Inmates in prison essay examples

Abstract

There are various things that are prohibited in a prison set-up. These include being in possession of money or drugs. However, prisoners often are found in possession of these items. It is no clear how they end up being in possession of these items while behind bars. This essay tries to unravel this mystery.

Question 1:

It is common code in prisons that prisoners should not have any money in their possession. However, there is drug trade that takes place within the prisons. According to Seiter (2011), there are modes of exchange for the drugs. These include sexual favors where some inmates yield to others in order to get the drugs. In other cases, some prisoners can forfeit some of their food in exchange for drugs. Prisons try to reduce drug presence in the facilities by having regular checks and testing for drugs in order to detect any drugs hidden within the facility.

Question 2:

Prisonization is the concept where prisoners get into a correctional facility and are initiated into the culture of the prison. More often than not, they tend to stick with this culture even after their prison life. Seiter (2011) observes that the culture divides prisoners into three major groups: there are the convicts who are sentenced to long imprisonment; thieves are people in prison just doing their time so that they can go out and do greater things while johns are those who are new to prison life hence inexperienced in its ways. Through the prisonization process, the people in these groups all learn to behave and act as per their group. They stick to this culture for quite a long time.

References

Seiter, R. P. (2011). Corrections: An introduction (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.