An image of a UMBC dorm room from InternHousingHub, showing a desk, chair, and the bed along with some light decoration.
Earlier this semester, I learned that a significant portion of the furniture from our university is made using prison labor. How’d I find this out? I asked for a new desk chair at my job, because ours was falling apart. I was told that it would take months to get one, yadayadayada, something something, and then I heard the words “prison industrial complex” and immediately tuned back in to the conversation.
Something that I often ponder about is the utter chaos within our country’s prison system, and the many people who are severely wronged by this daily. While the U.S. seems to have an endless number of flaws, this one really gets me wondering. I haven’t done much research on this particular topic, but I do know that innocent people, or those who may have committed smaller crimes, are much too often wronged with extensive prison time. From what I’ve heard, it seems as though our country doesn’t allot enough resources to helping those in prison who may not actually be guilty.
What I wonder about is the fact that something this threatening and life-changing could truly happen to anyone. Who’s to say that you won’t be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and end up being blamed for a crime? It’s scary to imagine that one’s life could be turned upside down so quickly, simply due to unfortunate circumstances. Being in prison is no life to live, and I’m sure many in prison would prefer death, which usually isn’t an option. I simply cannot imagine being trapped and isolated from the world, and any sense of freedom, especially knowing that you’re innocent.
This relates to the film that we watched in class, The Strike. Another aspect of the U.S prison system includes the concept of solitary confinement, which is when prisoners are locked up and kept away from social interactions, pretty much 24/7. In The Strike, the prisoners discussed working out in their cells to stay busy, having food and books delivered to their cells, and talking to each other through the vents during their ‘outside time.’ While some prisoners truly deserve the worst of the worst punishment, people are too easily placed into something as mentally tormenting as solitary confinement. I can only imagine how a person would lose themselves and their identity, hobbies, dreams, and so much more by being put through this psychological torture.
The U.S prison system is consistently in need of major reform.
Unruly Bodies 