NCJ Number
18759
Date Published
1971
Length
0 pages
Annotation
STAFF MEMBERS AND INMATES EXPRESS PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR ROLES IN A WOMEN'S PRISON AND DISCUSS THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED, AND DESIRES UNFULFILLED.
Abstract
THE DIMINISHMENT OF INDIVIDUALITY, THE NECESSITY OF SUPPRESSING EMOTION UNACCEPTABLE TO THE STAFF, AND THE TENSION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND HOPE AT BEING EVALUATED FOR PAROLE ARE AMONG THE STATES OF MIND EXPRESSED BY THE INMATES OF THE WOMEN'S PRISON PORTRAYED IN THIS FILM. ONE MEMBER OF THE STAFF TELLS OF THE FRUSTRATION SHE FEELS AT NOT KNOWING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO INMATES AFTER THEY LEAVE PRISON. AN INMATE CONSIDERS HERSELF ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AS SHE AFFIRMS THE FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE THAT THE PRISON PROGRAMS HAVE PROVIDED HER. THE FILM IS DESIGNED FOR FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION, SO NO CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN IN THE FILM ITSELF. THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE FILM IS TO PROVOKE THOUGHT AND CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PRISON LIFE AND THE USES OF INCARCERATION AS A METHOD OF DEALING WITH DEVIANT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.