As the world becomes more intelligent and technologically advanced, one thing stays the same: prisons. Some of the first prisons were from Ancient Greece created in 1000 BC. They were structured to be underground detention centers that had people chained up and isolated. Currently in the U.S., prisons still have the same design.
Dorothy Dix, a woman born in the 1800s, was one of the first advocates for prison reforms. She was a Sunday teacher in a Massachusetts Women’s prison and witnessed the cruelties of prison and watched the mentally ill inmates struggle. She immediately chose to go to the court arguing for better conditions living conditions for those imprisoned. After her first success, she began traveling the state and started her campaign to create state hospitals for mentally ill inmates. Although Dix was able to create more state hospitals, current inmates still didn’t have the access to the health treatment they needed.
“Despite constitutional rights for individuals who are incarcerated to receive medical and mental health care, nearly two-thirds of people with mental illness in jails and prisons do not receive mental health treatment,” National Alliance on Mental Illness stated.
Further, prisons should focus more on reform efforts rather than punishments. The idea of locking people up is inhumane, and adding the lack of entertainment and socialization creates a toxic environment. Rather than aiding prisoners to help their future transition back into society, prisons promote further violence through the abuse of guards.
“In a prison environment, a handful of abusive officers can get away with extreme cruelty and criminal misconduct when this behavior is tolerated or when correctional authorities do not vigorously and consistently eliminate officer-on-inmate abuse,” EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson said.
Abuse from guards is a common occurrence for prisoners. Without any socialization or voice from the outside world, inmates often endure abuse without any help from others. On Dec.9, 2024, Robert Brooks was beaten to death by three correction officers. Sadly, there have many others who have suffered the same fate, leading to the necessary reform of prisons.
While there are clear issues with the prison system, reform is always a possibility. Many prisons have begun to give educational opportunities to inmates. These opportunities can stem from earning a GED or obtaining a college degree. Further, the Federal Bureau of prisons offer parenting classes, wellness education, library services and instruction in leisure time activities. By adding these programs to all prisons in the country, inmates will have an easier transition back into society and research from Arizona State University finds that inmates are less likely to be repeat offenders.
