Inmate\'s Perspective \"We Who Live

Inmate's Perspective

"We who live in prison, and in whose lives there is no event but sorrow, have to measure time by throbs of pain, and the record of bitter moments."

Oscar Wilde

Being locked up in prison affects the person in ways one can only try to envision. New "guidelines" or lessons have to be learned if you want to survive and these are usually learned the hard way. Robert Gil (2009) in the article, "Prison Life in American Institutions," states,

"Prison life is one that is mysterious in its own nature because everywhere an offender goes it is different but the same. There are rules and codes in which offenders follow that are not written or posted." Keeping things to your self are an essential part of prison life, but other hardships face the inmate as well. This paper tackles the following two questions about prison life from the perspective of the inmate:

What is the biggest challenge faced from being locked up?

What can be done to correct the challenge?

Literature

Hardships are an essential part of prison life and there are many challenges the inmate must learn to cope and overcome. Violence, rape, murder, isolation, and loss of identity are a few of the challenges to serving time in prison. Craig Haney, (2001) University of California, Santa Cruz, in the article, "The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment," explains "At the very least, prison is painful, and incarcerated persons often suffer long-term consequences from having been subjected to pain, deprivation, and extremely atypical patterns and norms of living and interacting with others." Some inmates are forced into gangs or affiliations in order to survive. Feelings and emotions cannot be shown if an inmate wants to avoid being victimized or raped. Man and Cronan (2001) in the journal article, "Forecasting sexual abuse in prison: the prison subculture of masculinity as a backdrop for "deliberate indifference" report, "most sexual acts are the coerced products of dominance, intimidation, and terror. Although the precise extent of prisoner-prisoner rape and sexual assault remains unknown, it is hard to dispute that rape occurs at an alarming and unacceptable rate in prisons." Staying alert and watching everyone around you can be the key to maintain one's safety and help ensure the inmate will experience very little trouble during their incarceration.

What is the biggest challenge faced from being locked up?

Figuring out who can be trusted and what has to be done to maintain a quiet existence represent the greatest challenge. It is essential in being able to keep out of trouble and learning to overcome the physiological trauma that prison inflicts on an inmate. Unspoken rules and procedures must be learned quickly and adhered to if an inmate does not want to be a victim of violence. In prison, weakness or interfering in another inmates business will bring about trouble from fellow inmates.

The fear of the unknown would be a definite challenge for first time inmates. Prison has its own set of unwritten rules or guidelines about what an inmate can or cannot do or say in order to survive. Gil (2009) notes, new inmates should start out by keeping to themselves, keeping quiet and out of other inmates business; then nothing should happen to them. When trouble does eventually come, the inmate will have to be prepared to defend their self. In prison other inmates are constantly watching to see who does what and in prison it is about watching each other and rank.

While loss of freedom and time spent away from family can be difficult, prison life and how to survive are challenges that must be learned immediately. Prison can be more violent and ruthless than street life due to so many people being confined to such small areas and the constant contact and interaction between inmates.

What can be done to correct the challenge?

Partnering with an experienced inmate represents one means of 'learning the ropes'. Seasoned inmate's, already have served longer time in prison, know the ways of prison life and can guide the new inmate on what to do, what not to do, and especially how to survive. Man and Cronan (2001) describe a warden in Texas simplified the best way a new inmate can survive as "go along with the program." If you witness a crime occurring in your cell, leave and do not get involved if you want to make it out of prison alive and hopefully without being raped. Heroes and squealers usually wind up dead or severely wounded.

Another solution to overcoming almost all the different challenges prison life can cause, is to get involved in educational courses, get on a work detail, go to religious courses, and spent all the time available keeping busy in positive ways. Try to keep preoccupied and at the same time maintain less contact with the more violent or trouble making inmates. Keeping the mind and body busy will make time pass by quicker and help preserve your sanity.

An inmate should spend quality time with family or friends during visiting days. Try to remain focused on the joy of seeing and talking to loved ones. By not let visitors worry about things going on within the prison and the family not telling the inmate about things they cannot do anything about, the inmate and the family can rest a little easier and worry less. The inmate is already traumatized to one degree or another by the conditions in prison and unnecessary burden can only lead to deeper physiological scars in the long run.

No solution is 100% in the prison system. Things can change or go wrong in the blink of an eye but the inmate must make every effort to make the time as bearable as they can. Maintaining quiet and distance, whenever possible, along with trying to stay positive in mind and spirit are the best solutions an inmate can try to achieve.