Social problems in prison...
7/13/2014

I woke up this morning and asked my self ARE THERE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN PRISON? As the day went on and right before I went to sleep, the answer came to my head. The answer is yes! I found out that although social problems take many forms, there are (2) two main elements: OBJECTIVE SOCIAL CONDITION AND A SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETATION ON THE SOCIAL CONDITION. I have become aware of these social conditions through my own two eyes, and life experience in prison. I've seen it ALL. You probably read about inmates dying from violence, drugs in prison, crooked officers etc., you see the anguished faces of prisoners love ones who's family members have been killed by violent prisoners.

Now when you think about the subjective element of these social problems in prison its the thought that these and many more social problems are harmful to society, or to a segment of society, and that should and can be changed. We all know that crime, drug addiction, racism and violence is a part of daily prison life. These social problems in prison are really not considered social problems, unless at least a segment of society believes that these conditions diminish the quality of human life.

When we combine these objective and subjective elements, you will come to the fact that a social problem in prison is a social condition that a small part of the society in the outside world views as a harmful to members of society and in a desperate need of a remedy.

There are many elements of Prison society structure. It's very complex, but I can break it all the way down for you. It will be different to "see" a prison society, by thinking or trying to imagine or picture it. But, I'll try my best so you can visualize this prison society that I am living in right now at this very moment to you. Imagine that this prison society is a two way street, down one street is the structure of this prison society and down the other street is the culture of this prison society. Even though each street are going in different directions, both are inseparable from the whole. By looking real close at the many elements of this prison structure and culture. I will attempt to help you better understand the root cause of PRISON SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

I'll start with the structure of this prison society, which will clearly show the way a prison society is organized. This society is organized in a lot of sections, such as social groups, statuses, roles and institutions. I have to start with the prison institutior which is the established and a pattern of PRISON RELATIONSHIPS. The traditional institutions are family, religion, politics, economics and education. Many of the prison social problems are caused by lack of people who can really think outside of the box. The number one problem is education, this prison system do not really prepare individuals for the ever changing job market or for the real world. There are grown men with kids, who can't even read or write on a 3rd grade level. Yes, they do have G.E.D. programs, but there are way too many distractions and other things going on to be focused on getting an education. Most, do not have any outside support and their minds are too preoccupied with the latest gossip of the prison. Prison is a very dangerous place to live day in and day out. You just never know when you will have to defend your self. These prison are more dangerous than the streets, the laws and rules are very strict. They took all the PELL GRANTS.

For the small percentages of "US" prisoners who want to continued their education. There are always a lack of funds and sponsors. Some are lucky, and some are not. You do have the 1% of prisoners such as myself who teaches themselves, for as self-help books and alot of information off the internet. They do sensor everything that we receive, they do not let us study what we want to. They put alot of restrictions on the little information that we can read and study. The law library is restricted to certain books and the laws that we can study, plus the hours are not long enough. That's where I spend 90% of my time. I work as a law clerk, so I personally know all the social problems in the prison, and it's go take a whole lot to change it. I try my best to help the younger inmates who do not have their G.E.D., they are coming straight from the streets and some are involved in all type of things. But they still are the future, some really don't belong in prison, they just are misled and peer pressure. Some are drop outs also.

I do encourage them to get their G.E.D. There are a few prisoners who are G.E.D. tutors, who really care and are not just doing it for a pay small pay check. It's just like the teachers on the streets. 3 in 5 prisoners cannot read and/or write. I know a prisoner that pay another inmate just to read all his mail, and he also responds to all the letters. He's just one of the few who graduated from high school, unable to read and write and work on simple math problems or write grammatically correct sentences. Now days students and teachers alike are "dumbing down" dropping their standards, their expectations and their role performances to try to fit increasingly undemanding and unresponsive system of learning.

Some may say that education is the cure-all for poverty and prejudice, drugs and violence, war and hatred. Our thirty-fifth President of the United States stated: LET US THINK OF EDUCATION AS THE MEANS OF DEVELOPING OUR GREATEST ABILITIES, BECAUSE IN EACH OF US THERE IS A PRIVATE HOPE AND DREAM WHICH, FULFILLED, CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE AND GREATER STRENGTH FOR OUR NATION...

I will further let you know more about this very REAL Social Problem in these prison walls in a three (3) part series. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who took the time out to read this and any other writings I have posted on this Blog. I will write more I was just going through alot inside these walls. If you would like to ask me anything, ask me and I will respond.

Edward Henry: Coleman
29790-112
U.S.P. BEAUMONT
P.O. BOX 26030
Beaumont, TX 77720