Inmate Entitlement Attitudes ~
Growing Problem
By Carl R. ToersBijns
Today a large segment of
our prison population is made up of chronic complainers and unreasonable
whiners. These individual whiners are so used to getting things for free that
when they are incarcerated they are the most labor intense and most chronic
complainers around.
Living off the government
has developed a society within the prison razor wire that resembles a
significant portion of those same habits displayed when in the free world. Secondary considerations are those persons
that are getting older and needing medical care for chronic medical conditions
or dental work long overdue.
Without any doubt, these
prisoners have basic needs and are entitled to some of the same services out
there in the communities in the name of being secure and maintaining their
wellness. The difference is they have to share these limited resources with
thousands of others thus a waiting list is common and the most efficient way of
dealing with their issues. This does not make them happy occupants while in
prison but that is the reality of how things are.
There are exceptions to
the rule of course as there are those who truly need these services that are
physically or mentally disabled and can’t earn or work for these things they
really need. However, it seems that
society has developed a large throng of professional dole takers that also
duplicate these same behaviors when incarcerated and living off the prison dole
system.
Out in the free world, they
frequent churches and soup kitchens for free meals and drinks. While
incarcerated they hoard the dining hall chairs and complain about the quality
and quantity of food served without paying one penny into the cost to feed
them. Some are fortunate to live with
family but often they wear their welcome out as they sponge there way into the
streets by abusing the gratitude and love of their relatives.
They learn to double dip
and get more for free while robbing others from a meal as prison food often
runs out and do what is called progressive feeding also known as making the
meal as the line is being served. Additional staff and coupons had to be used
to prevent this double dipping as the cost of a meal is rising and no prisoner
will ever contribute to its costs.
It also appears that
because everything inside prison is practically free and paid for by the
taxpayers, they don’t mind going back to prison and compromise the quality of
life for a free ride and no responsibilities. Many choose to live like this and
most consider it a viable alternative to be a free person and choose not to be
working for a living and living free off government food stamps or other dole
services. They know the criminal code
well enough to commit minor felony crimes and plan their short term stays
around the seasons and the weather so it seems.
It also seems they would
rather spent the night in a prison or jail than be free and living in these
shelters or churches that offer free overnight bedding or spent the night under
the bridge or overpasses where the weather keeps them cold and wet most of the
time. Precisely, prisoners receive free
indoor shelter all year around. This avoids them having to find bed space in
homeless shelters or other sanctuaries already overcrowded and sometimes hard
to get into.
While in prison they don’t
have to worry about clothing, furniture or household goods and are spared the
efforts they spent going through dumpsters, laundromats or looking curbside
through garbage cans or stealing clothes from clothes lines waiting for the sun
to dry them. After all, it takes a lot of energy to make things come together
like that and not many receive the cooperation from others out there.
On the outside, it is
highly likely a homeless person or down and out ex convict does not have any
pocket money to buy anything for themselves unless they go to the blood or
sperm banks to redeem their bodily fluids for cash. If they are fortunate
enough to collect cans and bottles for recycled funds they compete with others
to get the sufficient amounts of items to get a little bit of cash to buy cheap
booze, a bus ticket, drugs or cigarettes or toiletries.
However, it takes a lot of
effort to make ends meet and money does not come easy to these people. While in jail or prison, they get an opportunity
to work for small wages and receive a small deposit in the inmate bank account
at the end of the month to buy items from the commissary or others. In prison they don’t have to panhandle and
look for lost change as they are fed, clothed, seen by medical and even the
dentist if their case is serious enough to warrant an appointment.
Is it no
wonder why entitlement attitudes are growing inside prisons. They are
duplicating their lifestyle inside prison as they live on the outside those
high walls and razor wire. The basic difference is that they do their time and
take advantage of tax funded services that are not available to them on the
outside.
It makes
sense that rather than making the effort to be self sufficient and work for
what they need, they can get it all for free inside a warm dry eight by ten
cell or a cozy dormitory setting with televisions blaring, food aplenty and
medical and dental care for those who need to be seen by healthcare providers. Already
conditioned to cope and function within their prison adapted norms, they seem
to do it well and survive living off the systems that gives them an opportunity
to get things for free.
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