The Prison experiment

Though seeming very much so when viewed from the outside, our system is not one that treats its prisoners like humans. Sad but true, with the nearly limitless power over the convicted within our institutions hidden from public eyes, law enforcement abuse comes naturally. It is what happens when police are used to ensure the power of the state instead of serving the public. Safeguards could eliminate much of this abuse of power, but no public will exists to do so, even though it should. Doing so will save us an incredible sum of money in the long run.

Stanford Prison Experiment

The following is a well-known experiment (which was videotaped) from many years ago. The scientists in this experiment chose subjects based on tests showing their high levels of sound mind. Here is an excerpt from E. Aronson’s book, The Social Animal, explaining the experiment and its intended outcome:

“0In a dramatic piece of research, Philip Zimbardo and his students created a simulated prison in the basement of the Psychology Department at Stanford University. In this “prison” he brought a group of normal, mature, stable, intelligent young men. By flipping a coin, Zimbardo designated one-half of them prisoners and one-half of the guards, and they lived together for several days. What happened? Let’s allow Zimbardo to tell us in his own words:

‘At the end of only six days, we had to close down our mock prison because what we saw was frightening. It was no longer appears to us or most of the subjects where they ended and their roles began. The majority had indeed become “prisoners” or “guards,” no longer able to clearly differentiate between role-playing and self. There were dramatic changes in virtually every aspect of their behavior, thinking and feeling. In less than a week, the experience of imprisonment undid (temporarily) a lifetime of learning; human values were suspended, self-concepts were challenged, and the ugliest, most base, pathological side of human nature surfaced. We were horrified because we same some boys (“guards”) treat other boys as if they were despicable animals, taking pleasure in cruelty, while other boys (“prisoners”) became servile, dehumanized robots who thought only of escape, of their own individual survival, and of their mounting hatred of the guards’”

Even for myself who has seen this dynamic unfold countless times in real life; its rapidity surprised me. And though absent in this study, I suspect surely by the seventh day the homosexual gang rape impulse buried deep in most prisoners would have surfaced in at least three of them (and made a much edgier story). Sorry, bad joke. We should exit this paragraph wondering, is life’s coin flip fair? Is it what we understand justice to be? And, can we picture these “guards” taking the stand to speak the unbiased truth for any of those “prisoners”? If not, can we picture the D.A., judge, or uninformed public jury stopping them? Or do you think, even in spite of obvious inconsistency, overall, the “guards “would be believed and the convicts found at fault? What are we doing? But we are all so busy. Many of us can’t even help ourselves. Many more do what they can.

As sad as it is too, many of us will stare into the mirror day after day squaring our lovely selves away only to pass into nothing without spending but one self-reflective afternoon attempting to square away just a single injustice in our society.

Long Sentences

As for dehumanizing and long sentences given to those breaking the law, regardless of what pressures they may have had on them, I will discuss several dynamics.

First, we will discuss harsh punishments as rightful deterrents, whether they are long sentences, life sentences, death sentences, or widespread police savagery towards those detained. From there we will go into the possibility for rehabilitation during and as a part of these unusually (compared to the less crime-afflicted rest of the Westernized world) long prison sentences.

On punishing the detained, several studies have concluded, while others have supported, that the threat of severe punishment does not teach someone that the forbidden is not to be performed or wrong or even unenjoyable, but that one should just avoid being caught. And, according to Elliot Aronson, one of the world’s most distinguished social psychologists, who has studied this, it at most causes an increased desire for the forbidden act.⑧ The mechanisms behind this are vast, most however relate to human nature as opposed to cultural factors.

Studies also show that when a human is subjected to a severe initiation, whether it be for the armed forces or college fraternity, one is drastically more likely to form a favorable opinion of it and of the people whom belong to it.⑧ This relationship doesn’t just appear for the accused via long prison sentences and abuse by governmental employees, but also in the prison gang/racially segregating environment. Californian prisoner culture, like many others, is one in which the individual is forced into his/her own racial group and forced, under the threat of never-ending retribution, to take part in riots, crime, and violence. These groups openly target, though not exclusively, the newest and youngest to partake in a violent act on another fellow inmate, someone targeted to be removed by beating (often someone whose presence is causing racial tension) usually in front of guards. These orders are made under the threat of severe violence. Cooperation is deemed mandatory.

This is done so officials will then remove the victim from that prison yard. This then mandates that the newly arrived attackers (a.k.a. “torpedo's”) be doused in pepper spray and often batoned or shot with non-lethal projectiles or shrapnel from exploding devices. Then they are sent to the hole with maybe thirty days, a year, or even (though unlikely) an extra charge depending on, regardless of how severe the intended or accidental injuries to the victim are and who’s ready to testify * In the hole they will get even less food and are subject to a strict regiment of little sleep, no naps, and mandatory workouts. A perfect storm. A perfect hazing for the “torpedo”

It should be noted that people labeled “nonviolent” by the courts do 50%, 33%, or less of their added time. In contrast, those labeled “violent” do 80 – 85% of it for the same violation. Meaning on the street with a simple perceived threat of violence you can receive two strikes and 85% much reminiscent of police praying on the accused. Someone labeled “nonviolent” can be a violent savage in prison, battering person after person, with no significant risk of ever being found guilty, much less struck out– even if brought to court --praying on disregarded Americans. It is outrageous what nonviolent prisoners who have strikes have to see and go through because of injustices promoted by this dynamic.

Besides the studies I am about to elaborate on, the mere involvement in the aforementioned coerced act (Involvement which one could superficially call voluntary) which leads to so much pain, done often for safety concerns leaves massive room for dangerous self-justifications. Either rationalize or admit to themselves that they agreed to a violent act in order to avoid seeking police protection,

Since few enjoy feeling, nor wants others to believe, that they were frightened into engaging in a self-destructive and horrendous act, we are all in danger of them using any variation(s) of the following examples as rationalizations to convince themselves otherwise, “I did what I did because.” “I’m a criminal,” “I enjoy hurting people,” “I’m down for my race/racial prison gang,” “I’m always down for whatever,” “Those like him/her deserve it,” “Doing time and earning your stripes ain’t nothing.” Regardless of the rationalizations internalized i.e., made a part of one's self-image, I believe the majority of those that will make the young kid feel good, in a time of stress and deprivation, are tragedies for our civilization because they enforce criminality within the individual by justifying a disgusting act. Another tragedy lies with the victim(s) whether mental or physical trauma. Even if he/she “heals”, brain damage is permanent. The victim will never be as rich and bright as they once were. A TBI (traumatic brain injury) often makes the victim short-tempered, frustrated and more likely to return to poverty and/or prison 16. TBI’s sustained by inmates costs states an average of $29,000 a year 18. Data suggests that traumatic brain injuries in inmates may be as much as 10-times as prevalent as that of the general population 16,17. No matter how insignificant the loss, it’s still a permanent loss, a permanent change but the system says “who cares, they’re the ones that did the crime, right”? These sorts of consequences are not fair and have no place in modern society.

It is sarcastic and hypocritical to say that “no person whom ever committed a crime deserves mercy”. And it is unfair to say “the boy partook in a violent act, this is evidence that he is violent and deserves to be punished in a violent prison”.Contrary to what many think, imprisoning him is not a victory for society. Nor is the $50,000 a year we spend for his “rehabilitation”. We are getting a bad deal! An even worse deal than could be expected since CDCR itself continues to break the law by packing prisons past their legal limit, thus increasing chances for violence and disease. It is unacceptable and endangers us all.

Any psychological “hazings” or “hell weeks” Californian prisoners experience are unproductive to our society. They create negative effects. If the torpedo believes in any way he/she had the power to avoid it but didn’t, they will likely convince themselves that they wanted to do it. Their self-justification may play out as follows: “I let myself be subjected to a lot of pain. I must love this club/group, either that or I’m a complete idiot!” His/her most likely choice will be the answer which most satisfies his need for self-preservation and/or his ego -- in this case that is the first choice. A step more towards prison guard job security than rehabilitation or correction.

As for the kid and/or anyone new to prison, unwritten prison law will then consider the entry fee paid--for now. Include this with the firsthand knowledge of what was the inevitable punishment, as unavoidable and severe as it had been, then include the earned peer validation and respect, and it might be enough for him/her not to agree to another violent act (minus a riot, which participation therein is forever mandatory). An act that, if accused, no matter the truth of the accusation, will lead to severe punishment if the individual has strikes. Though, in the long run, his propensity towards violence may have been encouraged to increase. Take into account the following published studies: Development and Psychopathy, 6, 445-461, also Genetic psychology monographs, 47, 135-234, which studied kids who experienced severe punishment for any signs of aggressive behavior in the home (prison), the result was that while the children showed little aggression at home, they were extra aggressive both at school and in play away from home (in the public).

Combined the frustrating severity of punishment for those with strikes while in prison and when facing prison time, i.e., double lengthened sentences which on top of the fact they must serve 80 to 85% of as compared to 50 to33% for the same exact crimes committed by those without strikes. Along with the lifelong threat of life in prison, which forever will change a person. And I suspect you encourage parolees to explode their bottled up emotional confusion in bursts when they believe a punishers’ wrath is escapable, even if only an illusion created by mind-altering substances.