Can prison change a person for the better?

Question

I know a man who went to prison at age 19 and has to serve 17 years (for a violent crime - agg. robbery, agg. battery). He has been in for 4 years already. He has no family to go to after he gets out. Can prison change a person like this for the better, so that he can function in society after his release? How do you think a sentence of this length would affect him psychologically (consider the fact that he has been labelled as bipolar and paranoid schizophrenic).

The situation does not look good, but I'm interested in your thoughts on the possibilities of the outcome.

Answer 1

The prison system sucks. It really does. Nobody comes out better than when they went in, ever. It simply doesn't happen.

Putting all the criminals in one place only creates a 'breeding pool'. Criminals meet new friends to organize crimes with on the outside, and they share law enforcement tactics that got them busted so that none of the other will for it in the future.

And then there's the rape aspect of prison. Yes, rape happens. A LOT. Inmates either get raped, rape others, or literally fight tooth and nail to keep away from it all.

After such a long time behind bars, they are behind the times in society. They don't know what changes have happened in the world, and they forget how to interact in a normal social setting because they've spent 17 years being aggressive and angry.

Answer 2

In my absolute honest opinion i believe that prison alone cannot change a person. In the situation that was given this gentle man also needs some psychological assessment and aid especially if he is labelled in this way. It is true that many people go to prison and after spending some time there they think they want to change but when they are released the end up in the same environment as they were before. That alone is a recipe for disaster. It is for that reason that a undefined amount of pyschological assistance from a professional and support from family and friends is very helpful.

I hope that this gentleman receives all the assistance that he can get and he changes for the better,

Answer 3

It is foremost that you be warned: Don't let this guy worm his way into your heart. Once he's done that--you're a prime target to be used up by him. Prison inmates thrive on the kindhearted so they can secure a steady pipeline of $$$$ and in some cases, drugs. You can be no helpful friend to this guy by showering him with $$$$ or risking your freedom by breaking the law yourself.

The "situation" is far from bleak for this guy. Convicted inmates have an uncanny knack for finding God while they are locked up. You can bet he's got several "jailhouse lawyers" busy filing trial appeals and sentence reduction requests---most of which are paid for by your tax dollars!!! And the chances are pretty good he will get his sentence reduced.

Your tax $$$ is keeping him medically treated and medicated for his mental illnesses. And he's being well schooled by his fellow con artists and scammers on how to work the SSI (Social Security) system in his favor when he does get released.

Not to mention he has free access to educational programs--many of which allow him to master a job skill or trade that he can apply towards getting a job that will secure him a decent job.

But all this offered help is only good if he WANTS to make himself a better person: that's the big secret of rehabilitation!!

Your "schizophrenic/bipolar" friend may be a alcohol and/or drug addict (as most all prison inmates are) and those are challenges he may or likely may not be successful in controlling. If he turns away any and/or ALL these rehabilitative programs---he'll only come out seeking to satisfy his "itch"---that will either kill him (or someone close to him) or land him back in prison.

Answer 4

Once upon a time, you could use rehabilitation and prison in the same sentence. Not anymore. Prisons are just boxes that criminals are stuck into for a period of time. A majority of inmates will commit more crimes inside a prison than they will outside. It is easy to get caught up in a lot of things while inside. Prisons don't make people better, the persons attitude will get them better. And if the person in question is indeed a bipolar and paranoid schizophrenic, then he is in trouble because the medical system for prisons is worse than HMO's.

Answer 5

My old man is in prison and will be for sometime, he has attempted suicide a few times before so i dont know if he has a mental disorder such as bipolar or not but I know he was not well. I write to him often and he tells me that the doctors in the prisons are very busy people and are forced to work on a budget so better medications are often subsituted for cheaper types with negative side effects. I've also heard that alot of people learn from other criminals while in prison and come out with a phd in who knows what.

Answer 6

At least now in some prisons for those eager to make a difference in there lives programs are offered. Like life programs, that teach them to survive in the real world once they've gotten out and served there sentence. 17 years is a long time, a lot can change in 17 years. He's going to come out and expect to see what he saw when he went in...it'll be hard, but some programs in the prison help them to adjust to the changes.

It's up to the person whether or not they want to change for the better, or stay the same, and live a life imprisoned in his own hell.

Answer 7

Depends on the person and the prison he went to.
Most cases people do realize their wrong going while others don't. When your in prison you have nothing but time, time to serve could seem like an eternity. In that "eternity" with the torment of their crimes overwhelms their conscience. Witch can have a negative or positive response. Also he needs to be incredibly stable in state of mind to overcome his horrific adventures in prison. Visit and keep a good eye on him to your best abilities.

Answer 8

Regardless of what medical or psychological condition you pronounce for a person, prison very rarely produces "better people" so to speak. Most especially theese days. If you want to learn how to be better at being a criminal, then get yourself put in prison is a very famous paraphrase. Prison is for punishment. Some, but, VERY few, come out of prison better for the experience.

Answer 9

I believe only a VERY small portion of prisoners come out better than when they went in. The easiest way to survive prison is to apply the "When in Rome" philosophy. Unfortunately, what the majority of people in prison do is waste their time with exxagerated stories of their crimes and watching the dumbest things that television has to offer. ( Jerry Springer )
It is very tough to stand alone and spend your time doing productive things. The age of the person you talk about is also a huge factor in the likelyhood of his coming out better. Young ones are generally not strong willed enough to do what they should. Lastly the majority of people in prison are pieces of ****. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Answer 10

No, he won't be able to function in society. How can he? How will he get past the felony convictions, the long gap in his work history, the mental illness which has no doubt been made worse by jail. No..it doesn't look good for him. No support, no family, no money. Where to turn but crime again? It's an unfortunate result of our current system.