Introduction
Do you know what prison life is really like?
Prisons are often seen as scary and mysterious places, and in movies and TV series, they are full of violence and contradictions. However, as the prison schedule circulated on the Internet, it was unexpectedly portrayed by netizens as an ideal retirement place that provided free accommodation, food, and medical care.
This has aroused a strong curiosity about life in prisons: what is the daily life of a prisoner really like? Can those sentenced to life imprisonment really live comfortably there?
1. What is life like in prison?
Life imprisonment and fixed-term imprisonment are commonly familiar terms. It is generally believed that a prison sentence means that the prisoner's sentence is limited, while life imprisonment is misunderstood as "life imprisonment". But in reality, this is not the case.
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment do not have to spend their entire lives in prison. If they perform well in prison and meet certain conditions, they may be able to get a reduced sentence, and the more they do, the sooner they will be released. The law both severely punishes offenders and provides them with a chance to rehabilitate.
In the past, due to poor information and underdeveloped networks, people had limited knowledge of prison life. But in today's information age, prison life has aroused great envy and curiosity.
What people envy is that prison life as it spreads online does not seem to be as shady as one might think. On the contrary, prisons not only provide food and lodging, but also stable wages, free medical care and regular psychological counselling, and the treatment even exceeds the standard of living of some poor people.
And people wonder if these descriptions are true. Isn't going to prison a kind of long-term livelihood instead of suffering?
Although prison life may seem easy as described on the Internet, even in today's scientific management, prison is by no means a comfortable haven. The rules of the prison are much stricter than those of the outside society, after all, this is where the criminals are held.
As soon as a prisoner enters the prison, the first task is to learn and master the rules. Prison regulations cover all aspects of life and are designed to radically change the habits, ways of thinking and values of offenders in the past, educating and reforming them through a rigorous system.
This learning process usually lasts two months, after which the prisoner enters a long and monotonous phase of re-education through labor, which is a central part of prison life.
Every morning at six o'clock, the prison begins its day's activities. Prisoners in prison uniforms must wake up on time and complete tasks such as personal hygiene and housekeeping. These seemingly simple activities are actually very important, because completing personal hygiene and keeping housekeeping clean and tidy on time is directly related to whether or not they will eventually get a reduced sentence.
The prisoners then had morning exercises and meals under the supervision of the prison guards. The prison canteen is staffed with professional chefs, and although the meals are uniformly prepared in large pots, they are still nutritionally balanced and healthy.
After the meal, the prisoners began their day's work. Although "stepping on the sewing machine" has become a colloquial term for prison work for many, in reality the work of prisoners is much more than that.
The type of work varies according to gender, and usually female prisoners are assigned to less physically demanding jobs such as sewing, while male prisoners are employed in more technically demanding positions such as electricians and carpenters.
However, this is not an absolute rule, and some male prisoners may also be assigned to sewing work, while female prisoners may also have the opportunity to learn skills such as electrician.
Due to the strict requirements for confidentiality and personnel management in prisons, some tasks that require high seclusion, such as printing, sorting and assembling college examination papers, are also usually done in prisons.
These monotonous and tedious jobs occupy most of the prisoners' time. Although they are paid for their work, they are not paid unpaid. Prisoners are divided into four pay scales according to their ability to work, with the lowest level being $100 and the highest being $200.
Prisons in different regions have different wage scales depending on local economic conditions and regulations. In the more economically developed first-tier cities, prisoners' wages can be as high as 500 yuan, more than double the wages of prisoners in ordinary cities.
Job evaluation in prisons takes into account not only working hours, but also the attitude and competence of prisoners, ensuring that all prisoners compete at a fair starting line.
The purpose of re-education through labor in prison goes beyond simply killing time, it aims to give prisoners the necessary life skills, correct their attitudes to life, and prompt them to repent and prepare for a fresh start.
The monthly remuneration received by prisoners may raise questions: why are salaries paid when the prison provides room and board and prisoners cannot go out? In fact, well-behaved prisoners had the opportunity to go out shopping, and although such opportunities were severely limited, this was one of the few times they could leave the high walls.
In addition to their day-to-day work, inmates participate in educational courses and journalism aimed at improving their understanding of the law, distinguishing between right and wrong, recognizing their own mistakes, and reshaping their values.
At ten o'clock in the evening, the prisoners must go to bed, and every day of prison life follows this strict schedule.
Although it may seem strict and monotonous, prison life can also become colorful under the modern and humane prison management. So, in addition to the basic daily activities, what other recreational activities do the prisoners have?
II. The Colourful Aspects of Prison Life
The famous Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing was imprisoned for 422 days for breaking the law, during which she maintained a good routine and exercised her body, and worked on meticulous tasks such as sewing quilts and making wall calendars. She also revealed that while in prison, she used her time to study English and study literature.
Singer Zang Tianshuo also performed at the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala in prison, and although it was low-key, it was still positively reported by **.
The experiences of these stars show that prison life is not entirely boring.
Considering the impact of the environment on emotions, the prison management department regularly arranges psychologists to communicate with prisoners, and enriches the lives of prisoners and helps alleviate their negative emotions through various activities and courses, such as news, legal education, skills training (including electrician, carpentry, guitar playing, etc.), and cultural activities (such as dumpling-making, Dragon Boat Festival, sports meeting, Mid-Autumn Festival, etc.).
Prisons not only pay attention to the mental health of prisoners, but also value their physical health, providing free medical care and even providing special care for elderly and infirm prisoners.
To sum up, prison life is under strict supervision and focuses on humane and scientific management, mainly to help prisoners turn over a new leaf and reintegrate into society.
Author's message
With the development of society, the scientific and humane management of prison life has played a positive role in the reform and reintegration of prisoners into society, which is the embodiment of the progress of the rule of law.
Walls enclose not only those who make mistakes, but also their futures and hopes. Many people face difficulties in adapting after being released from prison, and hope that society will give them more understanding and support, and reduce prejudice and discrimination against them.
Do you have any different opinions on this? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area for interaction.