Do you think we should feel any amount of sympathy for women in prison?

Question

I am only asking about women because I saw a video in my writing class about women in prison. They wrote about their experiences and their crimes. They all expressed a lot of self-reflection. I felt that I could identify in the sense that making one bad choice could effect the rest of your life. But most people don't commit murder, raper, assault, robbery etc.. as a way to deal with their problems. I felt sorry for them and then got angry because I don't think they deserve. They put themselves there and are trying to portray themselves as the victims. What do you think?

I only refered to women because I have not seen anything about the stories of men in prison. Alot of the women were sexually abused or rape. That is why I only asked about them. I know most people don't feel at all sorry for men.

The majority of them were in their for murder. A couple of high profile one's as well. There was maybe one drug offense among all of the women. So yeah they do deserve to be there.

Answer 1

I don't feel sorry for them. I use to be a correction officer and what I saw while working there, was that a couple of inmates were released; just to return back a couple of weeks later. There were some people in there for stuff like: Forgery, rape, robbery, murder, and the one case it actually felt sorry for was this guy was given life sentence for killing a buffalo. I saw and heard all of them, they all say they were set up, they were wrongly accused, they didn't do it, it was an accident, and they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They seem to all find god while they are locked up, then they get out into the civilian world and forget all about god. So no I don't feel sorry for them.

Answer 2

The whole prison system is a funny thing. The idea behind it is to separate those who are viewed as unable to function amongst society from the status quo. However, with the war on drugs and imprisonment for other crimes that are not up to par with as you mentioned murder and rape, a population of inmates is created that truly do not belong behind bars. Prisons are not a way to rehabilitate people male or female. If anything it creates a state of institutionalization for those put into the prison system. They must partake in crimes they may not have on the outside once put in this situation to survive. Prisons do not cure criminal activities if anything they encourage them. Look at the high prisoner return rate. Apparently being locked up did these people no good. Now on to the part concerning women, I think this should be viewed no different than a man being sent to prison. We live in a society that claims to champion equal rights etc... but always makes exceptions. why should you feel any different for a woman that has committed a crime than a man? This is just my opinion.

Answer 3

If they are indeed guilty they must do the time. I don't think that there should be any different punishment because of gender. I am 100% an advocate for women's rights, but also the same holds true for women as for men when it comes to crime. I am sorry, I just do not see the relationship between crime and the sex of the convicted.

Answer 4

Should we feel sympathy for any guilty party? Let's face it, the prisons are crammed at the moment so only the serious crimes will get put away (in fact some serious crimes get a non custodial sentence because the prison service is in crisis). So no, save your sympathy for the victim, they need it.

Answer 5

All these people that answer questions like this ,are all experts on prisoners and life in prison ,what its like ,how they are treated ,whether they deserve to be there .But any one whos been in prison can see none of these people have ever been there and how obvious it is they are answering about something they know absolutely nothing about .Reminds me of people who are experts in fighting a war .Know all about it but have never been in a battle .Prisons were built to protect weaker members of society from violent preditors .To protect people from being victemized .Nothing else .Today our government has industrialized robbing and imprisoning our citizens for nonviolent victemless crimes .Passing laws that violate our constitution .The reason you felt sorry for them is because alot of them shouldn't be in prison.75 percent of them are nonviolent offenders . Many of them are victems of a corrupt government and a court system where there is no justice.This was to be land of the free .We have 2 percent of the worlds population and 25 percent of the people in prison. Our constutution is a thing of the past that judges and lawyers have distorted the meaning of to use as a tool to victemize the people .Greedy corrupt politicians have sold our country out and stole the freedom and liberty we paid for with american blood .People are so blind and gullible to the phony propaganda our government puts out .(The most destructive tyranny of all, is that from with in government and pretends to be beneficial )>Thomas Jefferson

Answer 6

I feel the same as I would for a man in prison. If it was a petty crime and they are trying to better themselves, then yes I give my sympathy. Otherwise they are where they belong.

Answer 7

I think this is how we should behave:

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Answer 8

Nobody in prison deserves any sympathy.

Answer 9

NO THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON.
THEY BROKE THE LAW AND THATS WHERE THEY DESERVE TO BE.
OBEY THE LAWS AND STAY OUT OF JAIL IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

Answer 10

Their remorse shows that their punishment is working.