About 'medical supply warehouse'|Why I Think ‘Edgepark Medical Supplies’ Sucks
Forward Today you are the Criminal. Yesterday, before your arrest, you were a thirty-four year old law abiding citizen. You held a double associates degree and had worked at the same job for nine years. Your friends, family, and colleagues would describe you as a pillar to society until one dark night in April 2002 when a crime of passion changed your life forever. It's one-o-clock in the morning. The police break through your bedroom door. As you stare down the barrel of a 9mm glock, you watch your past flash before your eyes. Your flight or fight instincts click in. You wonder if you should rush the officer and risk being killed in your attempt to escape, or if you should surrender and allow yourself to be arrested. You consider your family, place your hands in the air, and surrender. An officer administers you the Miranda Rights. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you. Do you understand ..." His words are white noise compared to the voice of fear that rings in your mind. You nod, turn, and allow the officer to place cold steal cuffs tightly on your wrists. After a brief waiting period you are carried down town to the station wearing nothing but your pants and shirt. The cold, concrete floor stings your feet. Once there you are placed in a holding cell. You are stripped of your personal property, including your wedding ring. You are finger printed, provided an inmate number, and photographed; this is a process that could take up to twenty-four hours. Once your booking process is complete, you are transferred to an intake center. Because you are a potential candidate for a special sentence, you pay a visit to a specifically trained social worker. This man has the reputation of being the hardest in his field to receive a recommendation from. You sit nervously as you are asked hundreds of questions. You answer honestly and then are dismissed. The next stage consists of a polygraph test. You enter a room. The administer of said test asks you to sign a waver. Without delay, you submit your signature to his document. He begins to tape wires to various places on your body. After a few test questions, he begins to ask intimate details about your alleged crime. The time passes ever so slowly until it eventually ends. You breathe a sigh of relief when he informs you that you passed. Passing this test earns you the recommendation you had hoped for. With this recommendation you can participate in treatment instead of receiving a long tern prison sentence. You spend the next six months in jail without bail. You quickly learn that your rights to a speedy trial are nothing short of a false illusion. You also learn that despite popular belief, you are NOT innocent until proven guilty. Once arrested, you are tagged with a label that you must fight to free yourself from or live with for the rest of your life. Upon sentencing, your original feelings of relief turn into your worst nightmare. Witnesses sprout complete lies, letters of recommendations are left unread, and your own court appointed attorney silences those who could speak positively on your behalf. The judge announces that you will spend the next ten years of your life behind bars, without the possibility of parole. You may however receive up to fifteen percent good time if you work the system. As you walk away you turn and watch your spouse's tears fall silently down their cheek. Two months later, you are told to place your personal property into boxes to be shipped home. You are told that you cannot even keep your commissary items. You are hand cuffed, shackled, and driven four hours away from civilization to a transfer center where you will undergo psychological tests to determine your classification. Once the tests are complete, you are counseled about possible placement. You ask for the facility that can offer the best rehabilitation programs. After three months you are transferred to a Medium Security Facility, but not the one the counselor assured you that you would be sent to. You are new to the scene but realize quickly that there are few real jobs, no educational opportunities, and your religion is not recognized by the Department of Corrections. When you ask about rehabilitation programs, you are told that you will not be eligible for these programs until you are two years from your expected release date. When you attempt to discuss your crime, you are told that you must only speak about current issues. You try to explain that the anxiety, nightmares and depression are associated with your sentence, and that you must discuss the crime in order to understand the impact it is having on your life; but no one cares. You have been tagged with a title by the system. You are no longer human. You are just another number. Your reality is becoming clouded by false illusions. Are you really a monster? The truth is hidden behind the title and depression takes over. Instead of providing adequate psychological care, they place you on several experimental medications. One time you even spend four days in the hospital because a nurse "accidentally" overdosed you. This, of course, is quickly swept under the rug and hidden from public record. Despite the use of prescribed medication, you continue to experience severe anxiety. You are now not only depressed, but you are also lethargic. If you log a complaint to authorities no one would listen, because no one cares. You hide your emotions in fear of retaliation. You could tell your family, but haven't you worried them enough? This isn't bad enough, they tell you that you have been placed at the most advanced facility in the state. You are all alone, a mere shadow of society, an animal in a cage. You have no rights, no privileges, no voice. You begin to wonder if you will survive. What's The Purpose? I became interested in the Criminal Justice System when I was only twelve years old. As an abused child I was molested worse by the system meant to protect me, than by the stepfather who abused me. He received six months probation for stealing my virtue and re-offended less than three years later. I recall thinking to myself that the system had not only failed him, but that it had also failed his next victim. If they had provided David Spencer with intense psychological treatment, he would have been equipped with the resources that may have possibly prevent his re-offense. The story on the previous page has been based on a true story about my fiancé. The prison system influences his actions and emotions. When they neglect his needs, it affects me. When they provide adequate services, it affects me. I've seen the pain, witnessed the neglect and have chosen to dedicate my life to "Change". I have learned that the only way that change will happen is if every day citizens educate them selves and get involved. Over View This paper will provide you with professional opinions from those who have worked with offenders, the voice of everyday citizens that have been influenced by crime, historical events, and theories regarding criminality that have influenced how inmates are processed with in the system. You will be provided with evidence that may very well sway the most skeptical heart. Criminals are not animals. They are human beings that need to be re-taught to function. Many of these individuals have risen from dysfunctional families, suffered abuse, and have lacked moral teaching. Others have simply lost sight of reality and on a spare of a moment, without thinking allowed passion to take control. Anyone can become an offender or an offender's victim. All it takes is an unexpected, uncontrollable reaction by a normally emotionally secure individual. Remember as you embark on this journey, the dysfunction of the American Prison System affects YOU! What Does the Past Tell Us About Criminal Theory? When forming an opinion concerning criminal behavior, one should examine the variety of research that is available. Extensive studies, completed by successful psychologists, and sociologists have proven that rehabilitation is beneficial. These studies provide an insight into the criminal mind, reduces misconceptions, and allow us to improve the techniques used by today's society. Weather you feel the System's job is to Rehabilitate, Punish, or contain and Control, it's important that you make an informed decision. Your involvement can make an enormous difference. According to The mid 1800's Classical Theory of Crime, criminals make rational decisions after weighing out the consequences of their actions (Adler 59). Because of this thought process, many people believe that inmates receive too many perks while being incarcerated. They believe punishment should be harsh in order to prevent re-offense. Classical theorists/followers believe that if you make examples of those who commit crimes, you will deter not only the offender, but also others from making the same decisions. This is not actually true. Psychology has discovered differently. The brain has two functions. The first function is to understand the world around us. The second function is to reduce pain (Baugher). When a person observes another being punished it inflicts a type of pain. This pain may temporarily affect the person but soon their brain will block the feelings and replace them with the words, "It will never happen to me." (Baugher) Even if the older version of the Classical theory is correct, it still doesn't explain why people commit crime, nor does it promote the rehabilitation needed to prevent re-offense. It can however be noted that Beccaria, a classical theorist, went on record as saying "It's better to prevent than to punish them" There fore it can also be stated that despite his connection to the Classical Theory of crime, he was certain, the best method of preventing crime was to create the perfect education system (Adler 62-64). Education of criminals seems to be widely recognized by numerous theories. Not only do these theories support rehabilitation, they also provide an in-sight into the criminal mind. The following theories suggest that criminal behavior can be turned around. If given the proper means, an offender can become a productive member of society. The Moral Development Theory, developed by Kohlberg, in 1970, suggests that criminal behavior is a result of a lack of morals being taught during childhood (Adler 86-88). It suggests that offenders be taught values. Robert Merton's Strain Theory of 1938,suggests that children who grow up in low-income families, live in low-income neighborhoods, and receive minimum education, tend to turn to crime as a technique for survival (Adler 117-124, 144). Basically, this means that our society first creates criminals then punishes them for reacting as they do. Cohen's Social Bond Theory of 1966suggests that the stronger a person's bond is with others, the less likely a person is to engage in criminal activities (Adler 144-147, 158, 162). This theory suggests that a criminal lacks specific bonds that would other wise have prevented the offense in the first place. Burgess and Akers Differential Association-Reinforcement Theory of 1985, basically states, that a person will seek pleasure and avoid pain. It states that behavior is influenced by both material and emotional reinforcement supplied by an individual's surroundings (including peers, family and society). Thus being another theory that implies that a person can be taught to interact appropriately within society (Adler 95, 135-138). With a hundred years of criminal studies, one would think that rehabilitation would be taken more seriously. This is not the case. Offenders are no longer receiving the services necessary to turn their lives around. American Prisons have been striped clean of rehabilitation services by the new 'Get Tough On Crime' Movement, which began in the 1990's (American Prisons 26). This movement began because of people like Robert Martinson, who was a "Get Tough" activist. He went on record saying that the rehabilitation services had no bearing on the recidivism rate of offender (Encyclopedia 157). This theory's main focus seems to be on removing an offender from society for longer periods of time, and eliminating parole in hopes that harsher prison sentences will effectively detour crime. Get tough on crime is a mythological theory. What they fail to realize is that criminals are human beings with physical, spiritual, educational and emotional needs that must be met to ensure that every step is taken to prevent re-offense. Getting tough should not mean warehousing inmates and ignoring their basic human needs. The Get tough on crime movement has done nothing more than lock offenders away for longer periods of time with hardened criminals and then released them back into society unskilled and even more psychologically corrupt than when they first entered the system. It's illogical to believe that these actions will reduce recidivism; even Robert Martinson began recanting his words before his death (Encyclopedia 157). What is Rehabilitation? According to Is Prison Reform Possible, a book written by Dr. William Conte, "rehabilitation means to advance an individual and assist them in their effort to become law biding, productive citizens and taxpayers"(12). He states "prison reform is not coddling a prisoner (12). Instead it's an effort to deal positively with one small aspect of the crime problem and add a measure of prevention against further offense" (12). Conte suggests that offenders be provided with treatment and education instead of simply being warehoused as they are now. (12) Research shows that rehabilitation is in everyone's best interest including the prisoner, the potential victim, and the taxpayer who foots the bill of imprisonment. Are Rehabilitation Services Available? The Washington Department of Corrections Guide for Friends and Family of incarcerated offenders publicly reports that an inmate is provided with adequate rehabilitation services. (State of Washington) For Monroe Special Offenders Unit, it reports that an offender can participate in psycho educational services, self management skills training, chemical dependency counseling, human sexuality classes, living skill training, social skills training, and anger and stress management. It also states that inmates are offered adequate counseling, occupational therapy, recreation, volunteer programs, and prerelease activities (Doc Guide 4, 12). Despite these claims, offenders report that at most, prisons offer only a handful of rehabilitation and real retraining programs that they can take advantage of. Many offenders face daily barriers concerning counseling/ self-improvement services. (Anonymous #1,2,3) Statistics Most people would agree that people who commit crimes deserve punishment. However, Is the judicial system, as we know it really fair and just? Does it rehabilitate the offenders who will once again walk our city streets or does it simply warehouse those individuals, and release them back into society. When One-hundred Highline Community College Students, ages seventeen to forty-one, were asked to fill out a survey called Rehabilitation Verses Harsher Punishment, 90.48% had never been arrested or incarcerated. 69.77% knew someone who had been. 79.31% of those who completed the survey supported rehabilitation of offenders; a stark contrast when compared to existing dada concerning the Department of Corrections and the offenders under their care (Montgomery). Over the years, multiple studies have been completed concerning inmate population and recidivism rates. Though these studies vary in numbers, one thing stands out; the incarceration and recidivism rates are rising. In one cohort, 88,000 offenders were studied. Of these offenders 82% had previous arrest records, 70% had been previously convicted, and 46% had spent a minimum of three months incarcerated (Encyclopedia 215-216). A look At the Washington Inmate Population Summary shows a drastic increase of incarcerated offenders. In 2003 Washington housed 16,199 offenders of various criminal backgrounds. This is a 65.69% increase from those incarcerated in 1994 (Adult Correctional). Even more specific, Walla Walla State Prison inmate population rose from 1380 to 2482 inmates between 1994 to 2004. This is a 56% increase (McShane). Another study provides distinctive pro and con scenario of rehabilitation. Two cohorts of 110 inmates were observed. One set were provided rehabilitation services and the other was simply released with out any services what so ever. After 28 months the offenders were reevaluated. 25.4% of those released without services had re-offended; where as only 13.6% of those who had been received skills training re-offended (Encyclopedia 215-16). In 1994, 67.5% of prisoners released in the United States were rearrested within 3 years (Reentry). With inmates being released every fourteen minutes (American Prisons 35), this means that approximately one hundred un-rehabilitated inmates a day, some with violent tendencies, will become free to interact with your family. It's scary to think that 670,169 adult offenders were on parole at the end of 2002 (Reentry Trends). Think about it. This means if the 1994 statistics repeats themselves then 452,364 offenders will be reentering society this year; some of them for the second or third time in ten years. These statistics cannot be over looked. It is time to re-evaluate our philosophies. The system is responsible for the safety of our citizens. We do not measure the success of a surgeon by the number of bodies in the morgue. We measure their success by the number of individuals who are able to function and contribute to society. The same method should be used to measure the success of our nations corrections system. Incarceration without proper rehabilitation services is simply irresponsible. All the "Get Touch On Crime" movement does is increase the burden of American Taxpayers. Are Offenders privileges A Necessity For Rehabilitation? 85.71% of the 100 students and faculty surveyed at Highline Community College believed that offenders should receive human treatment, 61.11% believed that offenders should be permitted to utilize weight-training devices, and 53.66% believed that offenders should be allowed the privilege of television. Since the participants of the survey were assumed to be educated individuals, the results from this portion of the survey were the most alarming of all (Montgomery). 46.34% of the students who were asked if television should be available along with 21.88% of those asked if offenders should be permitted to use weights answered no. They presume that because an offender has committed an illegal act they should not receive privileges (Montgomery). They felt that the Government over spends its budget and should spend the money on more beneficial purposes. They felt that offenders should be forced to spend their time thinking about the issues that brought them to prison to begin with instead of "Beefing Up". One sarcastic individual even went on record saying, they would approve of weights only because "[the offender] will look better on the death table." Maybe these individuals would change their mind if they were forced to lose everything they hold dear, and do their time without an opportunity to release the frustration and anxiety associated with this loss. It's easy to view extra curricular activities as amenities. However, in many instances, amenities are helpful during the rehabilitation process. It is a "Carrot verses the Stick" situation. If an offender follows the rules set forth then they receive certain privileges (carrot). If the offender fails to adhere to said rules, then they lose privileges (stick). Usually creating a win-win situation. In 1996, eight hundred prison staff was surveyed by Sam Houston University. Less than 25% of those surveyed felt that amenities should be eliminated from the offenders' daily life. The majority of the staff felt that extra curricular activities have several purposes. They said that allowing an offender to release built up tension reduces boredom, decreases negative attitudes, and reduces anxiety thus helping the officers in charge manage the offenders' actions. Over all this provides positive interaction between offenders and staff members (Encyclopedia 36). The fact is, these low cost amenities are financed through inmate funds (Encyclopedia 280). Inmates must pay $3.00 for cable weather they utilize the service or not. The privilege of weight training costs the offender $5.00 a month (Doc Guide 56), and only those inmates that "earn" this activity may participate (Doc 56). For most offenders this is the only free time activity they have to fulfill their time. (Anonymous #3) Since this information is not common public knowledge, it is probably the number one contributing factor leading to public misconception. As for offenders "Beefing Up", when was the last you heard of anyone being attacked by a weight lifting x-con? Over all, "the absence of normal human interactions, and reasonable mental stimulus and almost anything that makes life bearable is emotionally, physically and psychologically destructive." (Herman). Are Offenders Denied Psychological Care? As early as 1870, rehabilitation was recognized as having an importance. "The supreme aim of prison discipline" is rehabilitating the persons "without infliction of vindictive suffering" (Transaction). If this is true, then why do more individuals leave the system just as disturbed if not worse than when they entered? The well-known Stanford University Experiment of 1971 shows first hand how normally psychologically healthy, intelligent, people can become distraught, rebellious, paranoid and depressed individuals when placed in a prison setting (A Simulation Study). Disorganized, irrational, thought process coupled by negative self-judgment is often caused by this experience. These feelings are often followed by extreme crying spells, screaming fits, withdraw or other emotional breakdowns. Further more, a prison sentence can create psychosomatic symptoms such as loss of appetite, skin disorders or worse physical sickness (A Simulation Study). Unlike the Sanford Prison Experiment participants, an average offender cannot terminate their sentence on the grounds of psychological deterioration. "On any given day, it is estimated that about 70,000 inmates in U.S. prisons are psychotic. Anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 male and female prison inmates suffer from mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. Prisons hold three times more people with mental illness than do psychiatric hospitals, and U.S. prisoners have rates of mental illness that are up to four times greater than rates for the general population." (Kanapaux, 2004) According to a 1999 Department of Justice report, at least 16 percent of the total jail and prison population, or nearly 300,000 inmates, have a serious mental illness this is more than four times the number in state mental hospitals. Like in the free world, many cases maintain an invisible state during these studies therefore this can be considered only an estimate. This means not only have they been unrecognized, but also undiagnosed and untreated. When their mental illness is a contributing factor to their crime, and it remains untreated it opens the doors to the reoccurrence of the crime. The professionals in charge of these situations seldom do more than load the population with drugs and keep them sedated. (As in my fiancé's case) Often the psychological care is outright refused. The Washington D.O.C. web site states that as an inmate approaches release they are eligible for more opportunities such as rehabilitation programs (State). This is neither good enough nor humane. Offenders more often than not emerge from dysfunctional families and have been saturated by abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These incidences often shape the future actions of those involved. When criminal behavior develops from the shadows of yesterday, one needs to spend time evaluating those circumstances. The process of diagnosing and effectively treating a mental illness takes time. The cognitive programs used by many correctional facilities often ignore past influences and focus on the "here and now". They are meant to treat observable behaviors such as anger management, and communication skills. They seldom allow the offender to discuss the details of their offense; let alone the root cause. In situations such as described above, in-depth psychotherapy would better prepare the offender to adequately deal with, the anxiety, depression, phobias, and internal conflicts associated with their current incarceration However, the cost differences between Cognitive Programs and In-depth Psychotherapy, create an additional crack in an already fractured budget. Therefore the use of In-depth psychotherapy is sorely neglected and critically mentally ill patients often remain untreated, and cast aside (Mc Shane). By doing so, the system meant to protect actually contributes to the core problem that increases recidivism among released offenders. Over all the cost of in-depth Psychotherapy isn't as horrific as the cost of recidivism, especially when 70% of reoccurrence happens amongst violent offenders (Re-entry). Are Offenders Denied Proper Medical Attention? 'The Washington Department of Corrections betrays the public, saying that they provide adequate dental care (DOC Guide, 46) when something as simple as getting a tooth pulled can take six months or longer. Prisoners with chipped teeth and partially exposed nerves who can't even eat on one side of their mouth can wait just as long for a simple filling. The only way around this is to declare a medical emergency to have it taken care of, but to declare one you must be in constant excruciating pain. If officers do not believe the problem to be an emergency, some will not let the inmate go to the medical building. If they do allow an inmate to go, and the medical staff assesses there to be a lack of emergency according to D.O.C. policy, then they will return the inmate to their unit untreated. The inmate then faces possible written reprimand, and possibly incarceration in what is commonly known as "the hole" (Solitary Confinement) for abusing the system (Anonymous #1,2,3). There is no wonder that so many inmates require partial, or full dental plates well before their time. Their medical needs are not handled any better either. As of August 21, 2002, Washington had over two-dozen medical neglect Lawsuit cases pending against them. These cases include, John Rickert Jr. a mentally disturbed inmate who died in 1993 because prison staff failed to recognize issues with medication, nutrition, and hygiene. Joseph Johnson who became blind in 1995 because the medical team failed to provide necessary optical care after his retina was injured during a physical confrontation with another inmate, and Charles Snipes who died in 1998 because the prison staff failed to address his respiratory problems. Between 1992 and 2002, Washington taxpayers have spent more than $1.26 million due to medical neglect. (Galloway). The Geneva Convention outlaws medical neglect for P.O.W.s (Genevia). It's a sad day when our country places a greater concern to prisoners of war from other countries, than on our own people. You the taxpayers, supporters of our Government, are paying for medical neglect. This is a waste of your money. The 1.2 million dollars could have been used to treat and rehabilitate the offenders, it would have cost far less. Are Offenders Denied Education and Vocational Training? The days of bachelors and masters degrees earned in prison are long since passed. All post-secondary education funds were cut as of 1995. Inmates are no longer illegible to utilize State/Federal grants to further their education. Therefore, what little can be done in this area must be done via the United States mail and at the prisoners' expense (Kohl-Welles). This is detrimental to offenders like the one who wrote the note to authorities that was published in The San Deigo Union Tribune on July 2, 1995. The note said, "Please give me some education or training because I don't want to come back to prison" (Hartman). Basically, unless an offender has large amounts of money coming in from the outside, they must wait for what are called industrial jobs that have longer waiting lists than the educational/vocational programs. These jobs are only offered at a small selection of institutions (DOC Guide 5-18). I am not saying let's pay for a top-notch education, but lets at least give them the educational opportunities they need if they are to return to society and once again become productive citizens. Financial support is not the only existing barrier. Many of the current programs have waiting lists that once an offender signs up can take up to a year to attend (Anonymous #1,3). Washington Facilities offer a variety of different educational programs including Adult Basic Education, ESL, Vocational Training, Anger/Stress Management, and Victim Awareness, along with High School Completion for underage offenders (Doc Guide 54). There is nothing normally wrong with the programs themselves, but when a prisoner can be shipped to a different facility in the middle of a vocational course and the new facility (s) he arrives at teaches on a different level, the prisoner goes back to square one. Worse is the possibility that the offender will have to again wait on a list to get back into class or have to start all over. This of course assuming the new facility has the same educational opportunities. Each facility sets its own policies and there seems to be no statewide mandate to assure that education is equal at all facilities (Doc Guide 54). It can be a bit of an adjustment going from one facility that offers carpentry, welding, and computer science to another that only offers horticulture and maybe a few computers related courses like typing (Anonymous #3). . When Educational opportunities are dismissed, and the offender is unable to find work and integrate financially into society, (s) he will be more likely return to prison on a new violation because they were never taught the skills needed to succeed. In the end, it seems less expensive to teach them the skills to make it when they return to our world, then to spend the money to continue to house them or like Washington pay other states to house them for us. Washington currently contracts with High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs, Nevada to house Washington inmates at a rate of sixty dollars a day (Scott). This is money that could be used to improve the quality of life of offenders, Supply them with adequate rehabilitation, prepare them to reunite with society and therefore lower the cost to taxpayers because the recidivism rate would decrease. In 1989, 42% of all offenders had some type of learning deficiency. Of those, 82% were classified as learning disabled. In most states, education has reduced recidivism by 20% (Mc Shane, 159, 397). Are Offenders Denied Proper Nutrition? Like most individuals, offenders place a great importance on the flavor, texture, appearance and temperature of their meals. The Department of Corrections would have us believe that "[o]ffenders are served three nutritional, appetizing, and varied meals each day." (DOC Guide 39). Contrary to this claim, visitors to The Stafford Creek Corrections Center, in Aberdeen, Washington have been forced to watch as poor quality food is served to their love ones. These accusations became valid for me when I witnessed, first hand, the meals that were being served. I observed offenders sitting down with trays consisting of cold, bland, under cooked or burnt, and at times totally uneatable food. From that moment on, I made sure to bring enough money to purchase our meals from the vending machines of the visiting room. It's not unusual for an offender to attempt to live on commodities such as can tuna, top ramen, crackers, and chips purchased from the prison store rather than force unappetizing meals into their bodies. This can become quite costly since the prison system charges a 20% markup on most of their products. For example, a package of Top Ramen costs $1.00 when normal civilians can purchase a case of Top Ramen for $3.00 at Grocery Outlet. (Anonymous #1, 2, 3) The average cost of an offender's daily food regiment is $3.13 a day (Mc Shane). Between the money from us (the tax payers), federal money, the 55% the prison takes out from money sent in to inmates, and the 20% on all food items and most other items from the prison store, there is no possible excuse for such low quality meals (Anonymous #3). Are Offenders Denied Healthy Living Conditions? During a 2002 visit to see my fiancé at The Shelton Correctional Center in Shelton, Washington, I stared disgustingly at the peeling paint and dirty floors of visitation rooms. I recall how the tears slipped from my eyes as my mind wondered if the rest of the facility was as decrepitated as this one. When he entered the room and I could see that his physical condition had already started to deteriorate in this atmosphere. He was dressed in a faded black, poor conditioned jump suit, which looked as if it should have been thrown away five years ago. His once glowing skin had turned a pail white, and his shimmering hair no longer had the same healthy shine. I could not bring myself to express my concerns; instead I looked deep in his eyes, picked up the poor quality phone receiver and enjoyed our thirty-minuet visit to the best of my ability. According to Anonymous Source #3, in the fall of 2003, Stafford Creek Correctional Center, located in Southwestern Washington lost a hot water tank for one of its housing units. This meant no hot water for about 150-200 inmates. This outage lasted approximately five days. Inmates could take cold showers or follow a devised schedule to use showers on another unit. Even then, they were only scheduled for a shower every two to three days and little thought was put into planning. My fiancé, an inmate of said facility was scheduled for a shower an hour before he was scheduled for a mandatory cardio class. Now I do not know about you, but I for one prefer my showers after a rigorous work out not before. As for those that were willing to go to another unit they had to walk to one of three other units, out in the cold rain, with their supplies, and a change of clothes. This walk is the equivalent of 1-3 blocks depending on their assigned building. Once there they took showers while the inmates from that unit stared from their windows, then return again to their unit through the cold rain. Is it little wonder that my fiancé was willing to put up with cold showers? The Washington State Tenants Union states, "If you cannot use a major plumbing fixture, or the refrigerator, range or oven, the landlord has 72 hours. If you have no hot or cold water, heat or electricity, or something that's "imminently hazardous to life," the landlord has only 24 hours [to fix the problem]" (Landlords). It's unfortunate that prisons cannot be held to the same basic standards of maintenance that the people we rent from are forced to abide by. Are Offenders Denied Freedom of Religion? Despite a popular belief that offenders "find religion" so they can "manipulate" the system (Mc Shane 399), some inmates actually do find support within their faith while incarcerated. Others are not so lucky. The 1st Amendment states that the government may not pass laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. In the 1972 case of Crus v. Beto, a judge ruled that all prisons must provide an opportunity for people to exercise religious beliefs. This freedom was to be extended to inmates of all religions including those of non-mainstream faiths. Offenders are supposed to have the freedom to attend denominational religious services, "[correspond...] with religious leaders, observe dietary laws, and obtain and wear and use religious paraphernalia" (Mc Shane, 73). prisoners are sometimes crippled in their search for support when it comes to religion. Yet, the system fails to provide adequate religious programs for non-main stream religions. There are more than two hundred religions practiced in the world (Religious Movement). At this time only twenty-two specific religions are recognized by the prison system and the majority are Christian based (DOC Guide, 57). America continues to become more and more diverse as members from other countries settle in. The diversity creates a multi-religious society with that in mind, "religious discrimination in the prison system is on a continuous downward spiral. All the chaplains I have come across in the system have been of mainstream faith" (Anonymous #3). For example, Stafford Creek Correctional Center in Aberdeen Washington has Christian ministers, and Monroe SOU has a Catholic Nun supervising services. (Anonymous #3) Although, this does not hold precedence by its self, it can be documented that the farther away from Christianity an inmate is, the harder it is to receive support to meet religious needs (Mc Shane, 73). Do not misunderstand; this is not meant to put down Christianity or Christians as a whole. The controversy is related to a Christian minister being placed in charge of the spiritual well being of a non-Christian individual. Take for instance, Paganism. Spiritually speaking, it is one of the oldest faiths still practiced today, and yet pagans (like many others who do not meet the government's guidelines for religion) are not given the freedom to practice according to their faith. The truth is that paganism is not even recognized as a religion at all. Wicca, a form of Paganism is recognized, but Wicca is only one form of Paganism. "Comparatively speaking Wicca is to paganism as Catholicism is to Christianity" (Anonymous #3). Pagan inmates are forced to classify themselves Wiccan in order to receive any sort of spiritual counseling. I rather doubt Christians as a whole, would appreciate being called catholic, and yet Pagan discrimination continues to happen. There are just too many differences for this to work. The general topic has come to a head in many conversations I have overheard. People from un-recognized faiths frequently question how lawmakers would like it if one day someone came around and stripped them of their Bibles, Torahs, and Korans or if someone told them they were not allowed to have the religious items and materials they use and rely on daily. They question, how lawmakers would respond if they were told, "I am sorry, we do not recognize your faith, so you are not permitted to practice it?" This is exactly how non-mainstreamers feel when they are told their religions are close enough and can be lumped into one title, using the same materials to practice. The System openly breaks the law, and continuously gets away with religious discrimination. From my experience and others I have spoken to, it's not unusual for an inmate to be transferred after a formal complaint has been issued concerning religious discrimination (Anonymous #3). This makes it harder to fight for a person's constitutional right to Freedom of Religion. Does The System Neglect Family Bonds? "I miss my daddy (mommy)." "I miss my Son (daughter)." "I miss my husband (wife/ significant other)." These words echo from the lips of family members across the country as the incarceration rates increase. An offenders sentence not only affects the person who is incarcerated, it also in the majority of cases, deteriorates the family unit. Offenders face separation anxiety, fear of abandonment, and depression that often leads to post traumatic stress syndrome. They often invert the anger that is brought on by guilty feelings. Family members also face separation anxiety, depression, coupled by financial crisis, and extreme amounts of fear that incarceration may change the offender's ability to function. These can cause sudden, and substantial psychological effects. These effects often emerge immediately and lead to long-term damage (Sifakas 75). Children are silent victims when parents are incarcerated. There is a common belief that continual contact with an incarcerated parent is against the child's best interest. Records show that 75% of all offenders are parents and that 54% of children with incarcerated parents are being denied visitation rights. Basically, 1.5 million American children suffer from parental alienation in one-way or another (Encyclopedia 76). Children have no control over the circumstances. They do not understand that they are not being punished. All they know is a feeling of abandonment. One day Mommy or Daddy was there and the next they were gone. When a parent is incarcerated a child's life is often immersed by instability, poverty, abuse or neglect, and conflict. These children often suffer from severe nightmares, anxiety, fear, and behavioral and emotional problems. Even when children are allowed to visit their parent, they are subjected to abnormal rules that limit a child's ability to bond with the incarcerated parent. (Sifakas 45, 78) There are typically rules concerning play that most children, as well as offenders, find over whelming. Rules such as no running, no piggyback rides, no playing horsy on the parent's knee. Depending on their age, the child may or may not even be permitted to sit on their parents lap. (Anonymous #2) Can you imagine being a small child and being told that you cannot cuddle with mommy or daddy? Incarceration should not alienate a child's bond with their parent unless the parent has abused the child. Even then it is controversial, because most child-victims have a continued desire and need to know their parent. Children are not the only victims of incarceration. While offenders are incarcerated, all contact is monitored. Phone calls are taped. Visitation tables bugged. Mail is pre-read and censored. Family business becomes Government business. Marital relations suffer greatly as the communication lines split apart. Normal interaction is limited unless offender is eligible for conjugal/ extended family visits. For those who may not know, a conjugal visit is a private visit between a husband and wife, or in some instances between complete families. These visits take place in a trailer or cottage and last anywhere between twelve to seventy-two hours. While together, couples can take part in semi-normal family activities such as cooking meals (supplied by the family), board games, private conversation, television viewing, and sexual relations. The problem is that only offenders who were married before arrest for the current crime are eligible for such visits. This means that offenders and spouses who do not meet these criteria are denied these privileges. These couples are limited to a simple hug and kiss before and after a typical visit. Visitation, in it's self, can be quite an exasperating experience. From the moment a family member pulls onto the lot they are under supervision. You press buttons so that guards can open gates. You relinquish your dignity to pat searches, strip searches, contraband laws and censorship. They tell you what you can wear, where you can go, whom you can talk to, and weather you can freely go to the restroom. Each facility creates it's own rules. For example, at Stafford Creek Correctional Center, in Aberdeen Washington, a couple can hold hands over the table, and cross legs under the table (to create a closeness). Visitors can wear two chains, one bracelet, and their earrings. Photos are offered at each visit. Where as, at Monroe SOU in Monroe, Washington crossing legs under the table is against the rules and may cause the visit to end. Monroe is far stricter concerning the dress code for visitors, but is more relaxed about jewelry and photos are seldom available due to their lack of photographer. I know this seems superficial, but in reality, I know, it is uncomfortable and causes the family member to experience high rates of emotional distress. This distress multiplies when visitation isn't available at all. Many families are separated by financial circumstances while their love ones are imprisoned. Many times, an individual is placed several hours away from the closest family member. My fiancé for instance, is incarcerated at Monroe SOU, approximately an hour from my home. I do not have a car; therefore, I do not have the transportation necessary to visit him on a regular weekly schedule. His mother, who has a car, lives approximately three hours away, and is incapable of visiting on a regular basis due to distance. In situations such as these, a family member can feel over whelming levels of guilt, depression, and turmoil. Telephone correspondence is the next best thing to physical visitation, even if it is monitored. However, this is a costly method of communication. While an offender is incarcerated in a Washington prison, they must make collect calls if they want to phone home. The family member who accepts the charges absorbs this cost. A twenty-minuet call in state costs approximately $7.00, and an out of state call costs $20.00. At one time, I paid $240.00 a month for collect calls from my fiancé. Those phone calls were not only emotionally supportive for him, but necessary for my emotional well being as well. Sometimes it helps to hear the offender's voice even if it is a high price to pay for communication. In order to ease the separation caused by finances and distance, Washington Corrections suggests that families remain in contact through the United States mail (DOC Guide 35). The thing that most people do not know is that their mail service is sorely under staffed and it can take two weeks to receive a response to one letter. Officials inspect the incoming letters for contraband. (DOC Guide 35) I can understand the need to inspect envelopes for items and escape plans, but they take the inspections much farther than that. Contraband can consist of mere words including sexual conversation between a husband and wife. It can consist of photos (Vagina, penis, or insertion photos are contraband; breast and anus photos are not). Again this is another way that the system causes deterioration of intimate relationships. In order for a healthy relationship to continue, a couple needs completely open communication thus being something the system does not allow by written correspondence. The family unit has an extremely important role in an offender's success rate (DOC Guide index). Family support may come in many forms; however, in the majority of cases family bonds tend to become broken during the first couple years of incarceration. As families face financial and emotional crisis it limits their ability to accept phone calls, write letters and above all, most importantly, their ability to communicate in person because correctional centers are generally placed in rural areas far away from larger cities. It takes money to commute. Money that is scarce when the offender is not there to support his or her family. The same money that it requires to accept phone calls, or finance an offenders and their family's personal needs. There isn't a simple answer. However the system could focus more extensively on family bonds in general. They could establish family counseling, marital counseling, and personal counseling to help the offenders and their families cope with the dilemma concerning incarceration. They could allow offenders to purchase prepaid calling cards or establish an incoming phone line for families to communicate. They could recognize that in today's society marriage is more than a piece of paper. Over all, Incarceration should not mean the relinquishment of parental, spousal obligations, commitments, or concerns. Offenders and their families have a continual desire to maintain family bonds. The more personal bonds an offender has; the less likely they will return to an active life of crime. (Encyclopedia 76-80) Are Prisons Institutions of Crime? "Some inmates view prison like a graduate from an educational institution would. They are apart of a special alumni association" (Anonymous #2). "From the moment an inmate enters the unit, they are indirectly forced into situations that may not be criminal themselves, yet forces the inmate to look away from criminal activity going on around them." (Anonymous #3) Most facilities place inmates in general population facilities. This means that prisoners with comparatively minor charges are mixed with the more hardened criminals. This is a disadvantage for society, because the minor offender then learns new criminal skills from his or her peers. If people are drawn to others with similar interests then wouldn't it be logical to say that Prisons breed criminal behavior? When public heavily sways towards harsher punishment they are actually inspiring criminal behavior instead of eliminating it. The over all-purpose of prison is to punish the guilty. It is not to educate them with newer criminal skills. Would it really be that hard for the system to separate the two styles of offenders? The second repercussion of mixing offenders includes offender brutality against one another. Beatings, rapes, stabbing, and other forms of physical abuse are more possible when a hardened criminal is allowed in common areas. Inmates face abuse at the hands of other inmates. Their defenses are stripped away and lives are placed in danger. Danger comes in many forms. Activities including one inmate being told to partake in an abuse of another, watch as a form of abuse happens, sits in a wrong section of the dining hall, or worse has the wrong charges. Maybe the individual accidentally bumps the hardened criminal while waiting in line. All the above issues seem relatively simple, but are common situations that may get an inmate hurt or worse killed. The victim can take their issues to the authorities. This places the inmate in worse danger (Anonymous #1,2,3). The label "Nark" is not taken lightly. The title means that an individual is untrustworthy. It means that they are a danger to the group. If the reporting individual or Nark is lucky and spared a beating, he or she will be placed into protective custody. Protective custody is better known to the prison society as P.C. Even on P.C. the inmate is not without harm. While there they ultimately suffer again. As long as they reside in the prison system they face the possibility that they will come across another inmate who will remember the deed. When this happens they are again placed in danger and again placed in protective custody (Anonymous #1,2,3). When an inmate enters P.C., they are not the only one to suffer. Their family and friends are affected, and they suffer too. While on P.C., the inmate can receive only visitors who are immediate family. Immediate family includes mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children (Anonymous #1,2,3). This neglects the needs of close friends, unmarried couples, and more distant relatives (cousins, grandparents, etc.). Sometimes these people are the only true support system the inmate has. Therefore they are forced to choose between safety and contact with their family. Most inmates prefer to take their chances (Anonymous #1,2,3). Conclusion Inmates in general need to be shown how to improve their lives. The psychological, Strain, and Social Bond Theories all suggest that criminal behavior is some how influenced. At least 95% of all State prisoners will be released from prison at some point" (Reentry Trends). Currently inmates do not face the type of circumstances that will warrant positive changes in behavior. The system separates the offender from support systems and then neglects their physical, emotional, and psychological needs. This technique does nothing except creates depressed, unstable individuals. Between 1983 and 1994, when the re-offense rate was approximately 74% for burglary, 74% for robbery, 78% for vehicular theft, and 72% for the selling of illegal weapons (Reentry Trends). Isn't it obvious that there are changes that need to be made to reduce the over all re-offense rate. Shouldn't we take rehabilitation a little more seriously? The average American citizen can stop the abuse, neglect, and discrimination currently taking place in the United States Prison System. Families and inmates suggest that citizens become involved. They suggest that you write your local legislator, form groups, send letters to the media, or contact existing support groups and offer your assistance. There are many Prison Support Groups online. For the most part, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home. Regular citizens can peacefully force change when they try. Take a look at situations such as civil rights, women's rights, and sexual rights. In each case, ordinary people stopped abusive situations. We (the tax payers) pay the Government officials to represent our voices when they make decisions. The American public has a responsibility to its citizens. We have a responsibility to mankind as a whole. We, the people, must learn to educate, reform, and stop allowing individuals in the prison system to exist in the conditions they face in order to increase the safety rate for our families. These people will return to society and will become our neighbors; whether we like it or not. It's our job to assure the safety of the society they will become apart of. Would you prefer to have a reformed convict living in your neighborhood or someone who never received the services to guarantee their ability to succeed? It's your choice, what is your discussion? Works Cited Adler, Freda and William Laufer. Criminology and The Justice System 5th Edition 1991 American Prisons; Opposing Views. San Diego, Ca 1997. Anonymous #1. Personal Interview. 2003 Anonymous #2. Personal Interview. 2003 Anonymous #3. Personal Interview. 2003 A Simulation Study of the Psychology of Imprisonment Conducted at Stanford University. The Stanford Prison Experiment. 1999-2005. http://www.prisonexp.org/ Baugher, Bob. Lecture. Psychology 120. Highline Community College. Fall 2003 Conte, William. Is Prison Reform Possible. Tacoma, Washington 1990 Criminalization of Americans With Severe Mental Illnesses. Psychlaw Web Site 29 Jan. 2005 DOC Guide For Friends and Families of Incarcerated Offenders. Washington Department Of Corrections Web Site. 1 Feb. 2005 http://www.doc.wa.gov/general/P184.pdf Encyclopedia of American Prisons. New York, New York 2003 Galloway, Angela. State Has Paid Large Sums In Neglect Settlements. Seattle PI. Website. 29 Jan 2005 21. Aug 2005 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Office of the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights. Article 3(2), Article 16 and 17, Chapter IV. Hygiene and Medical Attention Article 91 Online. 1 Feb 2005 Hartman, Kenneth. San Diego Union Tribune Web Site. 2 July 1995 Herman, Peter. The American Prison System. The Reference Shelf Vol .73. Number 5. The H.W. Wilson Company. 2001 Kanapaux, William "Vol XXI Issue 1" The Psychiatric Times Jan 2004. Kohl-Welles, Jeanne Educating Inmates Is Worth The Investment. Seattle Press On- Line 20 June 2002 "Landlords' Obligations and Tenants' Rights" The Tenants UnionWeb Site. 29 Jan 2005. Langan, Patrick, and David Levin "Recidivism in 1994." Bureau of Justice Special Report Online. NCJ 193427. June 2002. 31 Jan. 2005 Mc Shane, Marilyn and Frank Williams. "American Prisons." Garland Publishing Inc. NY and London. 1996. Montgomery, Jessica. Peer Survey. Highline Community College, 2005. "Reentry Trends in the United States." The U.S Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics Web Site. Last Revised 2 June 2002 "Reentry Trends in the United States." The U.S Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics Web Site. Last Revised 25 Oct. 2002 "Religious Movement" University of Virginia. Last Revised 27 March 2004 Scott, Cathy. Crime and Punishment Web Site. 29 Jan. 2005 http://lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2003/05/01/crime_punishment/news5crime.prt State Of Washington, Department Of Corrections. Web Site. 1 Feb. 2005 http://www.doc.wa.gov/home.asp "Transaction of the National Congress of Pentitentry and Reformatory Discipline". Cincinnati, Ohio. 12-18 October 1870. |
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