Social Beings Ch. 9

Use Social Beings, Ch. 9 READING attachment to respond to each post below.

1. Respond with 200 words, use credible sources, and use citations

Racial Discrimination in the Criminal Justice System - Dr. Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment, provides an interesting analysis on our prisons. My question is, "How did we end up with segregation in the prison system?"

2. Respond with 200 words, use credible sources, and use citations

I believe segregation occurred in the prison as a natural human behavior, and when not discouraged it continued. It's possible when prisoners first entered the system they remained close to those within their culture, to help ease the transition, then over time relationships grew and more of the same culture were also encouraged into the "circle," creating a natural segregation process. I found an interesting article specific to the California prison system. Prior to 2005, California actually had a mandated policy that required their prison systems to segregate inmates. What I think is interesting is even thought this is 23 years ago, any long timers who were housed in the California prison during this time may be accustomed to this approach, and resilient to change it. The article is written by a former prisoner who states "At Soledad State Prison, racial segregation has been "explicit," says Schwerin, and it's a rule that the inmates feel they need to live by in order to survive." He further explains "the inmates and correctional staff adopted the rules of segregation due to the absence of security and safety." Another thought on how segregation occurred is prisons may receive "gangs" upon intake, therefore the segregation may occur prior to them entering the prison. Class, do you feel this may be a valid theory or a stretch in thought?

https://www.pri.org/stories/california-prisons-struggle-adapt-desegregation

3. Respond with 200 words, use credible sources, and use citations

I found this to be the case as well; "segregation keeps the violence to a minimal in prisons." However, it seems that there is a better solution. If Starbuck's is working on race relations surely, we can hope that our prison system would put a plan in place! We have plenty of news articles about California prisons agreeing to end the segregation policy (see below and the posts in this thread). As discussed previously, advocacy and research create changes. Groups for multicultural psychoeducation is one way to alleviate the situation. Do you agree; why?

California prisons agree to end racial segregation policy. [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/23/california-prisons-end-racial-segregation-policy

Starbucks Will Stop Putting The Words 'Race Together' On Cups. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/22/394710277/starbucks-will-stop-writing-race-together-on-coffee-cups

4. Respond with 200 words, use credible sources, and use citations

In the early 50's the courts started giving their input in how the prisoner would be housed while in prison. Delegating the crime being so notorious to put this prisoner in hard camp isolated from the mainstream. The California prisoners had additional steps of isolation or segregation in order to maintain order and keeping groups together that get along. When we talked about belonging in groups earlier in the course we probably did not think about how there are incidents of being placed in a group without any say so by the person. Prisons are a great example because regardless of what the prisoners want, they are placed where they are placed. In some prisons as we have talked about this group is placed together and other groups are placed here.

https://www.correctionsone.com/officer-safety/articles/7497711-Why-racial-segregation-in-prisons-isnt-about-race/