Prison is meant to punish criminal offenders and keep the general public safe. But how bad is the day-to-day experience of living behind bars? This article will analyze the various hardships inmates face in prison, from lack of autonomy to threats of violence. By the end, you’ll have a detailed understanding of the daily struggles and deprivations faced by the incarcerated.
Overcrowding Makes Prison an Unpleasant Place to Live
Overcrowded prisons are unfortunately very common in the United States. When too many inmates are squeezed into confined spaces, the quality of life deteriorates for everyone. Prison overcrowding can lead to:
- Spread of illness due to close proximity in shared spaces
- Increased tensions and violence between inmates
- Lack of proper sleeping spaces, with some prisons forcing multiple inmates to share bunk beds
- Insufficient access to resources like recreational facilities, phones, showers, etc.
- Drug abuse and mental health issues exacerbated due to stress
To understand how crowded prisons have gotten, the percent occupancy can be calculated. This measures how full prisons are based on their maximum capacities:
Percent occupancy = (Number of inmates ÷ Maximum capacity) x 100
So for example, if a prison has 1,000 inmates but the max capacity is only 700, then the percent occupancy would be:
(1,000 ÷ 700) x 100 = 143% occupancy
Based on data from the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, many state prisons are operating at 110-120% of their capacity or more. At these densities, few inmates can find any privacy or quiet time.
Daily Necessities Are Severely Lacking for Inmates
Beyond overcrowding, several other factors make life in prison very difficult on a daily basis:
Healthcare
The healthcare provided in prisons tends to be extremely poor:
- Shortages of doctors, nurses, and medications mean limited access to treatment
- Pre-existing conditions often go untreated or undertreated
- Mental healthcare is scarce, exacerbating issues like depression, anxiety, and anger among inmates
Medical neglect has even led to higher mortality rates in prison populations compared to the general public.
Hygiene
Keeping clean and hygienic is also very difficult in prison. Issues like:
- Limited access to showers, sometimes only 2-3 times per week
- No control over water temperature, may be ice cold
- Toilet facilities can be dirty and unsanitary
- Difficult to access supplies like soap, toothpaste, or toilet paper
These conditions frequently lead to health problems like skin infections among inmates.
Food
Prison food is bland and of low nutritional quality. Typical offerings include:
- Bland, carb-heavy options like rice, potatoes, beans, etc.
- Occasional meat of questionable quality
- Minimal fruits and vegetables
- No customization allowed for medical or religious dietary needs
Such monotonous, unhealthy food takes a toll on inmates’ wellbeing and morale.
Violence and Abuse Are Common Behind Bars
Probably one of inmates’ biggest concerns is threat of violence from fellow prisoners. Tensions run high when violent criminals are forced together in close quarters. Common forms of inmate-on-inmate violence include:
Assault and Battery
Fights, beatings, and stabbings between inmates occur frequently due to disputes and rivalries. Weapons are often improvised from materials like shanks made from glass or sharpened metal.
Sexual Assault
Forced and coerced sexual acts happen extensively in prisons. One study found nearly 300,000 cases of sexual violence reported across American prisons and jails over a 20-year period.
Extortion and Threats
Gangs often force weaker inmates to hand over possessions, money from their commissary account, or other “favors” through intimidation. Refusal to comply could mean physical violence or even death.
Besides fellow inmates, prisoners also face regular abuse from correctional officers. While most officers do their jobs properly, others inflict physical, verbal, and sometimes sexual abuse against inmates.
Long Term Impacts of Incarceration
Time spent imprisoned can have lasting impacts even beyond the sentence duration. The effects of institutionalization can make it very hard for inmates to reintegrate into normal society. For example:
Loss of Social Bonds
Years locked away severely weaken friendships and family ties. A lack of visitation can gradually damage relationships with loved ones.
Financial Instability
Inmates struggle to get education or job training in prison that leads to stable employment post-release. Many end up unemployed or only able to find informal, low paid work.
Institutionalization
Being subject to constant oversight and regimented routines for years leads to dependency on the system. After release, the lack of structure can cause anxiety, depression, and difficulty adjusting.
Recidivism
Sadly, around 50% of released inmates end up back in prison within 3 years. The reasons are complex, but lack of rehabilitation programs and difficulty reintegrating both play a role.
Overall, the impacts of incarceration seem to do more harm than good in preventing future criminal behavior.
How Different Groups Experience Incarceration
Not all inmates endure prison in the same way. Factors like gender, age, and mental health status can drastically affect one’s experience behind bars.
Women
Female inmates face elevated threats of sexual assault compared to their male counterparts. They also have special hygiene needs related to menstruation that often go ignored by prisons lacking supplies like pads and tampons. Mothers especially suffer from family separation.
Elderly Inmates
Older inmates suffer from lack of disability accommodations and inadequate healthcare. Tasks like climbing to upper bunks, walking long distances, standing in lines can be difficult with limited mobility and age-related illnesses.
Mentally Ill
Inmates with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD typically receive subpar mental healthcare. Disciplinary actions taken against them can exacerbate issues. Lockdowns, isolation, and lack of stimulation further deteriorate mental states.
While these groups bear extra burdens, even the general population faces daily struggles inside prison walls.
Alternatives to Incarceration Can Reduce Reliance on Prisons
Based on the awful conditions and failures of the prison system, reform is needed to help address offenders’ issues and reduce recidivism. Some alternative models to consider include:
- Community supervision programs – Allow low risk offenders to maintain jobs, community service, treatment programs, etc. with oversight instead of prison.
- Rehabilitation centers – Focused on vocational training, counseling, addiction treatment in a structured but non-punitive setting.
- Crime prevention programs – Address root causes like poverty and lack of education that contribute to crime rather than punishing after the fact.
- Reduced sentencing – Limit mandatory minimums and shift toward alternate resolutions like financial restitution.
While no fix is simple, reducing incarceration and punitive sentences in favor of rehabilitation could improve public safety and criminal justice in the long run.
Conclusion
Life inside prison is fraught with hardships big and small. Overcrowding, violence, poor healthcare, lack of proper nutrition, andbleak facilities combine to make prison a place most would dread ending up. The experience crushes the spirit, strains personal relationships, and leaves lingering issues that thwart rehabilitation.
Addressing these failing institutions is no easy challenge. But reforming the current punitive justice system could potentially stop cycles of recidivism. With more focus on rehabilitation programs both inside and outside of prison walls, many offenders have hope of building brighter futures. While past crimes require consequences, even small steps toward a more humane system could relieve much suffering.