How To Work In Prison

My point of view on this matter comes from experience at the prison. For something to work, the person has to use it first. By just buying a vacuum cleaner doesn’t make the house clean. The individual has to use the vacuum cleaner to clean the house then it will be clean. The same idea with the inmates, by just providing the programs and classes doesn’t make them better. There a lot of programs that are offered inside a prison that inmates can take advantage of but there are multiple problems as well. One of the problems is the waiting list. Some of the programs are popular or parole mandated so they have a long waiting list to get in. this is a problem for inmates that are not serving much time but would like to gain knowledge of a skill before leaving prison.
Also, waiting for a class to open for long periods of time can discourage the inmate.
Another problem is inmates with life sentences, they look at the classes or programs as pointless. Those skills that they will gain will not benefit them in prison. Having a Bachelor's degree will not keep them safe in prison or provide any additional knowledge to being an inmate. I believe if they have different jobs and classifications for graduates, they will have a different perspective on the program. The different jobs can have different qualifications similar to the outside world, for example, an individual can’t be a doctor unless they have a medical school degree. The same concept will be used for example an inmate can’t be a clerk unless they have a business degree or business
classes. Those jobs will require better pay than others, but the inmates will take that as a motivation to attend. Another problem that the prison is requiring all inmates to have a job while incarcerated with the exception of mentally and physically disabled inmates and segregated inmates . In my past experience, if the individual is forced to do something is a whole different feeling then choosing to do something. If they are parole mandated to attend a class or go through a program to get out of prison, most likely they are not learning from it. The programs should be optional but have an extra incentive. Another problem is many of those inmates learned their habits from a young age. I believe the process should start with a counseling session that determines if they are eligible for the programs. If it will affect them, there is no point of wasting time and money. They should be treated psychologically first then put into a program or a class that they can benefit from. The Rehabilitation process needs time and patience, something that the state doesn’t have any of. The state is not fully staffed to provide the right care for each individual that is willing to learn and make a better person out of themselves. At times, the process becomes frustrating for the inmates so they give up even though they had the right intentions.