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Sing Sing, criminal rehabilitation or unethical imprisonment?

Singsing prison is located on the rivers edge in Ossining NY. It is located along the
rivers edge and has been operating for generations. Sing sing is notorious for escaped prisoners
and breakthrough prisoner treatment resulting in a surprisingly low return rate. It is also a
maximum security prison, housing 1700+ prisoners. But is this prison ethical and does it create
an atmosphere for rehabilitation? (Sing Sing Prison Documentary)

In 1839 the American Alexis de' Tocqueville Gustave de'beaumont visited the Singsing
prison to study it's revolutionary practices and see how the prison system here could affect the
system in France. This journal study was called "Applications of Prisons and their Effects of
France." What they found would revolutionize the view of the prison system. (Sing Sing Prison
Documentary)

The "old cell block" is the term that is now used to describe the old prison that
de'Toqueville studies. This section was very unique because it used the silence system instead of
the traditional solitary system that was used in most prisons. Prisoner were ordered to keep quiet
during their stay and communication was punished with a cataninetails. De'Toqueville noted in
his journal entry that the prison was "eerily quiet," and that often he received "a vicious headache
from the pure sound of silence." No walls around the prison until 1877, the prisoners were
"controlled with fear," according to DeToqueville. (Sing Sing Prison Documentary)

This prison also allowed a congregate system and chain gang labor. The prison was
congratulated for it's ability to not only sustain itself and expense but to be able to turn a profit as
well.

The definition of a prison is "A public building used for the confinement of people
convicted by the justice system of serious crimes." Hebert Packard originally stated that the
definition of the justice system to "have the sole purpose of rehabilitating criminals that enter it."
Does Singsing accomplish this today? (Webster's Dictionary )

Today, the prison is much different. Singsing holds much pride in its programs and
procedures, and it does differ from most prisons. Singsing has a much different living
arrangement, instead of the typical jail cell, well behaved inmates are allowed to apply for a
room in medium security confinement. These rooms are set up much like an office cubical.
Prisoners are allowed to have a small number of personal items, as long as their name is
engraved on them. Prisoners are also allowed to have two hours of yard time and an hour for
each meal. (Sing Sing Prison Documentary)

Recently the American bar association released a statement criticizing the prison system
saying that it is "overly balanced toward punishment and extensive incarceration times." Is
Singsing overly balanced towards punishment and losing site of its prisoners? No. Singsing has
introduced many programs to assist its prisoners in having a chance of rehabilitating themselves.
(Prison Pro)

Opportunities
Singsing has a chapel for many religions. These range from Catholicism to Judaism. The
prisoners are encouraged to attend services and many prisoners receive the privilege to lead a
prayer session. Prisoners are allowed to own religious testaments and texts without it counting
agaisnt their allowed number of personal items. (Sing Sing Prison Documentary)
In addition starting in 1996, Katherine Vockins started Rehabilitation Through the Arts
(RTA) at Sing Sing. This program was made to create an atmosphere where inmates could not
only learn about theatre, but also act in theatre. This was made so that prisoners could create/act
in plays for audience in the prison, for inmates and community guests. This program was
evaluated by Dr. Lorraine Moller, Professor of Speech and Drama at John Jay. The findings were
quite interesting, it seemed according to the data, that the longer an inmate was in the RTA
program, the less offenses they perpetrated. It had proven to be a positive impact in the lives of
the prisoners and reduced the rate of recidivism among participants. (RTA)

Education? In Prison? Not taught by Dr. Bubba?


Singsing also has a schooling system that has been put back into place. After studying the
return rate of inmates, they discovered that those who were illiterate had a difficult time finding
work and ended up returning. Singsing reported that average inmate has a 7th grade reading level
and 6th grade math education. Singsing requires that any prisoner that reads below an 8.0 must
attend and passing literacy class. For the other inmates, these class are optional. Singsing also
assists their prisoners in attaining a GED if they do not already have one. (Sing Sing Prison
Documentary)

In addition to the GED education program, a college program was implemented by The
Hudson link for higher education. Inmates could earn a college degree while in the penitentiary,
at first it was publically funded, but part of the tough on crime initiative, funding was cut for
federal prison higher education. Under Anne Reissner, Hudson Link for Higher Education in
Prison restarted college education at Sing Sing through private donations and funding. (Sing Sing
Prison Documentary)

Conclusion
Although Singsing may have had a bad reputation for unethical treatment/favoritism of
prisoners, it has certainly turned itself around and provided many advances in the fields of
corrections. Singsing has a very low rate of return for the inmates that inhabit it and provide
many opportunities for change and rehabilitation. In fact "Sing Sing" is so great, one could
consider going to prison, just for the educational opportunities.

Bibliography
Prison Pro. sing-sing-correctional-facility. n.d. <http://www.prisonpro.com/content/sing-singcorrectional-facility>.
RTA. .rta-arts. n.d. 28 11 2015. <http://www.rta-arts.org/>.
Sing Sing Prison Documentary. 1997. CSPAN.

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