Corruption Chronicle: Department of Corrections….or Corruption?

"Rehabilitation," we've all heard the term before, and the concept is familiar, no doubt! How about "correction"??? Yet another term Amerika has grown fond of. Both words in all of their rhetorical splendor imply what? Constructive guidance! Quite the ideal concept for the individual who has deviated from the straight and narrow path of lawful abidance.

It's no great wonder that the prison union subscribes to the catchy title of "Department of Corrections," this can be expected from an institution whose fundamental purposes is (idealistically) to provide viable, tangible means of rehabilitation.

The average Amerikan's conceptual understanding of prison is a vague one, somewhere between an outhouse and a reformatory. I, being a prisoner myself, know the very real truth of the sordid situation, first hand.

The individual who declared this corrupt system the "department of corrections" no doubt had a draconian sense of humor. If we were to dissect the intrinsic purpose of such an institution (as ideally purposed) we would discover that rehabilitation is the fruit of correction. Essentially "correction" of "error" is achieved through the application of positive guidance. That is to say that "correction" is the production of "correct repremandation."

If a child swears in the presence of his mother, a bar of soap in his mouth may, or may not, prove sufficient in correction. The mother would like to think so, however the truth of the matter is that there are numerous contributing factors which must be taken into account. Foremost, a mother who swears herself, is, in fact, conducive to the child's error in that she encourages such profane language through example. Upon further inspection it becomes quite apparent that "correction" is not to be found in the presence of "corruption."

Now this example may be taken literally, or it can be applied in contrast to our corrections system.

Looking at the dynamics of prison in general, we must acknowledge prison (as it stands) as a house of criminal psychosis. It houses a wide array of criminality ranging anywhere from petty theft to murder.

Now (ideally) these institutions are supposed to implement corrective measures which inspire positive change within the minds of their captive. Or does society honestly believe that merely locking up such minds (together) will really alter the status quo? People, prison today inspires no more positive change than it does correction!

What was originally conceived as a righteous idea has manifested into a corrupt agency. The very people delegated to assume corrective positions now instigate, and indeed encourage criminal mentality. Prison for years now has been plagued with ethnically racial gangs. In California the gang ratio constitutes approximately 95% of its populace. This is due to administration's encouragement through the support of racial classification. Of course, we can step back from the criminal, and look at the captor.

The other day I witnessed a young man beat into unconsciousness by three "correctional officers." Mind you this young man was bound behind the back with mechanical restraints. For those who witnessed the tragedy it was harrowing, every kick, every punch, was not only intended to inflict pain on this man, but moreover to debase him to the depths of his soul. This malevolent display of abuse of authority, and similar instances, only serve to inspire a refined contempt and almost justified hatred for these nefarious 'correction" officials. The underlined question here is (how) such a system is expected to inspire positive change and reform when its governing body and method invoke a contempt and resentment akin to that which are shared between rivals?

The answer is it can, and does not, instead it fosters the seed of justification.

- a California prisoner, June 2006

MIM adds: This prisoner explains some of the reasons why MIM calls it the Criminal Injustice System. It is no accident that the system offers no rehabilitation or education. It is also no accident that the prison population started skyrocketing as the Amerikan government began its all out war against revolutionary organizations of the oppressed nations in the 1970s, first and foremost the Black Panther Party. Amerika uses its prisons as a tool of social control over the oppressed nations within U.$. borders as well as all political activists. Brutality, inhumyn conditions, and absence of rehabilitation are all part of the program. Within this system are the seeds of resistance and MIM is working to educate prisoners so that they can be productive anti-imperialists both behind bars and once they hit the streets.