Life in Prison

Abstract

As what the media portrays, life in prison is characterized by pure violence. But in this study, the truth behind bars was shown through the inmates’ expectation, adaptation, socialization and how power occurred among the latter within Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Cauayan, Isabela, Philippines. The results of the study showed that inmates’ expectation upon entry to the prison is way too different to the actual life there; inmates adapt themselves to the prison environment in various time-frames depending on their behaviors and lifestyles; inmates socialize well, given the good relationships that they have with each other but conflicts still occasionally occur; and that the power is still in the hands of the BJMP management staff but was somewhat diffused to the elected Chairman/Chairwoman in every dorm in the prison cell. They are the leaders in charge of maintaining order within their dorms alongside with their co-officers and they also serve as coordinators to the BJMP management staff. As it is stated, this set up was designed to ensure order and smoother flow of announcements and concerns from the higher authorities to the inmates themselves. Interview was the method used in this study which included inmates, inmates’ leaders and the jail officers.