How Do Prisons Affect The Lives Of People In Jail?
In recent years, jail has become a hot topic in the media. With shows such as Orange is The New Black, Prison Break, and Lockup, for the first time, we can better understand the lives of people in jail. Not only can we view the workings of every-day life in jail, but we can further understand the reasons for them being placed there. It creates empathy towards people in jail and portrays their real experiences. One could say that it almost humanizes them, which presents the question of whether or not people in jail actually deserve to be humanized. Upon diving deeper into the topic, however, whether or not prisoners deserved to feel pain does not appear to be the central issue. The real matter deals with why each prisoner is in jail or more directly, the purpose of jails?
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Aside from the purpose of jailing, as it is today, women are one of the fastest growing populations in jail.
“Since 1970, the number of women in US jails has increased by 14 times, far outstripping the growth in male prison population” (Lartey). Women make up, “13% of the jail population but account for 66% of victims who suffer staff-on-inmate sexual victimization (Lartey). As the show Orange is The New Black portrays reason for jailing, the number of inmates jailed for nonviolent, drug related crimes, clearly demonstrates the impact felt by the War on Drugs across the United States. Furthermore, as Regina Arnold puts it, the increase in jailing demonstrates the impact of being labeled deviant, as an underprivileged youth. In any sense, it seems unclear why many of these women’s crimes require such long sentences. This is especially surprising given how little time is mandated for the number of crimes involving sexual
abuse.
For example, Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, was sentenced to just six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, whereas for simple possession, a violator can get anywhere from 2-10 years in jail. It is not wonder television shows are being made to cover such a phenomena. The punishment system appears to be broken.
Notably, a woman named Leticia Villareal, an inmate at McPherson unit, is serving a sentence of 40 years for a drug-related crime. In jail she was sexually assaulted by a prison chaplin on numerous occasions. According to the article, “Villarreal said she is still struggling with the trauma of being sexually assaulted. She had a hysterectomy while in prison, and said Dewitt forced her to have sex with him even after her surgery. That was her lowest point, and she seriously considered suicide” (Jeltsen). Not surprisingly, however, the prison chaplain was sentenced to, “five years in one of the state’s prisons” (Jolsten).
Given the current system, reflected in testimonies from women, it is evident that more than simply legal punishments are occurring in jail. Additionally, as can be seen by, “recidivists-”women for whom the cycle of crime-arrest-imprisonment has become a way of life” (Arnold), women don’t seem to be reformed once they finish their sentences. To me, prison seems more like a professional babysitting service for people society has cast aside. In my opinion, however, nobody is beyond saving, especially for breaking non-violent laws. In summary, the prison system is broken and the only solution produced so far is showcasing their struggles on Netflix.
Aside from the purpose of jailing, as it is today, women are one of the fastest growing populations in jail.
“Since 1970, the number of women in US jails has increased by 14 times, far outstripping the growth in male prison population” (Lartey). Women make up, “13% of the jail population but account for 66% of victims who suffer staff-on-inmate sexual victimization (Lartey). As the show Orange is The New Black portrays reason for jailing, the number of inmates jailed for nonviolent, drug related crimes, clearly demonstrates the impact felt by the War on Drugs across the United States. Furthermore, as Regina Arnold puts it, the increase in jailing demonstrates the impact of being labeled deviant, as an underprivileged youth. In any sense, it seems unclear why many of these women’s crimes require such long sentences. This is especially surprising given how little time is mandated for the number of crimes involving sexual
abuse.
For example, Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, was sentenced to just six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, whereas for simple possession, a violator can get anywhere from 2-10 years in jail. It is not wonder television shows are being made to cover such a phenomena. The punishment system appears to be broken.
Notably, a woman named Leticia Villareal, an inmate at McPherson unit, is serving a sentence of 40 years for a drug-related crime. In jail she was sexually assaulted by a prison chaplin on numerous occasions. According to the article, “Villarreal said she is still struggling with the trauma of being sexually assaulted. She had a hysterectomy while in prison, and said Dewitt forced her to have sex with him even after her surgery. That was her lowest point, and she seriously considered suicide” (Jeltsen). Not surprisingly, however, the prison chaplain was sentenced to, “five years in one of the state’s prisons” (Jolsten).
Given the current system, reflected in testimonies from women, it is evident that more than simply legal punishments are occurring in jail. Additionally, as can be seen by, “recidivists-”women for whom the cycle of crime-arrest-imprisonment has become a way of life” (Arnold), women don’t seem to be reformed once they finish their sentences. To me, prison seems more like a professional babysitting service for people society has cast aside. In my opinion, however, nobody is beyond saving, especially for breaking non-violent laws. In summary, the prison system is broken and the only solution produced so far is showcasing their struggles on Netflix.