Harvard University Inmate Personal Statements Overview

I’m working on a criminal justice writing question and need guidance to help me learn.

Inmate Personal Statements

The goal of this assignment is to better understand issues surrounding the sentencing and prison life of convicts as viewed by those who are actively involved the process: the inmates themselves.

Introduction

Tracing the history of law, the question of what to do with the person found guilty of violating the laws has always been rather difficult to tackle. Throughout this history, there have been numerous experiments to change the sentencing practice and the punishment. Trying to keep the society “pure” was frequently the basis for punishment, and the logical choice was to kill the impure element. When long-tern incarceration was brought-in, it was done so by reformers who were looking for more humane forms of treating people who may yet prove to be an asset to society,

Assignment

Read some of the Personal Statements by inmates at

http://www.prisonactivist.org/prisoner-voices. What went through your mind when you were reading these? What could you take away from these poems, letters, essays, and so forth that might have a positive impact on prison life if any?

Complete an overview (minimum of 500 words) addressing the above questions.