Willie Lee Clark
University of Phoenix
Institutional and Community Corrections
CJA383
Sherri Webster
April 25, 2011
Life in Prison Prison life in most society is not considered a life worth mentioning. When a person decides to break the law and take up a life of crime, he or she should be aware of certain circumstances that lie ahead. When individuals break the law in our society, the pathway to a life in jail or prison is almost certain. Life simple freedom that most of society enjoys are limited in prison, and in some case none existence. Told where to go, how to act, when to speak, when to rise for the day or when to sleep can be torture. While enduring this he or she is confined in a small cell surrounded by the worst criminals society has to offer can make what life one has left a living nightmare (Heydoorn, 2008). In this paper, I will discuss my personal perspective that I have on Life in Prison. I will also discuss the policies that I would enforce, inmates need for respect, change in correctional policies that I would implement, and my beliefs on why people become criminals. After reading various topics on prison life during this course of study, along with my personal experience as a law enforcement officer, my perspective and understanding of prison life has not change. The main purpose of jail and prison has not change since the early days of our society. Prisons in our society are to house those citizens, which have committed crimes, like murder, rape, arson, and burglary. These citizens are held until their day in court, their trail has been set, and punishment has been rendered. Our ancestors intended purpose of jails and prisons were used as a form of punishment against the offender, a deterrent against the offender from committing crimes, removing dangerous criminals from our society and rehabilitation of less violent criminals. The system I think is ineffective so my understanding is that the system
References: Van Heydoorn, B. (2008). INSIDE: LIFE BEHIND BARS IN AMERICA. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 6(3), 252-254. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Latessa, Edward J. (2004). The Challenge of Change: Correctional Programs and Evidence-Based Practices. Criminology & Public Policy, Volume 3 Number 4, pp 547-560. De Viggiani, N. (2006). Surviving Prison: Exploring prison social life as a determinant of health. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 2(2), 71-89.