The metastasis of Prison Culture

[cthulu2016]

Last edited Mon Aug 6, 2012, 01:46 PM - Edit history (5)

Prison culture shapes our culture outside of prison. People who have learned prison culture return to society with prison values and impart those values to "free" society.

All of us live with prison values to some degree. And since America incarcerates a higher percentage of the population than anyone, America is probably more shaped by prison culture than anyone.

The more any neighborhood or class or ethnic group is imprisoned, the more prevalent prison culture and prison values become in that community.

If prison fosters a kill or be killed mentality then society (and high incarceration neighborhoods in specific) becomes more kill or be killed.

Prison culture is a key driver of black gangs, hispanic gangs and white gangs outside of prison. Many American youth cultures have fashions derived from prison garb, slang derived from prison slang, values that could only make sense in our sick prisons.

Contemporary White supremacist groups are, to a significant degree, the metastasis of prison culture. Aryan Nation type operations define "white" culture in prison. And that culture shapes people who have never even been in prison. The guy coming back to town with swastika tattoos and a prison physique and war stories and a political philosophy is someone certain young men will look up to. Like a soldier returning home. (This also applies to the South-side Latin Devils or the Bloods or the Cosa Nostra, of course. But the white supremacist movement is a particularly striking example.)

We really need to understand this... whatever happens in prison shapes all of society. It seems safe to say that vast numbers of prisoners of all backgrounds rejoin society more racist, more clannish, less trusting and more prone to think in reactive violent terms than they went in.

Putting people in the jungle does not civilize them. That is not a call to coddle criminals, it is just an inescapable fact of human nature.

And ending all prison violence would make "free" America a much less violent nation.

[davidthegnome]

1. Poverty.

I would suggest that poverty, especially intense poverty, makes criminal activity far more likely. The lack of jobs isn't helping either.

One question I ponder from time to time is whether the majority of our prisoners should actually be in prison. I suspect a lot of them simply don't belong there. The life of a prisoner undoubtedly returns them to society much worse for the wear, in most cases.

Something must be done about prison violence - which is not to say it should be a pleasant place to be. Yet what we allow to continue to happen in Prisons across the Nation will only worsen our National crime and violence.

I don't know what the solution is though. More intense training for the guards? More intense security measures? More psychological treatment available? Perhaps all of the above... but all of this would require quite a lot of money. While I suspect most of us who are left of center would support such measures... we would not get a broad consensus from the public as a whole.

Most people have precious little sympathy for prisoners, many see them as monsters. There are endless complaints about how much it costs to "keep them alive, fed, healthy" etc. I have heard some (even democrats) suggest that we should execute far more than we do, that they are a "drain on society's resources".

To really get something going, you would need an enormous public education campaign. We would require graphic videos of what actually takes place in prisons throughout the Country, to be shown to a large enough number of Americans to make a difference. I think it could be done, but you'd need donors with the money to fund it and the nerve to handle the backlash from the right wing media and politicians. You'd also have to cross a great deal of red tape.

[lapislzi]

4. As long as prisons are operated on a for-profit model

You will not see any reforms or improvements in conditions. If anything, it's going to get much, much worse.

[cthulu2016]

7. Also, the population most informed about prison conditions...

...is not allowed to vote.

[Fumesucker]

5. All you have to do is watch MSNBC on the weekend to get your fill of prison culture. n/t

[riderinthestorm]

2. Really interesting post. Lots of thoughtful observation to mull over for me today as I mow...

Thanks

[cthulu2016]

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[DefenseLawyer]

6. Spot on n/t