The title may sound like some clickbait but it was not meant to be.
I have recently found a documentary "Turned Out: Sexual Assault Behind Bars" directed by Jonathan Schwartz, narrated by Danny Trejo (made in 2003, released in 2004) - a perhaps a bit dated , but it was one of the most disturbing documentary I have seen in a long while. Someone uploaded it into Youtube (it is available to watch for free at the time of writing this post ). (Warning: it contains talks about sexual assault, rape and murder. Also contains foul language). It is a harrowing tale of sexual assault and rape of weaker inmates at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Alabama (mostly by other inmates and sometimes by prison wardens). While a documentary may be edited, rapes and sexual assault are apparently rampant in some US prisons. Not sure what has changed since 2003 when it comes to this problem (in Alabama and elsewhere in the US).
I have read a few studies on this - while the problem is not unique to the US one would think that one of the wealthiest nations on Earth could afford to look after their imprisoned citizens better. Before your say "prisons is supposed to be punishment" - you are right, however, I am sure we both agree that the punishment is the condemned person to be confined withing the walls of the prison for the period of time set by the Criminal Courts. Rape and sexual assault should not be part of that punishment.
I find it sad how the some members of the wider society still joke about this ("if you go to jail, don't drop the soap!"etc)
Considering how easy is to is in certain states to get incarcerated for minor, non-violent crimes - this can affect more people than we think.
Before you start, no, I am not advocating to "abolish jail". Jails, prisons have their purposes. Some convicted criminal do need to be locked up.
But rapes and sexual assault should not be part of the punishment.
Many victims never speak out - there is hard to find exact figures to see the real extent of the problem.
Some claim there is big difference between state and federal jails. Also, some states apparently do more to reduce this problem, others could not care less.
Some say, part of the problem is the US "prison industrial complex" itself . Quiet a few corporations rely on prisoners work - prisoners often paid a pittance for their work (a fraction of what a worker would get for the same work in outside, free world.) Consequently , the governments have not had any real interest in real change.
What are your thoughts?
I have recently found a documentary "Turned Out: Sexual Assault Behind Bars" directed by Jonathan Schwartz, narrated by Danny Trejo (made in 2003, released in 2004) - a perhaps a bit dated , but it was one of the most disturbing documentary I have seen in a long while. Someone uploaded it into Youtube (it is available to watch for free at the time of writing this post ). (Warning: it contains talks about sexual assault, rape and murder. Also contains foul language). It is a harrowing tale of sexual assault and rape of weaker inmates at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Alabama (mostly by other inmates and sometimes by prison wardens). While a documentary may be edited, rapes and sexual assault are apparently rampant in some US prisons. Not sure what has changed since 2003 when it comes to this problem (in Alabama and elsewhere in the US).
I have read a few studies on this - while the problem is not unique to the US one would think that one of the wealthiest nations on Earth could afford to look after their imprisoned citizens better. Before your say "prisons is supposed to be punishment" - you are right, however, I am sure we both agree that the punishment is the condemned person to be confined withing the walls of the prison for the period of time set by the Criminal Courts. Rape and sexual assault should not be part of that punishment.
I find it sad how the some members of the wider society still joke about this ("if you go to jail, don't drop the soap!"etc)
Considering how easy is to is in certain states to get incarcerated for minor, non-violent crimes - this can affect more people than we think.
Before you start, no, I am not advocating to "abolish jail". Jails, prisons have their purposes. Some convicted criminal do need to be locked up.
But rapes and sexual assault should not be part of the punishment.
Many victims never speak out - there is hard to find exact figures to see the real extent of the problem.
Some claim there is big difference between state and federal jails. Also, some states apparently do more to reduce this problem, others could not care less.
Some say, part of the problem is the US "prison industrial complex" itself . Quiet a few corporations rely on prisoners work - prisoners often paid a pittance for their work (a fraction of what a worker would get for the same work in outside, free world.) Consequently , the governments have not had any real interest in real change.
What are your thoughts?
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