcerated in prisons in America
c)
Because
of the positive effect they have on inmates, utilizing correction programs
within prisons would be in the best interest of not just the offenders
themselves, but also society as a whole.
Rationale
In my next paragraph, I will
emphasize that America exhibits extensive use of prison as a response to crime.
To further prove this point to my readers I will provide official statistics of
prison population. To connect with my readers on a more personal level, I will
state the fact that these numbers represent millions of lives that are forever
changed. I move on to briefly discuss the cost of prison, but emphasize the
fact that the cost of prison goes far beyond money. The cost is to people, our
communities, and families.
In order to emphasize the harmful
prison system currently used in the United States, my third paragraph will
focus on the rising severity of punishment in prison, and how it is negatively
affecting the overall health of inmates. In an attempt to humanize prisoners, I
will explain that while incarcerated individuals regularly experience
degradation, unchecked violence, overcrowding, and humiliation. I believe one
of the main arguments I will receive from readers in response to reading my paper
will be the fact that inmates have broken the law, and therefore shouldn’t
expect anything less than to be degraded and humiliated. To counter this
argument, I will explain how such treatment only increases instability and
violence in prison, and ultimately leads to high recidivism rates. In this
paragraph I will also touch on the subject of solitary confinement, and how it
is considered by international law to be torture. Transitioning in to my next
paragraph, I end with explaining how the punitive nature of prison severely
affects an inmate’s mental health, making it difficult and unfair for inmates
trying to adjust to prison life, and those hoping to live a normal life
post-release.
Moving on to the topic of the
Psychological effects of Prison, I will begin my fourth paragraph by explaining
to my readers that psychological harms have increase rapidly due to harsh
policies and the lack of rehabilitation programs in prison. By doing so, I am
introducing to my readers the issue of prison-related psychological harm while
still reminding them of the main point to my paper which is the lack of
rehabilitation and correctional courses in prison. I will continue by describing the fact that
while incarcerated, inmates self-esteem, identity, friends, choices, recreational
outlets, and privacy. I believe by mentioning these issues, I can persuade my
readers to relate to what inmates are regularly subjected to on a daily basis.
Moreover, I emphasize that the tension, frustration, and stress that comes
along with being in prison can emotionally damage an inmate, lowering their
chances of a successful adjustment to prison life. I will then explain how
there is a desperate lack of mental health help for inmates in America. The next portion of this paragraph will
examine the process of an inmate becoming “institutionalized”. I believe it is
important to explain this process to my readers, as some would think becoming
institutionalized would make a prison sentence easier. In fact, it is much more
damaging than one would realize. I will explain that the process of becoming
institutionalized can be subtle and difficult to recognize, therefore inmates
do not realize they have become dependent on institutional structure. By
becoming dependent on the institutional structure of prison, many inmates come
to rely on prison officials to make decisions for them, diminishing their
ability to think, make decisions, and function on their own. By stating this
fact, I believe my readers will grasp the significance of the issue of institutionalization,
and encourage them to believe psychological help, and rehabilitation is crucial
for inmates. I will conclude this paragraph by reinforcing the idea of my
thesis; that in order to break the cycle of inmates becoming dependent on
institutional structure, prisons should incorporate proper correction
techniques to help inmates cope with prison life, become self-reliable, and
ultimately prepare them for a successful re-entry into society.
Transitioning to the topic of
correctional courses in prison, my fifth paragraph will begin by stating that
most prisons do, in fact, offer a variety of programs in which inmates can
participate. I will quickly add,
however, that such programs are almost always voluntary, and a set of
restriction apply on who exactly can participate in these programs. In addition
to restrictions, I will explain how along with an incredible lack of programs
staff, many of the crowded prison facilities in America are not suitable for
such correctional courses. By stating these facts, my readers will grasp the
overall issues pertaining to the lack of rehabilitation in prison. In the next
part of this paragraph, I introduce the main point to my project, which is that
in order for inmates to utilize their prison sentence in the best possible way,
prison officials should improve their correctional programs, and make the
participation of those programs mandatory for prisoners. I will discuss how the
cycle of becoming institutionalized could be prevented by having inmates
partake in proper corrections courses, which would ultimately aid them in
becoming self-reliable citizens. In addition, I will explain how making these
courses mandatory would provide inmates the opportunity to earn certain work
skills, certificates, and degrees that would be of great use to them once
released into society.
In an effort to explain to my
readers how such correctional courses have been proven effective, my sixth
paragraph explores the unique correctional techniques used at Louisiana State
Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana. I begin by exploring Warden Burl Cain’s use
of correctional techniques for the moral rehabilitation of inmates.
Additionally, I will provide my readers with a direct quote of Cain’s
philosophy: “...good food, good medicine, good play and good praying….We do all
those four components and we just rock and roll.” Introducing Warden Cain’s
voice into my paper will give my readers a sense of realism as to what it means
to be in charge of the well-being of prisoners. I will move on to explain how
Warden Cain grants inmates incredible privileges for showing good behavior such
as working on the elite range crew, and ultimately participating in the Annual
Angola Prison Rodeo. The Angola Prison Rodeo gives inmates the opportunity to
compete, earn money, and ultimately experience what many inmates describe as
“freedom”. I will emphasize that participating in the rodeo keeps inmates minds
occupied, as well as gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment, which in
my opinion, is a feeling no inmate should be deprived of. Aside from discussing
the rodeo, I will also talk about the educational courses offered at Angola,
and the success of one particular inmate, Alex Hennis. Hennis is the only
inmate in the State of Louisiana to earn a master’s degree from behind prison
walls. I personally interviewed him in an effort to gain his opinion of his
schooling, and the rodeo. I will incorporate his interview responses in this
paragraph. Additionally, I have interviewed trustee-inmate Myron Smith about
his experiences working on the range crew, and participating in the rodeo.
Incorporating Hennis’ and Smith’s opinions into my paper will provide my
readers with the opportunity to learn first-hand what proper correctional
techniques can mean to inmates. I will then transition into my conclusion by
stating that providing inmates the opportunity to strive behind prison walls
enables them to lead a productive life, and conclusively, gives them the skills
they need to continue to strive post-release.
In my conclusion, I will say that
the proper use of correctional programs in prison is good for inmate’s mental
health, and moral value, and that we must encourage prison officials to improve
correctional programs within prisons, and ultimately instate the mandatory use
of these programs by inmates currently incarcerated in prisons in America.
Finally, I will state that because of the positive effect they have on inmates,
utilizing correction programs within prisons would be in the best interest of
not just the offenders themselves, but also society as a whole.
Abstract
During the past decade,
the U.S. prison population has more than tripled. Additionally, Due to
the harsh policies and a severe lack of rehabilitation programs, the punitive nature
of prison is becoming an issue regarding the overall health of inmates. It seems
as though the “punishment” aspect of prison severely outweighs the “corrections”
aspect, which only increases instability and violence behind prison walls. This
project focuses on the suggestion that in order for inmates to properly adjust
to life in prison, and ultimately learn to become self-reliable citizens, the amount
of mental health help should increase, along with mandatory correctional
courses. This paper will explore the punishment aspect of prison, and how it is
negatively affecting inmate’s mental health. Moreover, this paper puts emphasis
on the fact that mental health help is extremely limited to those currently
incarcerated in the American prison system. Additionally, this paper argues
that the facilities in which current correctional courses are being held are
often understaffed, and not suitable for such programs. Over 10,000 inmates are
released each week from Americas State and Federal prisons into the communities
which we as society reside. In order to reduce violence, and the rate of
criminal recidivism, prison officials must improve correctional programs within
prisons, and ultimately instate the mandatory use of these programs by inmates
currently incarcerated in prisons in America. Because of the positive effect they
have on inmates, utilizing correction programs within prisons would be in the
best interest of not just the offenders themselves, but also society as a
whole.
