John Phillips
His 107-004
Dr. Bogin
11/24/08

Prison Town

	Each year, more and more Americans wind up in prison. The stats are increasing at alarming rates, and over the past 25 years, America has undergone the biggest prison building boom in history. This fact raises some important questions about the direction we as Americans are going. Are citizens becoming worse, or is our government becoming less tolerant to those who break the law? The purpose of a prison is to isolate those who are not fit to live in a society and to rehabilitate them in hopes that they may one day return. Keeping this in mind, is America spawning dangerous, unfit citizens at a faster rate? Although the numbers show a larger percentage of prisoners than ever before, the ideals that put them there must be put into question.
	There are over two million people incarcerated in the U.S. More per capita than any other country. One in ten kids in the U.S. Have a parent who is in prison, on probation, or on parole. With the rate prisoners are increasing, it is believed that by the year 2050, 50% of America's youth will be either incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. Will half of America's youth really be too unfit to live within its own society? Exactly how dangerous are these prisoners? More than half of America's prisoners are currently locked up for reasons deemed non-violent. This shows that many of today's prisoners aren't even an immediate threat to society, but are still placed with those who are. These numbers indicate that the locking up of new prisoners is something taken more and more lightly within America. America seems to be relying more on prisons to solve its problems.
	The Documentary “Prison Town” shows the difficulties that prison causes, even after a sentence. The documentary focused on a family as the father finished up his prison sentence. As one might expect, the family faced severe financial difficulties, as the father acted as the provider, prior to his imprisonment. It was also noted that the cause of this sentence was a simple case of shoplifting, although the actual amount stolen remains in question, as no single amount was agreed on between the parties. The family was forced to move to Susanville in order to see the father, and also to comply with the terms of parole. Upon his release, the documentary followed him through the difficult task of finding a job, and providing for the family. Nobody wanted to hire an ex-con. Following this family, the viewer is able to see first hand how difficult life can be after a prison sentence.
	Prison Town elaborates on the concept of a prison town, and shows exactly how a prison can absorb a town, even to the dismay of its inhabitants. “Hundreds of small towns have looked to prisons as economic saviors”, the documentary says. Providing jobs and business to the town, the placement of a prison is often greatly accepted. Employing a large percentage of the town, the prison quickly becomes the economic heart. For example, in Susanville, the focus of Prison Town, the prison accounts for half of the town's employment.  
	The problem with this lies with the simple indecency which arises when a prison is the essence of a town. When the heart of the town consisted of the placement of hundreds of criminals, it tends to set a solemn tone within that town, after all, prisons aren't exactly public attractions. Prisons were useful in that they provided jobs, however, the quality of the jobs left much to be desired. The prison in Susanville was by far the primary source of decent paying jobs with benefits. Those who lived in Susanville were not grateful for this, but they resented the fact that their only job opportunities lied in a prison. Most preferred not to deal with inmates, who were deemed too dangerous for society. Several guards interviewed in the documentary reported “physical and psychological stress”. In the most straightforward way, prison guards faced physical danger when dealing with aggressive inmates. These physical dangers are not comparable to those in a common work place, as they are done with intent by another human. The psychological stress falls greatly out of fear of the physical danger. This is a problem shared by guards and their families. The dangers faced at the job were real, and were reflected by the stress of the job. Guards were encouraged to stay fit, and lift on a regular basis. Displayed in the weight room was a poster, displaying aggressive looking inmates. The picture was captioned “They lifted today. Did you?” This poster epitomizes the fear and danger faced by prison guards on a very regular basis.
	The document showed other economical problems within the town, caused by the prison. With its luring government pay, and vast benefits, the prison took a lot of qualified workers from many jobs who simply could not afford to match the prison's salary. Economically, this would seem like a good thing, increasing the average income within the town. However, in the long run, what will this money be spent on if the other businesses cannot survive? The prison was also reported to have taken business outside of town, when those businesses who provided to it relied heavily on its business. As an “economic savior”, the prisons seem to have little regard for the actual economic wellbeing of the town.
	The movie had a strong stance against prisons, and the rate at which they are used. The movie was able to demonstrate the ways in which a prison sentence can complicate one's life, and for such a seemingly meaningless cause. It was also able to portray the concept of a “prison town”, or a town that is economically dependent on a local prison, and the negative effects of this. The economic choices made by a prison do not always keep in mind the interests of the town, despite its central position in the town's economy. A prison may form a base for a town, but by no means does this mean an ideal base. The central point of this documentary is that prisons are being used in excess, and as more of them are built, the problems portrayed in the movie are only become more frequent.