As a follow-up to my previous essay on whether the goal of incarceration is to punish or to rehabilitate, I now address another issue which is hardly, if ever, addressed, and to a certain extent, totally ignored, i.e. the conditions of incarceration. Some would argue that the conditions of a penal institution should be such, i.e. cruel, dehumanizing, filthy, etc., as a way to encourage residents not to reoffend, and subsequently come back to jail or prison. Others would argue that the conditions of the penal institution should be such that they are conducive to habilitation, or rehabilitation so that residents can return to society as responsible persons contributing to the growth and development of a just society.
I remember that when I was working as a Corrections Counselor at the Arthur Kill Corr ectional Facility in Staten Island, New York, I would come and discuss with my family the dynamics taking place within the prison as well as some of the resources that residents had available to them during their confinement. In one conversation, I indicated that there were a gymnasium and a swimming pool in the facility for the residents to use as part of their recreation program. One of my daughters reacted and said "Wow, they have swimming pools? I thought that was jail!"
Those who have the punitive mindset about incarceration would argue that jails and prisons should not a "Club Med," resembling a vacation resort. On the other hand, those who have a correctional mindset would argue that the conditions under which incarcerated individuals live should not be brutal and dehumanizing, but rather conditions that are conducive to the acquisition of ethical values that will result in life styles upon their release and return to society.
Many people believe that incarcerated residents should suffer as punishment for the crimes they've committed, especially if these crimes have resulted in injury or even death to others in society. Others believe that residents should be held accountable for their crimes in an environment which makes it possible for them to reflect on their actions and subsequently embark on a new direction in their lives.
From a faith standpoint, we may ask if incarceration should be geared solely to punishment or to what some would call "restorative justice." Some in the community of faith would appeal to the Old Testament notions of punishment for wrongdoing. Others in the community of faith would appeal to the restorative elements in the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as reflected in the New Testament emphasis on forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation.
Whether one favors punishment for wrongdoing as an end in and of itself, or correctional punishment leading to repentance and restoration, the fact of the matter remains that there is much human suffering taking place in the penal institutions. Whether the suffering comes as a result of the wrongdoing of the residents, or as a result of other external factors, the fact remains that there is suffering. The Hebrew people underwent punishment at the hands of the Babylonians because of their deviation from the norms and standards given to them by Yahweh God. They had previously also suffered at the hands of their Egyptian taskmasters. In both cases, they experienced dehumanization, oppression, and suffering.
Do incarcerated individuals really experience suffering. My answer to that would be an absolute "yes." They suffer the following:
1. Physical, and some cases, emotional alienation from their loved ones. Physical absence does not provide much opportunity for emotional nurture and in fact, decreases it to a certain extent.
2. Physical and emotional abuse from some of those who work in the correctional system, especially in the ranks of security. This results very often in a much lower self-esteem than what they may have had before entering the penal system. It also contributes to the breaking of the human spirit and to a sense of despair and hopelessness. An example of this is where certain prison employees refer to the residents as "a piece of shit," or as "dirt bags."
3. Emotional and physical abuse from fellow-residents. Due to the creation of an internal society where conflict and tensions exist, in many cases, residents abuse and oppress each other. There are instances of "in-house" fighting resulting in injury and even death, and in some cases, sexual abuse from fellow residents.
4. Emotional suffering stemming from guilt/or remorse about acts committed or alleged to have been committed. Many residents genuinely reflect on the actions which have resulted in their incarceration, and regret them. Others suffer not because they actually regret their actions, but because they have "been busted."
5. Physical conditions of the institution. In many of the older facilities, residents as well as employees have to live or coexist in slum-like conditions. As those who live in the slums, they have to deal with the reality of things such as vermin (mice, rats, and cockroaches).
6. Lack of proper health care. The penal system's health care is set up in such a way as to give incarcerated persons the minimum degree of health care. There is rampant the belief that incarcerated individuals are not entitled to the same quality of health care as people in society. Subsequently, many residents suffer and even die as a result of this negligence.
7. Lack of educational tools necessary for survival in a "post-release " situation. There are many who do not believe in having "educated criminals." There are others who believe the money used for educating jail/prison residents should be given or be used for "law abiding" citizens to be educated.
What should be the role of the community of faith relative to human suffering in the penal institutions? As a Christian minister, I propose the following:
1. Affirm residents as people created in the image and likeness of God.
2. Establish ties of solidarity with residents. The attitude should not be one of condescension or paternalism, but rather one of "I am with you brother/sister."
3. Encourage (not force or pressure) residents to participate in the community of faith.
4. Promote residential leadership in the community of faith. From the Christian standpoint, this would involve developing the Prison Church.
5. Advocate for the rights of residents to have quality health care and the highest level of education possible.
6. Advocate for the right of residents to have access to decent housing conditions while incarcerated.
7. Advocate for residents to be treated with respect and dignity while being held accountable.
8. Help prepare residents to take on leadership roles in the community upon their release.
9. Help to strengthen the relationship between residents and their families.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Juan A. Carmona
Visiting Professor of Theology, Tainan Theological College/Seminary
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