Women Behind Bars by Silja J.A and Life Behind Bars by G Santos

As Reverend Harmon M. Gehr once proclaimed, “Loyalty is a major force making for unity in any life- even in the existence of a civilization…It gives point and flavor, most of all meaning, to a life or a culture” (“Thoughts on the Business of Life). Likewise, those incarcerated experience this force of loyalties on their lives and how those loyalties set a path to their lives inside prison and later upon release. These loyalties, however, are not always a positive influence on the prisoner; furthermore, both Silja J.A. Talvi in her book Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System and Michael G. Santos in his book Inside: Life Behind Bars in America address the high occurrence of negative allegiances, with the rarity of a few incidents of positive allegiances. Both Talvi and Santos suggest that loyalties guide the behavior and attitudes of many prisoners; however, human willpower has the control to overcome negative such loyalties and convert to allegiance with more positive influences.

Foremost, one of the most prominent negative loyalties in the United States prison system is the presence of gangs among the prisoners. Whether the prisoners became members of the gangs inside or outside prison walls does not lessen the strength of the bond between fellow members as suggested through the following: “Tank passes through the corridor while Woo Woo stops other Crip members to introduce him. They clench fists and bump knuckles in greeting. Tank does not know the others, but their Crip affiliation makes them family” (Santos 24). Their allegiance to each other is likened to that of a “family” showing the true strength of their loyalties to one another. These loyalties often get prisoners in trouble for gang related vi...

... middle of paper ...

... In conclusion, positive and negative loyalties guide the lifestyles of prisoners in the United States prison system. However, there is always the possibility that a prisoner break their current habits and choose a different path, whether a better choice or not. Regardless, of a prisoner’s present situation, Santos’ advice is key: “I avoid activities that threaten my progress” (Santos 29). If all prisoners do as Santos himself employed, prisons would be safer and prisoners would be better prepared for the real world upon their freedom.

Works Cited

Santos, Michael G. Inside: Life Behind Bars in America. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007. Print.

Talvi, Silja J. A. Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System. Emeryville: Seal, 2007. Print.

"Thoughts On The Business Of Life." Harmon M. Gehr:Thoughts and Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.