Why Does this Blog Exist?

Our goal is to rehumanize the men and women who are incarcerated, to remind those of us who’ve forgotten, that the mass of human beings concealed behind the label of ‘prisoner’ are our fathers and daughters, our sons and mothers, our sisters and brothers, our fellow citizens, neighbors and friends.

Appreciation for who these people really are is a necessary first step towards understanding why we can’t simply set them aside as rejects, inadvertently allowing the current system to sue and abuse them like animals, objects – or worse. Instead, we must give them hope by providing transformational opportunities, straight-forward guidance, role-models of integrity, and a healthy living environment.

What Kind Of People Are in Prison?

Often, we are only told stories about the people in prison from a few select perspectives designed to elicit sensationalism or excite fear. These narratives tend to generalize this group, turn them into monsters in our minds.

But what do we really know about the people in prison? Or about the prison system in general? Have you ever considered it?

You really should. After all, billions of your tax dollars flow into this industry year after year.

Have you ever wondered why we hardly think of prisons or the people in them? And when we do think of them, have you noticed we conjure up visions of riots and stabbings and unspeakable violence – the corralling of unchangeable evil by the ever-vigilant forces of good?

We even have a term for these wicked ones: career criminals – folks who have chosen a life of crime, who know nothing else; who do not want to change and are in fact incapable of changing even if they wanted to.

Obviously, these are the type of men and women that pervade the “criminal” justice system, and are the reasons our prisons have been filled to overflowing, right? How could it be otherwise?

But is this point of view accurate? Perhaps you know a friend, or have a family member, who is in prison right now; someone who doesn’t necessarily align with this viewpoint. How can these conflicting realities exist?

Why Do I Generally View Prisoners As Monsters?

If you want to know why you think the way you do about prison, you must ask yourself several revealing questions:

First, what is your source? Where do you get your information? Does it come from governmental agencies, the news media, or Hollywood, for example? Or maybe a combination of these?

Second, can you trust these institutions to present the complete, unbiased truth? (Note: This is not to say these perspectives are invalid, but simply to point out they are only part of the whole, and each has their own agenda.)

A third aspect to consider are the characteristics of the prison system itself. For example, the prison system has been set up so as to tightly control the flow of information. In addition, there is an inherent conflict of interest in that the better the establishment is at rehabilitation, the less society perceives the need for their services. It’s only when society is a mess that we clamor for their help. Not to mention, these who’ve been to prison are vulnerable to smear-campaigns, effectively undermining any knowledge they might have of questionable methods or harmful activities.

Why Should I Believe You?

I must confess that I never knew much about what was happening to the people in prison, nor did I care. In fact, other than watching a “prison” movie every now and again, I never really thought about it. Until I found myself in one with a life sentence.

So yes, my perspective is biased as well, though it’s the one you don’t really hear, or tend to mistrust if you do.

But I know what goes on in prison because I’ve seen it. I can give you this unique perspective because I’m living it. Obviously I don’t know everything that has happened – I’ve only been in here seven years – but I do know that the reality isn’t always as I see it portrayed in film or by the media. It isn’t always as I hear it spoken of by the authorities. Just because you tell me one set of “facts” doesn’t mean you’re telling me the truth.

Why Should I Care?

Now I’m not saying there aren’t people in prison who deserve to be in prison. Folks need to be held accountable for the things they’ve done. And some people have done some pretty horrific stuff. But many – MANY! – of these people are not the incorrigible criminals we’ve been led to believe they are. In fact, many of these individuals will one day return to their home communities.

And this is why you should care! It’s estimated that 95% of those now imprisoned will be released. They will become your neighbors, your fellow commuters, your co-workers, your friends.

How those people are treated in prison, to a large degree, reflects how successful they will be upon re-entry. It is evident the current system fails them. The current recidivism rate hovers around 60%.

Doesn’t The Recidivism Rate Prove Prisoners Are Incorrigible?

I know what you are thinking – “Two out of every three prisoners reoffends within two years!? Surely this proves that these people cannot change, that they criminals at heart.”

This argument seems sound. But you only think this because you believe that prison is set up in such a manner so as to rehabilitate those within its grasp. Thus you assume the failure to rehabilitate is the failure of the individual.

The truth, however, is that while the prison system may be a miracle of rehabilitation on paper (and much monies flew to it for that purpose), the reality inside is much different, to the point where those who rehabilitate are the miracles, and do so despite the system. You would be shocked to learn much of what goes on in here.

The real reason prisoners rehabilitate – despite their hostile treatment, regardless of their substandard conditions – is because today there is hope. This hope is a fragile thing. It did not always exist.

For decades, it was well-known to those living and working within the prison system, the only way a person serving a life sentence was getting out was in a wooden box. It was the governor who said this. And the people in prison, having no hope, responded accordingly to the “rules” of their environment. Social engineering is real.

Unfortunately, these traumatic environments – with their convoluted causes and resultant behaviors – seemingly justified the prevailing viewpoints, as well as the harsh treatment that ensued. It was a situation ripe for escalation. Please understand, I’m not trying to justify the prisoners’ actions here, but merely describe the complexity of the issue.

So What Is Different Today?

At present, however, (and especially now that the State is running out of surplus funds), the theories behind the sentencing and treatment of prisoners are changing. Practice is overwhelmingly slow to follow, but there have been a small number of those with life sentences – some imprisoned for decades – who have finally been found suitable for parole.

And just like that, there is hope again.

It is amazing what a sliver of light, a ray of hope, can do. Prisoners finally have a reason to live, an incentive to change, and many men are women are seizing the opportunity. They are developing, implementing, and then sharing the tools needed to change and, in the process, erecting a much different prison environment than in the past.

Sad to say, there are those who are heavily invested in the status quo. Powerful groups are seeking to destroy this budding hope. They hate it, for it threatens their way of life.

But the data are in and the evidence is clear: mass incarceration does not work! It neither squelches crime nor promotes public safety – not to mention it is unsustainable. (Fun fact: Did you know that more money is invested in our prisons than our schools each year?)

Mass incarceration is harmful to our communities. It tears families apart. It wastes money, resources, and most importantly, lives. It is hurting those the system was purportedly designed to protect – including the officers enforcing it. We have all been duped.

What Can I Do To Help?

Perhaps you are thinking – “Wow, I never knew. But now that I know, things need to change. I want to help.”

Let me warn you that we did not get to where we are in a day, or even a decade. Change will take time. What we need most is a destination to aim for so we can make incremental changes in the right direction. Over time these changes will add up.

The first thing then is for us to establish that destination. Our goal – as individuals as well as a nation – should be to treat all human beings with dignity and respect, even if they have not extended dignity and respect to others. Again, I’m not saying we shouldn’t punish people for the crimes they commit. This is a valid and needed part of society. I’m saying we can’t fight evil with evil – it only creates more evil!

Treat everyone as the people they are, not according to the various dehumanizing labels others place on them. View them as neighbors and fellow citizens, as family and friends – because that’s who they are. Treat them as you would want to be treated if you found yourself in their positions – with compassion and understanding, teaching them in good faith, with the final goal being restoration back into the community. This is how we get rid of evil, by transforming it into good.

The second thing you can do is become familiar with all perspectives within the system. If anyone can tell you want most needs to change – and which changes would be most impactful – it’s those directly affected, those presently ignored.

If we as a society really expect the people in prison to transform, if we really expect our efforts at rehabilitation to be more than just talk, we need to stop treating these people like caged animals and poking them over and over with a stick. This is a sure method to undermine the stated goal and create bitter, angry, unpredictable, violent monsters – but perhaps this is the goal.

So, if you are looking through the proper lens, if you are familiar with all perspectives, then the third thing you can do will naturally fall into place: you will find opportunity to promote this mindset in others.

You can, and should, use your voice. It is your right. You can do this by speaking out for, or on behalf of, those who cannot. You can call or write to your representatives to let them know what you think and how you feel and give them your ideas for change. They want to hear from you.

There are charities, churches, and other nonprofits helping in the work of rehabilitating prisoners or changing the system – you can donate your time or other resources to these organizations.

You can use your money. You can use your vote. It is, after all, your tax dollars being spent to prop up this failing system. For example, in California, it costs $135,000 to imprison each person each year. At roughly one-hundred-thousand imprisoned in the State, around $13.5 billion is funneled into the Big Business of Prisons annually. That’s A LOT of money, and one of the biggest reasons you only ever hear those few perspectives.

And then there are opportunities that only you will see because of your unique experiences and positions in life. I encourage you to take action.

I know it seems like there’s a lot of work to do. That’s because there is. It seems almost like an impossible mountain to climb. But if we work together, doing what we can where we can when we can with what we’ve got, then step by step, we’ll fix what’s broken. We’ll all be better for it.

The alternative is to do nothing; to let the government continue to make decisions without your input, to let the media and Hollywood inform your perspective and anger your soul, to continue hiding men and women behind bars, resting falsely secure in the presumption that the problem is being dealt with. But if you do this, it will only get worse. It always does.

There are millions of men and women behind bars in our country, crying out for change. Can you hear them? Will you help?