What Happens Behind Prison Doors?

Have you ever wondered what happens behind prison doors? Prisons are defined as a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment. A prison is also referred to a place of detention. Embodiment of the United States is a concrete power under the Constitution of the United States, which means that prisons are under authority of both the federal and state governments. Different United State prisons contain different prisoners based on the crime or felony committed. Security levels range from minimum-security prisoners to Supermax facilities that house the more dangerous criminals. Dangerous criminals are usually sent to the state prison and less serious offences such as misdemeanors are sent to the local county or city jails to serve short terms of confinement. Prisons are located at the national, state, and local levels that each confines a number of people. At each prison level, a variety of programs are offered to help the prisoners and teach them how to act properly in today’s society. More happens behind the prison doors then the United States leads the population to see.

Prisons have dated back to the twentieth century when the United States had almost two million people confined in prisons or jails. Prisons have been a form of government punishment that has shaped our nation to what it is today. The first jail was established in Philadelphia, in 1970. It was called the Walnut Street Jail and was recorded as the first use of imprisonment through solitary confinement. The basic principles of the new system were to reform those in prison, and to segregate those according to age, sex, and type of offenses charged against them (Schoenherr). The second prison was called Sing-Sing a...

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...are also available to women. Job positions have been created to assist in preparing women for a wide variety of positions such as electrician or secretary. Medical and social services are offered that are related to pregnancy, birth control, child placement, and abortion. Women inmates are medically screened for pregnancy upon admission in to prison and are instructed to inform medical staff if they suspect pregnancy. A program called Mothers and Infants Nurturing Together is available for women who are pregnant and the time of commitment. Women who are in their last three months of pregnancy, have less then five years remaining to serve on their sentence, and are eligible for furlough, are eligible for this program. In addition to parenting classes, this program offers chemical dependency treatment, physical and sexual abuse counseling, and budgeting classes.