Life in Prison

We live in a world in which we are comfortable. We understand the language, the hierarchy of society and even the economy. We have learned how to interpret and understand the world in which we live. Most of our day to day actions and routines are automatic. We go about them without giving it much thought. What if we were suddenly in a different world-would we know how to understand this new world or even how to communicate in it?

Prison is a world of its own. It has its own language, society, economy and rules. Failure to adapt and learn these rules can get you hurt or even killed. Prison society has no patience or tolerance for those who don't understand it. Within the prison walls are two types of inmates. There are those who are in for the long haul and the short-term inmates. We will take a look at how each group learns to adapt within the prison walls.

A short-term inmate is one who will return to society within several years. While a short-term may become an inmate or prisoner they usually will not receive any real status or hierarchy within the prison society (Schmid & Jones, 2001). The phrase 'doing time' means more than merely serving out a sentence. It is instead a clever process by which inmates develop tactics and strategies that help them to adapt to the prison world (Schmid & Jones, 2001).

New or first-time inmates find themselves alone in an unfriendly world. They are searching for a way to belong and be accepted. These new inmates are in a Catch 22 so to speak, they are no longer free in a world that they once knew and have no meaningful place in their currant society. They are to older inmates and staff simply 'fish'. This 'new comer' label will remain for some time Even if they can shake the fish label; they still haven't achieved any real status (Schmid & Jones, 2001).

As a first-time inmate, they enter prison and retain memories of their former life. They are fearful of their safety. They often will try and find a 'niche'. This allows for safety and privacy even for short periods of time (Schmid & Jones, 2001). Since these inmates still have vivid images and memories of their 'outside life' and are so new to the system that it is often difficult to find these niches. Since short-term inmates are just that, they only need to find temporary places to 'get away'. As the inmate progresses in his stay he is able to better control his thoughts about the outside world. He can now consciously use tactics to divert his thinking. He is able to leave the memories of the outside world (Schmid & Jones, 2001).

One of the earliest strategies used is ambivalence. This ambivalence is defined as "grounded in the marginality of people who have lived in two or more societies and so have become oriented to different sets of cultural values." (Schmid & Jones, p.190, 2001). Ambivalence is also said to be an escape or attempt to forget about their sentence as well as insulate or protect them selves from the prison world. It is a form of protection (Schmid & Jones, 2001).

Inmates continue to learn new ways in which to adapt. It is an ongoing process. Over time the inmate thinks less and less about the world he has left behind. Hi is now motivated by fear. As they move through their sentence their fear begins to be replaced by boredom (Schmid & Jones, 2001). By now the initial fear and anxiety have given way to the absolute boredom of prison.

As the inmate progresses they begin to try and discontinue their contact with the outside world Many feel it is easier to disconnect from family and that world that they have left behind. Through adaptation strategies, the inmate has reversed his thinking. Instead of thinking about the outside world he has left, he is now rid of his fears and able to cope within (Schmid & Jones, 2001). Short-term inmates will return to the other world. They will remember it and adjust back into it. They will close off the outside world, but haven't forgotten it.

Long term inmates must use different strategies. They have entered a world they know they will either never leave or it is so far off that they cannot bare to think about it. People do not become crazy in prison-but prison can cause negative and long lasting change (Haney, 2001). Often, inmates are said to be 'institutionalized'. This term describes the process by which an inmate is transformed by his environment. It is also referred to as prisonization (Hanley, 2001).

A long term inmate will begin to employ the use of hyper vigilance and suspicion. This helps to ward off threats and exploitation as well as keep others at a distance. They struggle to suppress and control their emotions and reactions. They will attempt to disconnect or isolate from others as much as possible. They trust no one. Staying strong and quiet is accepted behavior in prison society (Haney, 2001).

Inmates have no privacy, and lost control over the simplest things. They live in small spaces with strangers. This causes inmates to have a diminished self worth and can lead to the development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Haney, 2001).

By developing these strategies to help them adapt it offers the inmate some chance at safety, hope and respect within their new society. They struggle to be accepted and acquire some status within that society by adapting to the harsh new surroundings.

When new inmates enter the system they are housed separately for a few days. They are then processed and classified. They are housed according to their classifications. Each system has its own type classification system. Inmates are monitored and moved if classifications change.

As inmates come into the system, they bring parts of their past lives and that can help them to adjust. K.C. Carceral believes that "Toxic Shamed Identity" is a root problem. I completely agree with this theory. Most often the individuals that come to prison have toxic views of themselves. I do believe that many inmates come from broken and dysfunctional homes that alter normal self views. I agree with Carceral's view on ego defenses. Denial, repression, projection, addiction, narcissism and grandiosity are all defenses that help to protect an individual (Carceral, 2001). Without them the self would shatter. However having to rely on them so much gives an individual a 'toxic hue'. This will in reality allow the inmate to transition into his new world (Carceral, 2001).

I have worked in the jail and prison system for eight years. Writing this paper did not change my perspective of prison life because I am aware of prison life. I have seen many inmates change as they adapt to life in prison. I always found it interesting to see the changes that an inmate went through. I always knew that it was a tough transition.

When an inmate enters prison whether short-term or not the use of these adaptation strategies and ego defenses are used. In order to enter the prison world, one must be able to adapt and change, in prison adaptation is paramount to survival.

REFERENCES

Carceral, K. 2001. A theory of the toxic-shamed criminal.

Wadsworth/Thompson

Haney, C. 2001. The psychological impact of incarceration: Implications for

For post-prison adjustment. Assistant Secretary of planning and evaluation

Website. Retrieved on January 8,2006 from

http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/prison2home02/Haney.htm

Schmid, T. and Jones, R. 2001. Ambivalent actions. Prison adaptation strategies of

First-time, short-term inmates. Wadsworth/Thompson