Nowadays, the number of inmates in the USA is more than 2 million, which is critical for the country as there have never been so many people behind bars before. Thus, it is not surprising that prison life altered with the course of time. At the end of the 20th century, an ordinary inmate would serve a sentence that is nine months shorter than the one experienced today because the average time spent in prison is three years already. In addition to that, almost half of all federal offenders turn out to be sentenced because of drug-related cases, while two decades ago, this issue was not so crucial. The fact that the number of offenders who live in prison increased greatly attracts the attention of experts and the representatives of the general public. It was even estimated that the country would be able to save more than $15 billion annually if its prisons let half of the non-violent inmates go, providing them with another type of punishment.
As a rule, the general public believes that inmates have a terrible life while being incarcerated. Still, the reality is not always as awful as it is considered to be. Of course, imprisonment time is not the best period of people’s lives, but it is the sense of it, as offenders face their punishment. As a rule, they spend the first half of the day working inside or outside the prison. They can be involved in various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or working on prison farms, etc.
Depending on the type of prison and its security precautions, inmates can have an opportunity to be occupied in different activities. For example, they can have a free hour, during which they are allowed to communicate with their relatives, exercise, or watch TV. Some also provide an opportunity to have up to two free hours in the evening. A range of prisons gives the offenders an opportunity to participate in self-help groups, educational, religious or treatment programs.
However, regardless of the fact that inmates are provided with many ordinary opportunities that tend to make their incarceration better, they still are correctional custody facilities and life in them is not pleasant. Such claim can be supported, for example, by the fact that incarcerated individuals are at high risk of having mental health issues. In comparison with the general public, prisoners get seek up to four times oftener. What is more, many individuals of both genders are raped while being in prisons. Research conducted by Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2012 showed that “9.6% of state prisoners had been sexually victimized at least once while they were incarcerated” (Mandatory-editors, 2013, para. 9). Another study that was conducted 6 years ago revealed that more than a half of individuals who joined gangs while being behind bars did that because they were afraid of others, but not due to their free will.
Maintaining privacy can also turn into a problem while being incarcerated. In many prisons, inmates live in groups of two or four and have an open toilet and washing space. This issue turns out to be even more critical with the increasing inmate population. Correctional custody facilities tend to become overcrowded so that they are not able to provide everything required to the prisoners. It is considered that the most critical situation is observed in California. According to its law, every person who is convicted for the third time due to some serious issues is to be incarcerated. In addition to that, about one new prison is built each year.
It is significant for all inmates to follow prison rules. Those individuals who break them are usually punished in two ways: they can be not allowed to leave their cell for some period of time, or their initial sentence can be prolonged. Regardless of the existence of the death sentence, the majority of people who live in prisons die because of the suicide attempts, more than 50% of which were committed in solitary confinement. However, inmates also can receive some privileges if their behavior is appropriate. For example, they can have an opportunity to interact with relatives more.
Just like the representatives of the general public, prisoners have a right to healthcare. Being approved by a doctor, it is provided to them for free. Additional care and services may be offered to people with addictions, HIV/AIDS, or disabilities. Still, inmates are not made to accept healthcare assistance and can refuse treatment. Those who suffer from bullying or self-harm can also receive special assistance. If a prisoner is a pregnant woman, she is placed in a special unit till her child is a year and a half. After that, one can be taken by the relatives or fostered. A lot of prisoners have an opportunity to receive education or work. It is significant to underline the fact that, after the courses, prisoners receive qualifications, as a rule. They are recognized by all employees and can be used to find a job after the release. While working behind bars, inmates are paid, which is also beneficial (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2016).
References
Federal Bureau of Prisons. (2016). Federal inmates. Web.
Mandatory-editors. (2013). Prison life in America. Web.