Premium Essay

Prison Benefits

Submitted By
Words 745
Pages 3
Prison sentence can be beneficial. Prison can cause people to reevaluate their lives and change themselves. In this case, “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X and “Yes, One Book Can Change Your Life, Even in Prison” by Dwayne Betts, both men went through different aspects by just picking up a book to read to further their education. Changes in Malcolm X and Dwayne Betts articles both have similar and outcomes based on their knowledge they gain. Although both articles have different aspects, they proved that reading can help you out for the better.
In “Learning to read” by Malcolm X, he changed his last name by stating X stood for what he had been and what he had become. In this article Malcolm X gave himself a “homemade education”. This article basically explains how knowledge is the key to success. Malcolm X worried about having streets sense but not book sense. He set a goal and made it come true. He took it step by step every day, because he motivates …show more content…
Both were self-taught, and took to time to further their education. In Malcolm X’s article he stated. “In fact, prison enabled me to study far more intensively than I would have if my life had gone differently and I had attended some colleges.” In Dwayne Betts’s article he stated, “It was nice to be in a space where the way you garnered recognition was really based on what you had in your head.” These quotes show how both men desired to learn something new by reading. The more you read the more things you know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go” This explains how reading will take you above and beyond new eights. Both men attended college after they were released from prison. After the prison life it didn’t stop them to becoming somebody; by setting their goal and accomplishing

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Prison Break Summary

...Lee Bergen In The Prison Break genius and revolutionary Grayson Silverman discusses the positive economic, political and social impacts of the continued legalization of private Prisons. Grayson Silverman helps to inform those currently unaware on the issue while also providing deep factual information. He supports his research with hard boiled facts and study's. Ensuring that this report is both factual and interesting. The Prison Break It is quite easy to look at private prisons and see them as evil corporation which uses the captivity of people to generate a profit. There are many benefits that are commonly over looked by the media because they wouldn't generate nearly as many ratings if they...

Words: 725 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Green Paper

...-Statement of who and where The Right to Education, Prison-University Partnerships, and Online Writing Pedagogy in the US is an article that focuses on whether or not prisoners should be able to have the opportunity to receive an education while they serve their sentence. It addresses the benefits, as well as some of the cons, that can develop from education rights; to the prisoners, as well as the community. The public and the educators are also addressed throughout this article. The controversy of whether or not education should be available for prisoners is a big problem throughout the United States. Many people feel a deep concern about this issue; due to the fact that nowadays education is very expensive and a lot of people have a hard enough time being able to fund college for themselves; while trying not to take on a lot of loans. Also, family members of the prisoners feel deeply about this problem. Even though their son, daughter, mom, etc. have broken the law and depending on the severity of the crime they still want to be able to know their family member will be able to have a chance to live a normal life, after prison. Whether you are the prisoner, the taxpayer, a family member of the prisoner, a teacher, and so on this problem can be important, as well as a concern to anyone. -Overcrowding in the prisons One of the big reasons for the cutting of funds for prison education is because of the increase of inmates over the last few decades. There are 2.2 million...

Words: 858 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Made in Prison

...MADE IN PRISON: SOCIAL JUSTICE OR INJUSTICE by CLASS TITLE CLASS NO. # PROFESSOR NAME SCHOOL NAME DATE TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY 3 PROBLEM 3 BACKGROUND 4 DISCUSSION 5 CONCLUSIONS 7 WORKS CITED AND REFERNECES 8 SUMMARY MADE IN PRISON! How would you like to see this stamped on the bottom of one of your kids toys? This is reality. For thousands of years prisoners throughout the world have been subjected to prison labor. Whether it is the building of the Egyptian Pyramids or the chain gangs of the Deep South, the convenience of prison labor has not been overlooked. In our current social dilemma, we see a labor force that is being bolstered behind the heavy-steel gates, mountainous walls, and razor-sharp bobbed wire fences. More and more, private industry along with public-and-private correctional facilities are joining forces to create jobs for inmates, while at the same time increasing profits for private organizations. Some may argue that prison labor is a legitimate form of retribution to society, but there are the others that believe that a forced or coerced prison labor force is a sign of modern day slavery. PROBLEM What exists here is a dilemma between justice and the perception of justice. Prisons and jails continue to overcrowd and the population of inmates is now somewhere in the two million range (Atkinson p. 1). Society is seeking retribution for the crimes...

Words: 1716 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Cdec

...Keep Your Guard Up Prison guards serve a needed purpose in society. The primary responsibility of a prison guard is to account for the prisoners on their watch at all times. To this end, guards do head counts frequently and must monitors which prisoners go to meals, to internal jobs, and to counseling throughout their shift. Prison guards make sure prisoners are not sick and are doing well mentally, and the guards are also responsible for reporting any problems. While most prison guards work for the government, a growing number of prisons are run through private corporations according to correctionproject.com. These corporations hire prison guards, who operate under the same general guidelines as government-employed guards. The benefit to the guards is that they typically receive better pay and often can negotiate their hours more easily than guards in state-run facilities. Being a prison guard comes with certain benefits. For starters, these jobs tend to have decent wages, particularly for the areas where they tend to be located. The guards also have good benefits, including 401(k) or pension plans and health insurance. Guards often have a leg up if they try to move into other positions, such as being a police officer, because of the training they receive while serving as a guard. Fulltime employees get 13 sick days more year and occasional absences granted if possible. They also reimburse employees commuting back and forth to work. Another great benefit is the life and Health...

Words: 565 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Prison Overcrowding

...Benefits of Reducing Prison Overcrowding Laura Macella AIU Online Abstract This paper is going to discuss the benefits of why reducing the overcrowding of prisons with help the inmates, employees, as well as the citizens of the state. It will show that crime within the prison walls will go down, the stress of the inmates and employees will reduce, as well as showing that we can save taxpayers millions of dollars a year. Lastly, this paper will look at programs that the inmates can be sentenced to for minor petty crimes that they are incarcerated for. As a result of all of this the overcrowding of prisons may come to a halt and may not be as stressful as many people think. Benefits of Reducing Prison Overcrowding When thinking about prison overcrowding it kind of makes you want to cringe and hope you never have to be in that situation, however, in each state it is very common and is causing unbearable situations and long term effects for many people. Reducing prison overcrowding can help many employees of the prison, citizens, and inmates in many ways. At this point we can put a stop to the overcrowding and try to make the judges and court systems realize that it will be beneficial to all parties involved. First of all, by reducing overcrowding in prison it will help reduce crime and murder within the prison facilities. Prisons right now have caused more aggressive, antisocial behavior that is causing a lot of violence (“Effects of Prison Overcrowding”, 2012)....

Words: 1346 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Correctional System Budget

...Correctional System Budget Student’s Name Institution Introduction Different states in the United States are faced with the worst financial crisis in history. Declining revenues had led to forced cuts in almost all government functions among them being the correctional facilities which were considered off limits before this crisis began. The budgets of more than 26 state department of corrections have been significantly cut, and those that have not been cut are reducing their expenditure on non-core areas. The correctional departments faced with the budget cuts have all reduced operational costs as it is one of the easiest and quickest steps to take (Mears, 2010).Corrections departments all followed this path by reducing personnel costs, reducing beds and eliminating certain programs. The specific strategies that were adopted for such savings however differed. For example, Maine changed the way it provided medication to inmates and renegotiated its health contract with its healthcare provider. Even more controversial, some states reduced the amount of food given to inmates. An example is Georgia which reduced the meals given to inmates, but still provided the same calories. Other states including New York and Kansas stopped their planned technology upgrades and postponed their expenditure plans. However, the cost-cut measures that were employed by different states correction facilities included downsizing programs, closing facilities and reducing personnel costs. Downsizing...

Words: 1364 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Correctional System Budget

...Correctional System Budget Student’s Name Institution Introduction Different states in the United States are faced with the worst financial crisis in history. Declining revenues had led to forced cuts in almost all government functions among them being the correctional facilities which were considered off limits before this crisis began. The budgets of more than 26 state department of corrections have been significantly cut, and those that have not been cut are reducing their expenditure on non-core areas. The correctional departments faced with the budget cuts have all reduced operational costs as it is one of the easiest and quickest steps to take (Mears, 2010).Corrections departments all followed this path by reducing personnel costs, reducing beds and eliminating certain programs. The specific strategies that were adopted for such savings however differed. For example, Maine changed the way it provided medication to inmates and renegotiated its health contract with its healthcare provider. Even more controversial, some states reduced the amount of food given to inmates. An example is Georgia which reduced the meals given to inmates, but still provided the same calories. Other states including New York and Kansas stopped their planned technology upgrades and postponed their expenditure plans. However, the cost-cut measures that were employed by different states correction facilities included downsizing programs, closing facilities and reducing personnel costs. Downsizing...

Words: 1364 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Issues Paper

...Alternatives to Incarceration Abstract Our country continues to search alternatives to the overcrowded prisons bulging at the seams. Citizens are crying for a relief on taxation in funding these prisons. The criminal justice system has searched for years for ideas to limit incarceration. Some alternative programs have withstood the test of time, some continue to build a name for themselves, and others have just come onto the scene. This paper will focus on three alternative programs to placing adults in prisons. These programs include military services, intensive supervision programs (ISP’s), and Restorative Justice programs. Each provides some type of benefit to criminals, corrections department, and society. Alternatives to Incarceration Our country seems to have gone in various directions trying to find a successful justice system to work in punishing crimes. We went from a rehabilitation system, to no tolerance policies in the 1980’s. Overcrowded prisons forced officials to let prisoners out early in the 90’s. Taxpayers wanted something done with crime in their communities, but didn’t know which way to turn. A faulty criminal justice system has been blamed in such that it had, “Inadequate or ineffective rehabilitation programs, lack of drug treatment, insufficient funding for resettlement after prison, and other . . . policies. . . .”, (Sherman & Strang, 2007, p. 12). Crimes continue to be a major concern within American society, yet our only response...

Words: 1413 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Corrections

...cuts faced by all levels of government, and explain how to justify to the tax-paying public an increase in expenditures on prison treatment and rehabilitation programs. To respond to this assignment, the student undertook desk research, wrote and submitted this paper. Keywords: prison treatment, rehabilitation programs, cost, expense, investment Introduction: The context for extra spending Many sections of the United States government over the past several years have experienced severe budget cuts due the Great Recession. Some education departments have experienced double digit percentage cuts, leading to layoffs among both faculty and administrative personnel. Hospitals, public transportation, and many other government departments have experienced layoffs, working hour reductions, cuts in pay, and cuts in resourcing. With these cost-reduction measures imposed in many government departments, it would be difficult to persuade the tax-paying public that anything currently deserves an increase in spending. If most parts of society must cut back on budgets and services, why should the public tolerate extra spending to help those who have actively broken the law? Many would argue that preference should be given to extra spending for law-abiding citizens. This paper explores how to justify to the tax-paying public an increase in expenditure on prison treatment and rehabilitation programs, and finds that the most effective method is to demonstrate to the public that increased...

Words: 1484 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Probation Abd Punishment

...probation officer, has suggested intensive probation. Probation officers review the file of a criminal defendant and make recommendations to the court. Intensive probation refers to supervision by a probation officer that is highly structured and designed to divert the offender from going to prison. Criminal defendants sent to prison are far more likely to commit further crimes upon their release then the defendant placed on probation. When reviewing the case of Kris the probation officer would have seen that the defendant committed a nonviolent crime with the theft of the jacket but Kris confessed to committing the crime which is a felony and must be punished. Instead of sending Kris to jail, where he will potentially learn new criminal skills, he can be placed on probation and given an opportunity to learn a new set of behaviors towards crime. Probation does not only allow the criminal defendant to avoid jail it provides an opportunity for the probationer to make positive changes and become a more productive member of society (Howell, 2009). Secondly probation helps to relieve overcrowding in prison. Many prison systems are overcrowded with prison inmates who leave prison only to commit further crimes. During intensive probation Kris will have access to opportunities to change. These opportunities and requirements are defendant on the requirements of the court. This includes counseling, job training, and educational opportunities. The problem is some criminals...

Words: 1052 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Parol System in Australia

...over utilized in Australia, or whether we have struck the right balance. Parole is defined as the "supervised conditional release of a prisoner before the expiration of his or her sentence." (Legal Terms Website, 2004). Parole is seen as a back end model of community corrections and is usually approved to a prisoner after they have completed the minimum, required time in prison set by a judge. However parole is only granted if the prisoner has behaved well in prison and cooperated with staff by abiding by set rules (Queensland Parole Orders Act, 1984). When a prisoner has completed the minimum time in incarceration of their sentence they are put before a parole board to plead their case. The parole board takes a number of things into consideration, such as their behavior and cooperation with in the prison and their likelihood to reoffend if let out on parole. The parole board may grant or deny a prisoner the freedom of parole. While on parole the inmate must cooperate with the rules and regulations placed upon him or her. And any deterrence from these rules means they will be sent back to prison to complete his or her entire sentence (White and Perrone, 2004). If granted parole the parolee is placed back into the community under supervision from a parole officer who is there to provide help and support to the offender. The parole officer helps them reintegrate into society, watches over them and reports back to the parole board on their progress. This system aims...

Words: 2693 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Education Within the Prison System

...The most evident scenario where education has proven to reduce crime and change the mind sets of criminals alike is the modern education programs established within the various prison systems globally. Throughout the history of the prison system there has been little focus placed on the rehabilitation and education of inmates at large, with a greater emphasis falling on punishment and forced isolation due to the dangers of working with such individuals. In recent years new strategies have been put forward and evidence has arisen around the impact of education upon prisoners within, and beyond the system itself. Studies conducted over the last two decades almost consistently indicate that higher education in prison programs reduces recidivism which translates into the reduction in crime, savings to taxpayers, and long-term contributions to the safety and well-being of the communities to which formerly incarcerated individuals return. Still the argument for and against prisoner’s education wages, Jody Lewen (2007) would suggest that not only can these practices be approached in a safe and cost effective manner, but the benefits can also drastically out way the drawbacks. As Lewen (2007) points out “In order to accomplish these changes, we’re going to have to adopt entirely unconventional, and some might even say revolutionary, ways of relating to each other as human beings”. In the United states the correctional education movement began with a clergyman named William Rodgers...

Words: 1234 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Prison Recidivism

...findings by the American Psychological Association, has been compiled from different studies on prison based drug treatment. Research findings from these two studies mentioned have been obtained from the studies of Dr. Harry K. Wexler and Steven S. Martin. A study conducted by Harry K. Wexler and Gerald Melnick, “Risk and Prison Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes”, focused on prison based drug treatment and aftercare for inmates. The study shows that high risk offenders benefited slightly more from treatment than low risk offenders, but in the end both benefited. A key finding concluded...

Words: 1495 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Applied Policy

...jobs are held. This differs tremendously from countries where the government has majority of power over the economy for example in the People’s Republic of China. Some organizations that are controlled by the private sector include retail stores, credit unions, and local businesses. Canadian prisons have increased by 75% in the last decade alone, as well as the number of Caucasian inmates has significantly decreased. The population of Canadian prisons is currently at the highest level ever, the number of inmates in federal prison 10 years ago was close to 12,000 today it is over 15,000. The overall spending price in the Canadian justice system rose 23% in the last decade, it currently costs an average of $110,000 per year to house a male inmate which is nearly twice as much to house an female inmate. The federal budget for the correctional service of Canada has increased 40% to $2.6 billion in the last 5 years most of being spent on having to build 2,700 new cells. Many inmates held in the correctional facility are elderly or sick; they require health care by law, which costs the system $210 million. It is because of these reasons that it would be in the best interest to move Canadian prisons over to the private sector. With the...

Words: 1038 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Snitching In Prisons

...worse possible denomination an inmate could have due to the lack of trust other inmates would place on them. However, since people tend to choose what benefits them the most, it isn’t fair to assume that inmates are altruistic enough to care about others. Therefore, prisoners should not be allowed to decrease their sentencing through snitching due to a variety of reasons such as: losing street cred between fellow inmates, snitches getting stitches, and the prisoner’s dilemma effect taking place. Sure, getting a 6 year sentence cut down to 2 is great, however, betraying the fellow inmates locked up with the snitch is bound to make that the snitch would lose his street cred. Moreover, street cred is one of the most valuable non-tangible items one can obtain during their stay at prison. Since it allows an inmate the ability to live or die by his/her actions when dealing with federal authorities. The snitch would lose all of this important social worth amongst his peers, which in turn would make his prison stay much worse than he’d previously experience due to his snitching. Furthermore, as the old saying goes,...

Words: 591 - Pages: 3