LAST EDITED ON Feb-01-04 AT 04:17 PM (EST)
 
>...........The controlled environment of a prison
>requires adjustment (and thankfully humans do adjust). Many
>years of imprisonment with the horrors to be witnessed and
>forced (at times) to be a part of can never be forgotten.
>Survival and conforming requirements cannot be shed the
>moment a piece of paper and a cheque is handed to you,
>suggesting "forgedaboudid". ..........."

Not to mention that the "controlled" environment of a prison usually means an "uncontrolled" environment, equivalent to what the world would be if only criminals were in the world: constant rapes, beatings, constant threats, theft, forced prostitution, murders, a hierarchy that is essentially like that of gorillas, etc. Snakes on every ward, and if you are you are the weakest/smallest mammal, you WILL be eaten. In prisons, there are not enough honorable guards to keep the prisoners safe, or even to keep themselves safe. Guards are required to use the least harmful means to control prisoners.

And because guards have used abusive practices in the past to try to keep control in prisons, there have been a number of judicial rulings to protect prisoners, which just makes the job for the guards at under-funded prisons even that much harder. Then when a prisoner escapes, everybody hollers, "why are the staff at the prisons not doing their jobs!!!???"

I have known a couple prison guards. I belive the ones I have known are honorable men. But the problems in the prison system are more than a few good men can make right. Prison is hell, both for the prisoners, and unfortunately, too often, for the good men and women who keep the prisoners away from society. I'm not sure if the general public wants it to be that way for the prisoners. But I'm clear that we need to do more to make prisons safer and saner for both guards and prisoners.