Jails do not reform prisoners; rather prisoners learn novel criminal ways in jails.

Being imprisoned is no big deal, for jails are not harder enough.

·         How do you see these two contrasting opinions?

·         Do you think jailing does any job at all?

Crimes and imprisonment are very much part of any  society. However, jailing criminals is viewed differently: to some, it breeds harder crimes and for some others, jails are not harder. Let me discuss these views.

Generally, jails have three purposes: reforming, rehabilitating and retribution. All these three happen in all jails, but their degrees may vary. In Indian jails, for instance, the reforming element is rather poor and fresher criminal activities get bred.  This may be either by way of the vile contacts with other chronic ones or due to the inhuman treatments meted out to them by co-prisoners or jailers.  To prove it, some one-time prisoners are found back in cells on charges of higher degrees of crime than what they had done before. Here there is neither reforming nor rehabilitating, but re-generating of crimes or criminals.

On the other hand, jails are not harder enough as well. In many cases, some prisoners find jails as comfy zones since there is scope for healthy food, great refuge and diverse engagements. For example, in my place, jails offer work with pay, recreation activities, and some are allowed to complete their education too. I think these are part of the efforts to reform or rehabilitate them. Unfortunately, some chronic criminals may take these as a blessing in disguise and cut an impression in the world outside that jails are not harder.

In short, what I feel is prisons do many jobs. They rehabilitate some, at times, breed a few harder criminals, and mostly, prison walls work as vaults of retribution. For any sane being, even the coziest jail will look nightmarish, demeaning and debilitating.

270 words.

Ajaypeesdoc.

27.2.13 demeaning