Part one: the majority

"And they are at sea; not knowing that they don't even know." - Fyodor Dostoevsty Part One: The Majority Through years of observation; Fyodor Dostoevsty described the "herd mentality" of the prison majority in the manner above. The vast majority of incarcerated prisoners have duply embedded, subconscious complications with peer acceptance and identification issues. Because they are unaware of this reality; the "sea" of confusion leads them to identify with "herd mentalities" of elementary "gangsterism." What is "elementary gangsterism"? At one time, a "gangster" was one who resorted to unconventional, illegal, criminal activities in order to secure mass wealth. As global populations expand; a lower echelon of humanity over-populates itself. This mass of humanity being poverty stricken, under-educated, of limited intelligence, frustrated by this declining economic position in combination with innate inborn handicaps compels them to imitate, emulate, and aspire to the "success" stories of those "mobsters" of the past. "Too much television watchings got me chasing dreams." Coolio - "Gangster Paradise" Imitating individuals of a different era, a different economy, completely different peer group, separated by a gulf of intellectual capabilities exalted above their ability to comprehend; they struggle to fit the role of their predecessors; nearly always without success. The consequence is generally an instituted confinement facility. If, drug abuse hasn't been introduced to them before; it will be upon their incarceration. "It is not for Kings, Lemuel, not for Kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes, lest in drinking they forget what has been decreed, and violate the rights of any who are in need. Give strong drink to anyone who is perishing, and wine to the embittered; when they drink, they will forget their misery and think no more of their troubles. Open your mouth in behalf of the mute and for the rights of the destitute; open your mouth. Judge Justly, defend the needy and the poor." Proverbs - Chapter 32 Regardless of when the "seeds" of addiction become "planted," if it is not quickly "cured" or efficiently "managed" it will gradually deteriorate the morals, integrity, and principles of the individual character. Combined with the insidious effects of the penal institution a further weakening of identification processes ensues. Being that most prisoners are intellectually compromised; they are dominated by the unconscious mind. A natural consequence of this is: "They are at sea; not knowing that they don't even know." -Dostoevsty There is an old saying: "If a man doesn't believe in anything, he will fall for everything." -Unknown Consequently, for the previously mentioned realities; the prison population, as a majority is vulnerable to be persuaded by narrow-minded, short-sighted dogmas. As a general rule, these dogmas are based on tribalism and further regress into a "racial" philosophy. The problem is that the intellectual capacity of the incarcerated majority is too dull to comprehend the most advanced aspects of evolving philosophies involved in the racial dogmas they've adopted as pseudo beliefs. As a result, only the lowest, most elementary principles of very rich, detailed dogmas is absorbed intellectually by this under-educated multitude. Recalling their emulation and imitation of high echelon "mobsters," we now transfer by same phenomenon to their newly introduced "belief system." Being inherently (by inborn limitation) incapable of assimilating the highest ideals of their adopted dogma; they are forced (by incapability) to reduce an advanced philosophy into elementary barbarism, so this limited species of the human animal as a majority, together have something to identify with, in order to assist in creating a more cohesive group structure. Now with "something to believe in;" the next step for this ever increasing multitude is purpose. Of extremely limited organization capacity, dulled intellect, under education, lack of financial resources but vaulting ambition; the inherent, inborn desire for peer acceptance and elevated social esteem makes itself manifest. Friedrich Nietzche best described this phenomenon as: "The Will To Power." Those [majority?] these collective groups once sought to emulate felt this same intense ambition. The difference is the intellectual difference between these two categories of people. Where one sought power through wealth; the opposite seeks power through social acceptance, pretense, and "gangsterism." This is the basic "make-up" of the majority of those currently incarcerated in America's "correctional" facilities. The Minority - Group One: A small minority of incarcerated criminals are those convicted of "crimes of passion." Individuals incapable of restraining powerful emotional impulses; over-charged by reactionary urges this small select group of "out-casts" maintain as a general rule a distance from the majority previously described. Group Two: The other well known minority are sexually motivated criminals. A self-explanatory group' we will avoid further, unnecessary explanation. Group Three: Authentic criminals of an intelligent, organized, goal oriented nature are a very rare breed in the institutional environment. There is a unique difference between a cold, objective methodical, organized, pre-meditated criminal; from an emotional reactionary, or a drug addicted impulsive criminal reacting to drug withdrawal or similar stimulus. Understanding all of this; we venture into the various environments of the "correctional" institution in order to revolutionize the methods of management. Environment, "infection," and evolving psychology: "There is infection in all things." Miyamoto Musushi Miyamoto Musushi is describing how peoples moods, thoughts, beliefs etc. are affected by peer as well as environmental stimulus. An institution advances with the progress of civilization. As society evolves into a more humane network of cooperative communities; a "ripple effect" of this refinement reaches its tentacles out to its surrounding members. The sub-society of the "correctional" facility is one of the last to evolve with the advancements of progressive societies. One indicator of superior intellect is elevating objectivity. Society itself is rapidly becoming more cerebral. Capitalism is a form of social exploitation, in which; "the survival of the most intelligent" supersedes the antiquated "survival of the fittest." Global economics begin to examine methods of profiting from the stagnant "correctional" facility population. Objective strategies of capitalist exploitation of the institutional environments globally further de-humanize an already semi-savage human animal. "Correctional" administrations greed begins to [sort] out ways to profit from the telephone providers of "correctional" facilities. Trimming food portions, commissary racketeering, isolation, etc. all combine to treat the prison population like "dummies." All of the most humane niceties gradually dissolve in the quest to profit from a human warehouse. Because "corrections" has become a business; the governments expand the population for acts that at one time would have secured only a lengthy jail sentence. The petty criminal then becomes exposed to the "cream" of degenerate society. A teeming mass of under-educated, semi-savage, frustrated, most often drug addicted, under-skilled humans is "marketed" in a human warehouse and eventually released back into the community. Environment: "It has been proven that the yield of wool from a sheep can be directly attributed to its care and feeding." Aleksander [Joltzhenitsyn?] Returning now to the example of the majority; we see how most prisoners have similar drives to their intellectually superior counterparts, but lack the guidance, resources, persistence, cunning and social systems to achieve their ends. The "will to power" then becomes perverted by sub-conscious frustrations. The conscience are violent gangs that assert their "will to power" through senseless, underprofitable violence. A man was, indeed, beaten and stabbed to death in this institution (the Utah State Prison) last night - March - 12 - 16. Underlying the motive of "dis-respect" is human natures inherent need to glorify itself at the expense of others. Gangs want to be well known, "respected," feared; the root of this is Nietzches: "Will To Power." As a consequence of their challenged intellect; they revert back to primordial instincts in order to compensate for their inadequacies that their limited intellects are incapable of consciously detecting. Subconsciously then, this natural, inborn "will to power" surfaces as senseless provocations and antagonisms to incite violence in order to glorify individuals or groups called gangs. "An existence mundane; I've got a nine, a sign, a set, and now I've got a name. Read my writing on the wall, no one's there to catch me when I fall." Zachary De La Rocha-Rage Against The Machine Because this majority is like unto a ship without a rudder, or a sail. Meaning it has no meaningful belief system or support group to guide it; it is compelled by external motivators and inborn drives to create them. The "correctional" facilities peer groups are divided up into gangs as a consequence of the above mentioned realities. The environment then can be best described as primitive collective co-existence laking meaningful purpose or goal orientation. Infection: There is an old saying: "the head controls the body." Likewise, the thought processes control individual as well as collective existence. In all small difficult to manage sub-societies application of diligent thought and time management controls plants the seeds of gradual reformation. One of the keys to making this process work is to divide form the earliest stages of the operation any "infection" which we will call malevolent. Because is the human interaction arena benevolent "infection" is more prevalent than its malevolent opposite; it is imperative before any controlled project is initiated that malevolent "infection" is thoroughly excised from the body politic. We have to take into consideration the rule that there is an "exception to every rule" before we venture any further. Examining this rule we will recognize that in an institutional environment of a penal nature this exception is very rare. So rare as to be nearly non-existent. If it is found, it will be recognized by its genius. That being said; we can integrate the exception into the controlled experiment without poisoning our unpolluted ocean of reformers. But, being that the exception is so rare this interruption will seldom be of benefit. Proceeding onward. Malevolent "infection" in a "correctional" penal institution is the following but not limited to: Number One: Hopeless mentalities, Number Two: Exceedingly long sentences or life-sentences, Number Three: People "infected" with an "old style" convict mentality that is deep-seated, Number Four: Gang mentalities. It is ideal for us to take our stock from the newly convicted who have never been exposed to the thought processes of the idle minded "poisoned" multitude of "old convicts." Understanding this; we will then move on to the point of our essay. Evolving Psychology in The Information Age: Throughout the last 125 years the phenomenon of psychology has sprung up from very fertile nourishing soil to become a central element in the restoring of individual psychological equilibrium globally. One of the primary tools in this lengthy process of individual restoration is psycho-analysis. Psycho-analysis is essentially the most effective method in discovering disturbances in the individual psychology critical in the process of restoring a functional balance in the psyche. "But to change a thing means to first recognize it exists." Adolf Hitler - Mein Kampf Psycho-analysis is making an individual consciously aware of a problem by dredging it up from the defense mechanisms of the unconscious mind. This then is the first step to recovery of functional psychological harmonizing balances. Meaning, quite simply, enabling the individual to re-assert their ability to successfully carry out, long-term some specifically sought out imperative objective, or set of goals to establish a particular method of achieving relationships or a lifestyle. In effect, psycho-analysis ferrets out the symptoms to help discover a diagnosis. Transfer this now to any collective group or underground subsociety. In the majority; at the beginning of this informative; I briefly described the characteristics of the mass majority of the fledgling prison population. A "diagnosis," if you will. Describing the general elementals of a basic nature that led them (at a majority) to their current condition. Once we've properly diagnosed the condition; we can more easily find a cure for the problem. A brief outline herein exists that can be expanded upon in order to solve one of societies rapidly spreading social evils. A social evil having an insidious impact on global communities. Operant Conditioning: Isolation and Psychological "Re-programming" Operant Conditioning; a behavioral modification system based on a methodical system of rewards and consequences has been adapted to assist in various psychology experiments and application concerning "handicapped" people. One primary example would be sufferers of autism. Operant Conditioning has also been applied in "Security. Housing. Units." or "S.H.U." control facilities in the United States "correctional" institutions both federal and state nationwide. The problem is that it has been used primarily to quell expanding incidents of gang violence in the nations prisons. Consequently, by its very nature; it is a reaction to events that have become uncontrollable. Things become uncontrollable for two reasons as a general rule. The first; "management" has complete lack of vision. Failing in their short-sightedness to see problems before they arise, by the time they recognize their existence; the problem has become too great to alleviate with a mild cure. "Diseases desperate grown are only by desperate appliance relieved." Shakespeare "As ounce of prevention is generally more effective than a pound of cure." Old prison mentalities, gang mentalities, drug abuse; "the convict code," dreamlike ambitions motivated by Hollywood and similar motivations based on unrealistic expectations are poisons that need to be purged or excised from the body politic. Before we venture any further; allow it to be said; very few social sciences are one hundred percent effective. The similarities amongst people can generally help us accurately predict the rate of our success in any specialized endeavor. But, even the most effective systems have flaws and of course a small percentage of people simply cannot be meaningfully reached despite the efficiency of any social science. With this in mind; allow us to focus on what we can succeed in doing, instead of pessimistically referring to the predictability of those few spoiled apples in the barrel that are beyond salvage. Isolation: the Key to thought reformation: Isolation if improperly employed is far more detrimental to a psychological behavioral modification system than any other institutional tool in existence. In this system; we mandate two very different types of isolation, both imperative in making our designs efficient and effective. First, and most important; these "newly hatched" sentenced "criminals" will never see any "lifers," or anyone serving very long sentences. The mentalities that these "suds" provoke is one hundred times worse than the most extreme drug addiction. Prevention from "petty" offenders being integrated with this "infection" is paramount to the future success of the operation. Isolation of the group of the "control subjects" from this social evil is the first and most important step in one endeavor. A facility for removed from this evil is imperative. The next step is isolating the degree of criminal offender in this "sub-group" from others who have a better or lesser chance of success depending on severed objective factors that I could describe, but that any social scientist could easily discern and categorize for the purposes of sub-group isolation. Because we are dealing with criminal deviants; the following may seem absurd, but we can apply it to our immediate objective: "Do no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." Certainly, all of our subjects have seen and heard evil, but our goal is to keep these infant, impressionable minds from hearing and seeing greater evils and thus regressing, degenerating into human excrement that is incapable of being put to societal productive use. Unfortunately, if it is never to be re-integrated into the community reformation, work-ethic, education and careful cultivation of the soil sprouting self-improvements is not, or should not be a priority. Not to say that they should be treated unconstitutionally. However, the finances of government and the effort of society should be applied where a return on the investment can be more reasonably expected. Visits with family and friends should be done electronically. This saves several imperative goals, and since in a few years the prisoner will be re-integrated with the family and or friends this will not be an enduring hardship like it would be fore a prisoner serving a lengthier sentence. This completely curbs "home-sick" spells after contact visitation leaving a detached, but hopeful lingering in the prisoner. It would have a "counter-effect" on a temporary Jailhouse prisoner and it would be even worse for the lifers or very lengthy sentences. In the "reformatory" it is crucial for success for two reasons: Number One: Very effective in curbing the introduction of drugs and other "contra-band." Number Two: It reduces stress and tensions from the feeling of "home-sickness." The goal is to keep this specific population of prisoners on an "even keel" emotionally reducing "highs and lows." The last, and final step in the element of isolation, will be in the "diagnostic" or "receiving" phase of his/her initial sentence. The purpose of this for the newly (not recidivist) incarcerated prisoner is manifold. First, it demands that "receiving staff" receive highly individualized information upon evaluation. Second, it curtails "closeness" before group re-integration. This works to ensure that the future methods of "re-programming" are more likely to be successful. "Reprogramming;" spurring the intellect to embrace discipline and realism: Operant Conditioning will not be a preventive measure in this instance, but a primary ingredient in the formula to reforming the individual character to become better equipped to succeed once re-integrated in societies communities. It will begin with a 30 to 60 day initial entrance evaluation period of isolation, austerity, minimal privileges, minimal social contact until after entrance examinations have been completed. Showing the new prisoner the realities of non-compliance with structured behavioral modification objectives. This 30 to 60 day period will be to properly evaluate, classify, and house the prisoner in the most favorable, best manageable conditions upon institutional progression. Discipline; effective, productive "time management." Companies capable of exploiting reduced wages can offer manifold advantages to this specific prison segment. Offering minimum wage to the state, and the state then receiving 75% of that wage for housing, food etc. The 25% broken in half; one half for the institutional purchases; the office half collected (an untouchable acct) for stability upon future release. Inmates in this prison segment will have a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 8 years to serve before eligibility to release. This ensures that "hope stays alive" and being hopeful, ignorant of "prison politics," not gang members (or denounced gang members) the manageableness of the facility will operate much more smoothly. Enforced idleness will not be tolerated; except for emergency situations or severe disciplinary issues. Wherein, the full panoply of due process safeguards will be instituted before penalty. Wake-Up Call: Five o clock a.m. Beds made, unite cleaned by 5:45. 15 minutes of relaxation, before the early morning forced mild/easy 30 minute exercise routine. 15 minutes to prepare for breakfast. 7 o clock breakfast, done by eight o clock. From 8 to 9 showers, day preparation. 9:30 work entrance. 12:30 lunch break. 1 o clock back to work. 4:30 off work. Over-time, up to 2 hours a day optional when available. Reward over-time according to more pay, increase in privileges - operant conditioning. Unit; return to bed, or unit; stay from 4:30 to 5 except for "over-time" workers. From 5 to 6 - "free-time." 6:30 "over-time" employees off. 7 o clock p.m. dinner. 7 to eight o clock; gym, "life skills/work ethic importance classes," other classes for non-graduates. 8 to 9 - gym, free-time. 9 to 10 - relaxation. 10 o clock lights out. Saturdays day off work. 8 hour school for non-graduates/g.e.d. Sunday off. This forced routine will build habits of productivity. "Idle hands are the devils playground." Forced industriousness will keep the population easier to manage. Reasonable income, increased privileges etc. will be the operant conditioning paradigm. Phone calls, recreation improvements. Meals will be generous, but not excessive. Increased privileges will offer more food on commissary at reasonable prices. Force of habit, "life-skill/work ethic" classes will promote realism and teach simple work skills that can be applied in a business privately owned for those who are "over-achievers" in nearby communities upon parole. This will provide a reason to learn, excel, and be versatile. This is a simple generalization that can be expanded on by social scientists as projects progress and evolve. End