Prison Culture’s Impact on Rehabilitation and the Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Introduction

The current state of the imprisonment system is focused on the inmate’s punishment instead of his rehabilitation. It is undeniable that being incarcerated affects a person in several ways. These negative experiences increase stress and the will to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. Understanding how these feelings form the prison culture and how prison culture affects the new inmates is vital in augmenting the organization. Much of the current structure is built upon a punishment-oriented penalty system and a strong dichotomy of guilt and innocence.

When a person enters a penal institution, they are considered a criminal. That label of an offender affects their perception of society, as many of the people who commit violent crimes do so due to being violated (Visher & Eason, 2021). This fact makes the legal system incohesive in their eyes, leading to self-victimization and justification of their actions.

Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Prisoners

Implementing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is beneficial for making this situation more straightforward (Visher & Eason, 2021). This prevents several detrimental trauma responses, including developing a false worldview. Contrary to that, the culture that omits details promotes this behavior among the inmates and unifies them as the wrongfully accused victims. Thus, analyzing the situation that led to imprisonment is essential in achieving positive incarceration outcomes.

The current culture promotes further inadaptation outside the penal facility and prevents rehabilitation. In addition to CBT, educated professionals should teach specific communicative skills. For violent crime offenders, conflict-solving, anger management, and impulse control should be advised. The end goal of the time spent in a penal institution should be the complete rehabilitation of the prisoner. The system that is utilized now provides a reason for inmates to defy authorities instead of building a support group to fix their mistakes. The focus of incarceration should be shifted to prevent recidivism.

Conclusion

In conclusion, prison culture affects inmates during all stages of the crime and punishment cycle. It puts pressure on their psychological condition after they are declared guilty and continues shaping their worldview after the sentence is over. Refocusing the system and changing that culture is a great way to change the results of spending time in a penal institution. Increased social adaptation skills, a correct mindset, and a will to be rehabilitated guarantee a lower risk of further crimes.

Reference

Visher, C., & Eason, J. (2021). A better path forward for criminal justice: Changing prisons to help people change. Brookings. Web.