Sample Post

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      Etiam Ornare Vitae Sapien at Mollis

As you can see, this is a sample essay that shows you what a 1236-word essay, that includes citations of outside sources, should look like. The title is nonsense and most of this essay is, too. But it has a purpose. After you read these first three paragraphs, you may stop reading. Instead, look at how the essay appears. It shows you how long a 1200+ word essay is. It shows you the margins, which should be one-inch on the left, the right, the top, and the bottoms of every page. It shows you double spacing, font size (12) and acceptable type (Calibri, Times New Roman), and indented paragraphs. It shows you that the paragraphs are indented, yet they do not have extra spaces after each paragraph. It shows you what should appear in the header space (your last name and the page number) and what should appear on the first page of your essay in the left hand corner (your name, your instructor’s name, the name of your class, and the date you wrote the essay). It shows you that the title is capitalized and is placed in the center. You must also format your first and final drafts in this way. The double spacing leaves enough room to write comments and make changes.

This sample essay shows you that your reference page must be set up in a certain way.  The title of the reference page is centered, but the citations are not centered. The citations are set up in a format called “hanging indent.” You must also format your reference page. On the reference page, you should notice that they are alphabetized. When you write a reference page in MLA format, you will call it a Works Cited page. The citations on that page are related to what is inside the essay. The next paragraph will discuss the relationship between what is inside the paper and what is at the end. Please read it when you are writing and revising drafts that use outside sources.

The citations at the end, in the reference page, are related to the citations made in-text. In-text citations always refer to the source in which the author (you or me, or in this case, Lorem Ipsum) got the information that the author is using as a direct quote or a paraphrase. If the source is used as a direct quote to provide evidence, the in-text citation often looks like this: According to at least one study, college students are “are more than twice as likely as employers to think that [they] are being well-prepared” for what is needed in the workforce (Gowdy). If the source is used as a paraphrase, you must still cite it in-text. If you cite a paraphrase, it can look like this: According to at least one study, employers do not find that college students are as well-prepared for the workplace as college students consider themselves to be (Gowdy). In both of the previous examples, the Gowdy mentioned in parentheses indicates that Gowdy is the author of the source that the information came from. Gowdy did not necessarily state that “college students…” but the source he or she used did state that. The sentences might then look like this: In both of these examples, the in-text citations direct the reader (your audience) to the source where the information can be found. If you turn directly to page 6, you will see a citation reference to Gowdy.

 The rest of this text is utter nonsense. It is here just to be a placeholder. If you want to see a sample Works Cited page in MLA 8 format, go to page 6. Morbi in lorem ac diam vulputate aliquam pulvinar vitae lacus. Duis odio magna, elementum vitae ex et, sagittis finibus lectus. Fusce elementum, ex vitae ullamcorper tincidunt, magna velit varius turpis, non interdum nibh ligula et libero. Phasellus placerat leo quam, pellentesque molestie augue sagittis nec. Vestibulum massa dolor, accumsan eu lorem iaculis, suscipit viverra nulla. Nullam aliquet tellus nec ante ullamcorper aliquet. Sed varius eros vel mattis fermentum.

Donec vehicula, diam nec faucibus finibus, magna metus pellentesque eros, sed aliquam ex justo vel augue. Nulla sed aliquam turpis, eu vestibulum tellus. Pellentesque accumsan tincidunt venenatis. Nam tempus mi vel condimentum congue. Praesent eu ante vehicula, feugiat odio sit amet, malesuada enim. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Pellentesque sed luctus massa. Praesent varius interdum vestibulum. Proin in diam a massa semper tincidunt at nec odio. In eget metus libero. Ut mi ex, molestie vel nisl nec, sagittis sollicitudin leo.

Morbi in lorem ac diam vulputate aliquam pulvinar vitae lacus. Duis odio magna, elementum vitae ex et, sagittis finibus lectus. Fusce elementum, ex vitae ullamcorper tincidunt, magna velit varius turpis, non interdum nibh ligula et libero. Phasellus placerat leo quam, pellentesque molestie augue sagittis nec. Vestibulum massa dolor, accumsan eu lorem iaculis, suscipit viverra nulla. Nullam aliquet tellus nec ante ullamcorper aliquet. Sed varius eros vel mattis fermentum. Donec vehicula, diam nec.

Mauris volutpat vulputate nibh, vel blandit metus pharetra eu. Duis dignissim metus vel sagittis porta. Praesent aliquam urna ut nisl vestibulum commodo. Nulla tempus fermentum arcu, in bibendum nibh tempus quis. Phasellus finibus bibendum semper. Aenean eget felis rhoncus, pharetra orci eget, viverra mauris. Cras nisi elit, gravida nec nisi et, maximus varius dolor. Nam auctor sapien sed diam facilisis, nec sollicitudin erat maximus. Praesent hendrerit, ante non commodo varius, turpis neque rutrum odio, facilisis tincidunt augue nisi vel ipsum. Integer pellentesque massa et auctor euismod. Mauris eros orci, luctus pulvinar turpis in, ornare eleifend ligula. Mauris euismod congue ante, vel gravida est efficitur nec. Ut sit amet mi at arcu viverra eleifend. Fusce sodales bibendum enim at pharetra. Vivamus consequat risus orci, id egestas urna fermentum eu. Aenean imperdiet mauris id ex egestas, et porta est ultricies.

Vestibulum mattis tellus tincidunt, consectetur lacus id, rutrum felis. Aliquam justo tortor, fermentum non ultricies eu, accumsan ultrices justo. Duis vel feugiat arcu. Phasellus imperdiet hendrerit sem in rhoncus. Ut aliquet, nibh non vestibulum auctor, elit odio mattis sem, sit amet hendrerit orci lectus vitae risus. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Donec sagittis, diam vel convallis suscipit, orci urna sagittis eros, quis volutpat felis neque non mi. Nullam sed viverra lectus. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Cras blandit laoreet nibh, eu pharetra tortor. Phasellus vehicula elit ac mi pulvinar feugiat. Vestibulum ac eleifend eros. Integer tincidunt ullamcorper dui. Quisque dictum nibh nec ultricies feugiat.

Sed scelerisque tellus felis, in scelerisque felis efficitur ut. Donec ex magna, ultricies vitae rutrum id, maximus non sapien. Curabitur nibh elit, laoreet sed egestas rhoncus, congue sit amet purus. Suspendisse a tempus est. Nullam eget blandit arcu. Pellentesque bibendum fringilla sem consectetur vehicula. Suspendisse vitae augue ut arcu egestas lobortis sit amet et risus. Morbi vulputate orci urna, et eleifend arcu maximus ac. Maecenas nulla mauris, scelerisque a libero sed, viverra sagittis velit. Morbi elementum nunc nec magna ullamcorper dapibus. Fusce dapibus porttitor ipsum, aliquam commodo metus placerat quis. Nullam molestie augue turpis, eget sodales ante suscipit in.

Donec feugiat eros cursus, tristique dui nec, lobortis dolor. Phasellus fermentum est ac ligula aliquam rutrum nec nec nisi. Pellentesque ultricies sem dolor, non sollicitudin lorem convallis vel. Nullam cursus sit amet magna vel gravida. Fusce condimentum et tellus sed venenatis. Duis non augue nunc.

 

 

Works Cited

Ebert, Roger. Review of An Inconvenient Truth, directed by Davis Guggenheim. rogerebert.com, 1 June 2006, http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/an-inconvenient-truth-2006. Accessed 15 June 2016.

Gowdy, John. "Avoiding Self-organized Extinction: Toward a Co-evolutionary Economics of Sustainability." International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, vol. 14, no. 1, 2007, pp. 27-36.

An Inconvenient Truth. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, performances by Al Gore and Billy West, Paramount, 2006.

Milken, Michael, et al. "On Global Warming and Financial Imbalances." New Perspectives Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 4, 2006, p. 63.

No More. Public service announcement ad, with Mariska Hargitay. 2018. Joyful Heart Foundation, www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/programs/education/no-more/psa-campaign/no-more-excuses-video-and-print-series. Accessed 20 Sept. 2018.

Nordhaus, William D. "After Kyoto: Alternative Mechanisms to Control Global Warming." American Economic Review, vol. 96, no. 2, 2006, pp. 31-34.

---. "Global Warming Economics." Science, vol. 294, no. 5545, 9 Nov. 2001, pp. 1283-84, DOI: 10.1126/science.1065007.

 

SAMPLE POST

Prison Reform: Polished Draft

Before I knew it, it was time for the final product of Project 3. As per usual, I was so grateful for peer reviews and instructor feedback to really help me to review my writing. I was able to notice things in my rough draft that could be revised to create a much better paper. This was my favorite paper of the year. I love that we were able to pick a topic that interested us, and I loved all of the research that went into it. It truly was fun! I have included my polished rough draft below. Hope you enjoy!

Prison Reform

            Prison systems in the United States today are in major need of reformation. As it is now, the system tends to be focused only on the punishment of the offending individual, not rehabilitating them. The primary goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different prison programs, as opposed to violence and punishment. Reform programs can be used during incarceration to help an individual to develop skills that can be used upon release to help them to lead a different lifestyle than before and help to reduce the likelihood of prison re-entry.

            I would like for state government officials to see alternatives to the way that prisons are currently being run. I am hoping that there can be an increase of knowledge when it comes to the different types of prospective programs. By drawing attention to the benefits of reform program options, awareness can be raised as to why these programs are so desperately needed and how much they can help.

            The opinion that punishment is the only answer needs to be changed. Punishment and violence breeds only an individual that exhibits more violence. A system based on violence and punishment may help an individual see that they have made a mistake, but not learn how to handle their situation in a better way. For instance, if an impoverished individual is surviving by committing crimes such as burglary as a means for money, they could benefit from programs that teach them job skills to help them gain employment after release. In that way, instead of only being punished and told what they’ve done wrong, they are also taught to do what’s right. If a change in thinking does not occur, the cycle of prison entry and re-entry after release will continue for an individual because they do not know another way to live.

            I am fully aware that there are many people that may disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs for a multitude of reasons. One reason may be that these opposing individuals believe that all incarcerated individuals are bad and violent people. I believe that the negative outlook and perception of prison that the media depicts is what has led many to believe this. Society’s view of prisons can often come from places like movies and television. These typically never depict prison or inmates very well and usually show them as being violent criminals. I will admit that before I expanded my knowledge, I believed some version of that as well.

            Another reason that some may oppose the idea of the implementation of reform programs in prisons may be because they believe that offenders are unable to change their ways. They may believe that if an individual offends once, they will only continue to offend. I do agree with the fact that an individual can be likely to reoffend, but I also feel like that is something that we can potentially change with the right action. The way that I view it is that people are not simply defined by their mistakes, they make mistakes.

            There are people that may also disagree with the implementation of reform programs because they are unable to see that there are typically underlying issues and causes that have contributed to an individual being incarcerated. For example, an underlying issue of substance abuse may lead an individual to commit crimes to support a habit. An underlying issue of mental health may cause an individual to act out and commit crimes for gratification or attention in some cases. On the same note, if an individual lacks employment or the job skills necessary for employment, they may result to committing crimes as means for survival. The term “criminal” should not be a blanket term used for anyone that offends. All causes and situations involving the offense are different from case to case and should be handled and treated accordingly.

            Another reason that a person may disagree that the main goal of prisons should be implementation of reform programs may be that they believe that punishment is the only way for an individual to learn a lesson and not repeat offend. In this case, I do not agree. Punishment can be defined differently based on individual prisons, but many times involves things like violence or isolation, which does not work for every individual and can often make their situation worse.

            I believe that everyone should be entitled to their opinion. Although I can agree with certain parts and see the point of some of the mentioned opposing views, I feel differently in many ways as well. When it comes to the view of all prisoners being violent or bad people, I simply don’t agree. People from all walks of life can end up incarcerated for a number of different reasons, therefore it’s not possible to me that all inmates are bad people, it simply varies case by case. I find the view that people can’t change in prison to be false because I believe that by participating in a reform program that is best suited for them, the individual has the potential to learn and become a better version of themselves, therefore changing for the good.  On the view that punishment is the only answer I can see both sides. I agree with the thought that punishment is necessary. In many cases, being taken away from society and incarcerated is a harsh punishment in itself.  I think that, although according to what the offense is, simply being incarcerated does not teach the individual. I believe that they need to be taught other ways to live their lives by gaining education, learning job skills, and receiving mental health and substance abuse treatment to combat prison re-entry after release. This can also help the individual to be a more productive member of society and contribute to the community.

            In many prison systems today, inmates are not receiving the rehabilitation and reformation needed to assist them in leading better lives upon their release from prison. According to Hartnett, Novek, and Wood, “Instead of focusing on the goal of rehabilitation, prisons function as boot camps for the cultivation of the worst kinds of immature, corrupt, and violent masculine identity” (14). In the book “Working for Justice,” it is explained that the damaged people that enter a prison system and experience degradation, shame, violence, and the inhumane culture in general in prisons often lead an individual to rely on strategies of submission and aggression upon release from prison (Hartnett et al. 14). This means that an individual is not learning anything but how to combat violence with either more violence or with submission.

            I believe that my claim that the main goal of prisons should be reformation is true because after release, inmates are often released back into their previous environment and without rehabilitation are likely to commit the same crimes and make the same mistakes again, leading to re-entry. In an article titled “Our Prisons Punitive or Rehabilitative?” it is suggested that “…the only reasonable purpose for prisons is to confine those who are violent and to help them change their behavior. Prisons should work like hospitals where patients may be admitted for treatment and cure” (Gul 69). How can we ever expect individuals to act differently if we never teach them another way of life? It’s not possible. They need knowledge and skills for how to change.

            An individual’s experience while incarcerated can have quite an impact on the upon release. An article titled “Transitions from Prison to Community” explains that an individual returning home from prison has been shaped partly by their prison experience as well as the networks they have formed while in prison (Visher et al. 91). Inmates need these positive experiences, that can be formed while in programs with others, to lay the groundwork for their foundation after release.

            There are many different types of programs that I believe inmates could really benefit from while in prison. One of these programs should be centered around mental health and substance abuse. According to the article “Transitions from Prison to Community,” an individual’s circumstances prior to prison entry can have a great effect on the likelihood of re-entry after release (Visher et al. 95). Two of these circumstances in particular are mental health history and substance abuse history. These two disorders are often found to be co-occurring in incarcerated individuals (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 431). Currently, inmates suffering from mental health issues are not receiving adequate care, due to both not having access to treatment and jail staff not being equipped or trained to handle these types of inmates.  An article titled “The Gender Differences and Program Participation Among Prisoners with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders” explains that inmates that are mentally ill tend to have a harder time adjusting to life in prison and are often more likely to be charged with rule violations than inmates without mental illness. This can cause difficulties when staff is trying to maintain an orderly environment. Because the staff is often not properly trained, this can lead to the inmate being put into solitary confinement as a way to control and/or punish the inmate (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 433-434). If the prison were to employ social workers that are certified and can offer mental health counseling sessions to inmates, this could certainly help that issue. The article goes on to explain that many times substance abuse is sometimes linked to pain and traumatic events and is used as a coping mechanism to deal with those issues (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 435). Without proper treatment, a prior mental illness and substance abuse history combined with the depression and/or anxiety feelings that one may experience during incarceration, can lead to the inmate being released in a worse state after leaving prison. We need these types of programs in prisons to assist inmates with the knowledge and resources that they will need after release.

            Another program that would be beneficial and should be used in all prison is one that is focused on education. Many individuals that are entering prison have not had the opportunity to receive an education. In a study completed and explained in the article “Beyond Recidivism: Positive Outcomes from Higher Education Programs in Prison,” the authors stated that through their research they concluded that “The higher education programs provided students with foundational communication skills—writing, speaking, and advocating—that fostered their development of confidence, leadership, and positive self-image, as described by study participants. These academic skills benefited their communication and translated to their personal and professional lives” (Evans and Pelletier 56). To say that development of these skills is helpful for prison release would simply be an understatement. The learned skills and gained knowledge that an education program could offer would have the potential to assist an individual in leading a much more successful life after release from prison.

            Along with the previously mentioned programs that would be beneficial to inmates, another idea is a program focused on employment. It is known from research that many individuals have turned to a life of crime because they lack the experience or skills needed to obtain employment. Their time spent in prison can be a good opportunity for them to learn if they are provided access to programs. Kerry M. Richmond wrote an article titled “Why Work While Incarcerated? Inmate Perceptions on Prison Industries Employment” in which she states that “research suggests that providing educational and employment opportunities to inmates while incarcerated could play a role in reducing the likelihood of recidivism upon release from prison. In addition to learning vocational skills, which can prepare an inmate for sustaining quality employment, real work experience allows inmates to interact on a regular basis with conventional others” (232). There are some prisons in the U. S. that offer employment opportunities for current inmates. One of these programs, used in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, is known as the prison industries program. In this program, inmates have the opportunity to be involved in “the production and sale of quality products and services” (237). The article states that “The products that inmates make are used by the Department of Corrections, as well as other state and local agencies, and include correctional officer’s uniforms, license plates, office desks and seating, and clothing for inmates” (237). I believe that these are a great model for other prisons to implement. The article explains that, according to inmates that have been interviewed, these kind of employment programs have taught them the self- confidence, structure, and responsibility that is needed for employment after release, and helps them to keep out of trouble (Richmond 233). When inmates have the opportunity to either learn or expand their knowledge of job skills, they are more likely to obtain employment after release. This leads to the individual being able to be a contributing member of their community, as well as lead a more successful life after release. The chance to teach an individual a better way of life, how to be the best version of themselves, and providing them with the necessary tools to accomplish these things should be goals that all people of a community share.

            I believe that prison reformation is possible and has the potential to have great impact on the lives of individuals leaving incarceration. If more prisons in the U. S. could implement programs geared towards reform, it could lead to a dramatic reduction in prison re-entry rates after release. I feel that this would dramatically impact the lives of the participating inmates, as well as the lives of people in the community when there are less crimes being committed. Awareness for prison reformation needs to be raised. Change needs to be made. If we all work together to bring the issue of prison reformation to light, we could change the prison system for the better.

           Works Cited

Gul, Rais. “Our Prisons Punitive or Rehabilitative? An Analysis of Theory and Practice.” Policy Perspectives, vol. 15, no. 3, 2018, pp. 67–83. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/polipers.15.3.0067. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Hartnett, Stephen John, et al. Working for Justice : A Handbook of Prison Education and Activism. University of Illinois Press, 2013. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e900xww&AN=581522&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Koons-Witt, Barbara, and Courtney Crittenden. “Gender Differences and Program Participation among Prisoners with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, vol. 57, no. 7, Oct. 2018, pp. 431–458. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10509674.2018.1523818. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

Pelletier, Emily, and Douglas Evans. “Beyond Recidivism: Positive Outcomes from Higher Education Programs in Prisons.” Journal of Correctional Education, vol. 70, no. 2, Aug. 2019, pp. 49–68. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=142157296&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Richmond, KerryM. “Why Work While Incarcerated? Inmate Perceptions on Prison Industries Employment.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, vol. 53, no. 4, May 2014, pp. 231–252. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10509674.2014.902005. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

Visher, Christy A., and Jeremy Travis. “Transitions from Prison to Community: Understanding Individual Pathways.” Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 29, 2003, pp. 89–113. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30036962. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

 

 This post is identical to Student A's portfolio post. Only the title has changed. It is anonymously shared with permission of the author, for faculty development. Spring 2021.

Rough Draft and Feedback: Prison Reform

After all of the preparing and pre-writing, it was finally time to write! This is a paper that I was nervous about because of its length. It needed to be at least 2000 words!!!! However, I found that when I started writing it really all just came out easy and began to flow together. Below is the rough draft that I submitted. I received excellent feedback from my fellow classmates that helped me to realize the things that could be tweaked. I have included a few of the peer comments below. Stay tuned for the final product!

When I wrote about inmates needed to be taught how to handle situations in a better way, a student replied by stating “if you could give some examples on what they could be taught here, it could help invest some readers.” During the revision process, I added in an example of a situation in which an individual is incarcerated for burglary but could be taught job skills.

 

In regard to work programs in prisons, a student commented that “some people might not have heard of this model, perhaps elaborate on it just a little bit.” When I went back through and revised my paper, I added in some examples of work programs.

 

There were also a few comments helping me to realize my grammar and spelling mistakes. I was grateful to read these and was able to fix them while writing my final rough draft.

Prison Reform

       

        Prison systems in the United States today are in major need of reformation. As it is now, the system tends to be focused only on the punishment of the offending individual, not rehabilitating them. The primary goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different prison programs, as opposed to violence and punishment. Reform programs can be used during incarceration to help an individual to develop skills that can be used upon release to help them to lead a different lifestyle than before and help to reduce the likelihood of prison re-entry.

            I would like for state government officials to see alternatives to the way that prisons are currently being run. I am hoping that there can be an increase of knowledge when it comes to the different types of prospective programs. By drawing attention to the benefits of reform program options, awareness can be raised as to why these programs are so desperately needed and how much they can help. 

            The opinion that punishment is the only answer needs to be changed. Punishment and violence breeds only an individual that exhibits more violence. A system based on violence and punishment may help an individual see that they have made a mistake, but not learn how to handle their situation in a better way. If a change in thinking does not occur, the cycle of prison entry and re-entry after release will continue for an individual because they do not know another way to live. 

            I am fully aware that there are many people that may disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs for a multitude of reasons. One reason may be that these opposing individuals believe that all incarcerated individuals are bad and violent people. I believe that the negative outlook and perception of prison that the media depicts is what has led many to believe this. Society’s view of prisons can often come from places like movies and television. These typically never depict prison or inmates very well and usually shows them as being violent criminals. I will admit that before I expanded my knowledge, I believed some version of that as well. 

            Another reason that some may oppose the idea of the implementation of reform programs in prisons may be because they believe that offenders are unable to change their ways. They may believe that if an individual offends once, they will only continue to offend. I do agree with the fact that an individual can be likely to reoffend, but I also feel like that is something that we can potentially change with the right action. The way that I view it is that people are not simply defined by their mistakes, they make mistakes. 

            There are people that may also disagree with the implementation of reform programs because they are unable to see that there are typically underlying issues and causes that have contributed to an individual being incarcerated. For example, an underlying issue of substance abuse may lead an individual to commit crimes to support a habit. An underlying issue of mental health may cause an individual to act out and commit crimes for gratification or attention in some cases. On the same note, if an individual lacks employment or the job skills necessary for employment, they may result to committing crimes as means for survival. The term “criminal” should not be a blanket term used for anyone that offends. All causes and situations involving the offense are different from case to case and should be handled treated accordingly.

            Another reason that a person may disagree that the main goal of prisons should be implementation of reform programs may be that they believe that punishment it the only way for an individual to learn a lesson and not repeat offend. In this case, I do not agree. Punishment can be defined differently based on individual prisons, but many times involves things like violence or isolation, which does not work for every individual and can often make their situation worse. 

            I believe that everyone should be entitled to their opinion. Although I can agree with certain parts and see the point of some of the mentioned opposing views, I feel differently in many ways as well. When it comes to the view of all prisoners being violent or bad people, I simply don’t agree. People from all walks of life can end up incarcerated for a number of different reasons, therefore it’s not possible to me that all inmates are bad people. It varies case by case. I find the view that people can’t change in prison to be false because I believe that by participating in a reform program that is best suited for them, the individual has the potential to learn and become a better version of themselves, therefore changing for the good.  On the view that punishment is the only answer I can see both sides. I agree with the thought that punishment is necessary. In many cases, being taken away from society and incarcerated is a harsh punishment in itself.  I think that, although according to what the offense is, simply being incarcerated does not teach the individual. I believe that they need to be taught other ways to live their lives by gaining education, learning job skills, and receiving mental health and substance abuse treatment to combat prison re-entry after release. This can also help the individual to be a more productive member of society contribute to the community.

            In many prison systems today, inmates are not receiving the rehabilitation and reformation needed to assist them in leading better lives upon their release from prison. According to Hartnett, Novek, and Wood, “Instead of focusing on the goal of rehabilitation, prisons function as boot camps for the cultivation of the worst kinds of immature, corrupt, and violent masculine identity” (14). In the book “Working for Justice,” it is explained that the damaged people that enter a prison system and experience degradation, shame, violence, and the inhumane culture in general in prisons often lead an individual to rely on strategies of submission and aggression upon release from prison (Hartnett et al. 14). This means that an individual is not learning anything but how to combat violence with either more violence or with submission. 

            I believe that my claim that the main goal of prisons should be reformation is true because after release, inmates are often released back into their previous environment and without rehabilitation are likely to commit the same crimes and make the same mistakes again, leading to re-entry. In an article titled “Our Prisons Punitive or Rehabilitative?” it is suggested that “…the only reasonable purpose for prisons is to confine those who are violent and to help them change their behavior. Prisons should work like hospitals where patients may be admitted for treatment and cure” (Gul 69). How can we ever expect individuals to act different if we never teach them another way of life? It’s not possible. They need knowledge and skills for how to change. 

            An individual’s experience while incarcerated can have quite an impact on the upon release. An article titled “Transitions from Prison to Community” explains that an individual returning home from prison has been shaped partly by their prison experience as well as the networks they have formed while in prison (Visher et al. 91). Inmates need these positive experiences, that can be formed while in programs with others, to lay the groundwork for their foundation after release.

            There are many different types of programs that I believe inmates could really benefit from while in prison. One of these programs should be centered around mental health and substance abuse. According to the article “Transitions from Prison to Community,” an individual’s circumstances prior to prison entry can have a great effect on the likelihood of re-entry after release (Visher et al. 95). Two of these circumstances in particular are mental health history and substance abuse history. These two disorders are often found to be co-occurring in incarcerated individuals (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 431). Currently, inmates suffering from mental health issues are not receiving adequate care, due to both not having access to treatment and jail staff not being equipped or trained to handle these types of inmates.  An article titled “The Gender Differences and Program Participation Among Prisoners with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders” explains that inmates that are mentally ill tend to have a harder time adjusting to life in prison and are often more likely to be charged with rule violations than inmates without mental illness. This can cause difficulties when staff is trying to maintain an orderly environment. Because the staff is often not properly trained, this can lead to the inmate being put into solitary confinement as a way to control and/or punish the inmate (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 433-434). The article goes on to explain that many times substance abuse is sometimes linked to pain and traumatic events and is used as a coping mechanism to deal with those issues (Koons-Witt and Crittenden 435). Without proper treatment, a prior mental illness and substance abuse history combined with the depression and/or anxiety feelings that one may experience during incarceration, can lead to the inmate being released in a worse state after leaving prison. We need these types of programs in prisons to assist inmates with the knowledge and resources that they will need after release.

            Another program that would be beneficial and should be used in all prison is one that it focused on education. Many individuals that are entering prison have not had the opportunity to receive an education. In a study completed and explained in the article “Beyond Recidivism: Positive Outcomes from Higher Education Programs in Prison,” the authors stated that through their research they concluded that “The higher education programs provided students with foundational communication skills—writing, speaking, and advocating—that fostered their development of confidence, leadership, and positive self-image, as described by study participants. These academic skills benefited their communication and translated to their personal and professional lives” (Evans and Pelletier 56). To say that development of these skills is helpful for prison release would simply be an understatement. The learned skills and gained knowledge that an education program could offer would have the potential to assist an individual in leading a much more successful life after release prom prison. 

            Along with the previously mentioned programs that would be beneficial to inmates, another idea is a program focused on employment. It is known from research that many individuals have turned to a life of crime because they lack the experience or skills needed to obtain employment. Their time spent in prison can be a good opportunity for them to learn if they are provided access to programs. Kerry M. Richmond wrote an article titled “Why Work While Incarcerated? Inmate Perceptions on Prison Industries Employment” in which she states that “research suggests that providing educational and employment opportunities to inmates while incarcerated could play a role in reducing the likelihood of recidivism upon release from prison. In addition to learning vocational skills, which can prepare an inmate for sustaining quality employment, real work experience allows inmates to interact on a regular basis with conventional others” (232). There are some prisons in the U. S. that offer employment opportunities for current inmates, offend known as “work release” programs. I believe that these are a great model for other prisons to implement. The article explains that, according to inmates that have been interviewed, these kind of employment programs have taught them the self- confidence, structure, and responsibility that is needed for employment after release, and helps them to keep out of trouble (Richmond 233). When inmates have the opportunity to either learn or expand their knowledge of job skills, they are more likely to obtain employment after release. This leads to the individual being able to be a contributing member of their community, as well as lead a more successful life after release. The chance to teach an individual a better way of life, how to be the best version of themselves, and providing them with the necessary tools to accomplish these things should be goals that all people of a community share. 

            I believe that prison reformation is possible and has the potential to have great impact on the lives of individuals leaving incarceration. If more prisons in the U. S. could implement programs geared towards reform, it could lead to a dramatic reduction in prison re-entry rates after release. I feel that this would dramatically impact the lives of the participating inmates, as well as the lives of people in the community when there are less crimes being committed. Awareness for prison reformation needs to be raised. Change needs to be made. If we all work together to bring the issue of prison reformation to light, we could change the prison system for the better.

            Reference Page

Gul, Rais. “Our Prisons Punitive or Rehabilitative? An Analysis of Theory and Practice.” Policy Perspectives, vol. 15, no. 3, 2018, pp. 67–83. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/polipers.15.3.0067. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Hartnett, Stephen John, et al. Working for Justice : A Handbook of Prison Education and  Activism. University of Illinois Press, 2013. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e900xww&AN=581522&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Koons-Witt, Barbara, and Courtney Crittenden. “Gender Differences and Program Participation among Prisoners with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, vol. 57, no. 7, Oct. 2018, pp. 431–458. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10509674.2018.1523818. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

Pelletier, Emily, and Douglas Evans. “Beyond Recidivism: Positive Outcomes from Higher Education Programs in Prisons.” Journal of Correctional Education, vol. 70, no. 2, Aug. 2019, pp. 49–68. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=142157296&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Richmond, KerryM. “Why Work While Incarcerated? Inmate Perceptions on Prison Industries Employment.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, vol. 53, no. 4, May 2014, pp. 231–252. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10509674.2014.902005. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

Visher, Christy A., and Jeremy Travis. “Transitions from Prison to Community: Understanding Individual Pathways.” Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 29, 2003, pp. 89–113. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/30036962. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

This post is identical to Student A's portfolio post. It is anonymously shared with permission of the author, for faculty development. Spring 2021.

Pre-Writing: Prison Reform

One thing that I have been grateful for in the writing process is all of the different pre-writing techniques that are suggested to us. When I first started my class I thought they seemed like a pain, but MAN do they really help! One of the most helpful things suggested to me was to make an outline. I highly suggest that if you are writing a paper, make an outline to organize all of your thoughts and information prior to writing! I have included my outline for Project 3 below.

Outline for project 3

1.   Introduction

A.     Explanation of the issue

                 i.          Prison systems in the U.S. today are in major need of reformation and prison goals should be reevaluated.

B.     Thesis

                 i.          The primary goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through a variety of prison programs, as opposed to violence and punishment.

C.      Proposition

                 i.          I want state government officials to see alternatives to the way prisons are currently being run and draw attention to the benefits of reform program options.

D.     Statement of the case

                 i.          If a change in thinking does not occur, the cycle of entry and re-entry into prison will continue for an individual because they do not know another way to live.

2.   Development of the argument

Reasons and evidence   

R1: I believe that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because after release, inmates are often released back into their previous environment, and without rehabilitation, they are likely to reoffend and re-enter prison.

R2: I believe that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because mental health illnesses and previous substance abuse are highly linked to incarceration, and inmates need treatment in those areas.

R3: The idea that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, is correct because the function of prisons is more or less like a bootcamp that cultivates more violence and corruption.

R4: The main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because it has been proved that individuals returning home from prison have been shaped by substance and offending history, as well as their prison experience and networks that they have formed in prison.

R5: The main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, is a correct claim because there are statistics proving that prison programs that teach skills needed after release can help reduce the probability of prison re-entry.

R6: I believe that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because there are gender-specific issues related to incarceration that need to focused on to combat the issue of prison re-entry.

R7: I believe that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because some offenders have not had an opportunity to receive an education, and receiving one while incarcerated and lead the individual to gain employment and live a better life after release.

R8: I believe that the main goal of prisons should be reformation, implemented through different programs, because inmates can learn life skills, job training, and treatment for mental health and substance abuse that can improve their chances for success after release.

                ii.        For reasons 1-8 use stories from observations and use outside sources for evidence. Include data from outside sources.

3.   opposing views

Give examples of views that differ from my claim.

O1. Some people disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs because they believe that all individuals that end up in prison are bad people.

O2: Some people disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs because they may believe that offenders cannot change.

O3: Some people disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs because they believe that punishment is the only way for an individual to learn a lesson and not repeat offend. 

O4: Some people disagree that the main goal of prisons should be reformation and the implementation of reform programs because they are unable to see that there are typically underlying issues and causes that have lead the individual to be incarcerated.

4.   Response to opposing views

State my response to view that differ from my claim.

 X1: People from all walks of life can end up incarcerated for a number of different reasons. Therefore, not all inmates could possibly be bad people.

X2: By participating in the type of reform program that is best suited for them, the chances of an individual changing and becoming a better version of them.

X3: I feel that only using punishment does not teach an individual anything and certainly does not help the situation. Rehabilitating an individual and teaching them life skills, they can learn a different way to live so that they don’t have to offend again.

X4: Substance abuse history and mental illness are highly linked to incarceration and can be an underlying factor that causes the individual to enter prison or reoffend after release.

5.   Concession

Explain where I share common group with opposing views.

                 i.          I agree with the notion that punishment is necessary, however, I feel that the individual should also be rehabilitated to help ensure they do not reoffend.

6.   Conclusion

Summarize my statements and call for action

                 i.          Prison reform is possible and has the chance to dramatically impact the issue of prison re-entry and repeat offending. We all must work together to bring the need for prison reform to light and raise awareness to be able to change the prison system for the better.

This post is nearly identical to Student A's portfolio post. It has only been changed to account for formatting changes that resulted from copying and pasting between platforms. It is anonymously shared with permission of the author, for faculty development. Spring 2021.

They Say, I Say: Prison Reform

I have found that one of the most important parts of writing for me is the preparation process. My favorite way to really become prepared to write is by doing the Summary and Response worksheets that my instructor assigns. It seems that whenever I can complete these worksheets, my essay is typically all laid out for me, I just have to combine it all. It is so helpful in creating organization for the writing process and for the essay itself. Below I have included some screenshots of these Summary and Response worksheets. I highly suggest them as a tool for pre-writing!