Can Prisoners Be REFORMED? - A Brief Look Behind Bars

VIOLENCE:  The German news magazine Der Spiegel reports that in German prisons brutal inmates kill and torture because of "the war of competing cliques for illegal business in alcohol and narcotics, sex, and ursury."  Ethnic tensions  often fan the flames of prison violence.  "There are convicts from 72 nations," notes Der Spiegel.  "Friction and conflicts leading to violence are unavoidable."  In one South American jail, the officials said that one the average, 12 prisoners were killed every month.  Inmates said that the number was twice as high, reported the Financial Times of London.

SEXUAL ABUSE:  In the article "The Rape Crisis Behind Bars," The New York Times states that a conservative estimate is that in the United States, "more than 290,000 males are sexually assaulted behind bars every year."  The report continues:  "The catastrophic experience of sexual violence usually extends beyond a single incident, often becoming a daily assault."  One organization estimates that in the U.S. prisons, some 60,000 unwanted sexual acts take place every day.  

HEALTH AND HYGIENE:  The spread of sexually transmitted diseases among the prison population is well documented. Tuberculosis among prisoners in Russia and some African countries attracts worldwide publicity, as does the neglect of medical treatment, hygiene, and nutrition in many prisons around the world.   

Next time:  Can Prisoners Be REFORMED? - Is Real Reform Possible?

From the Awake! magazine