Breaking Point

I DVR'd the Ted Koppel Breaking Point special aired on the Discovery Channel this past Sunday evening (see previous post). I watched it yesterday. It was good journalism. I do wish Koppel had placed more emphasis on the fact that state and federal prison system nationwide are at record levels of overcrowding and that the situation is not just limited to California. However, the documentary did do well in showing inmates as real people, being effected by the same issues inside as those on the outside.

It was extremely interesting to see that prisons are a microcosm of outer society. Inmates tend to segregate themselves along racial lines delineating black areas, white areas and Latino areas within which each race observes invisible boundaries that are rarely crossed. Prisons are a "mini" city where neighborhoods are created and racism perpetuated. In California, the penal system encourages this racism and segregation. They feel if the races keep themselves separate, a confrontation is less likely to occur that could lead to riot. Federal law has now mandated that the California system must desegregate starting in January of 2008. Time will tell if it is successful.

It was shown that a desegregated population already exists within the prison from which Koppel reported. The psychiatric dormitory where inmates with mental health issues and depression were housed seemed to be the most peaceful stress-free housing unit in the prison. The inmates there receive counseling and pharmaceutical treatment and seemed to be happier and getting along.

I think there's a message here. Realistically, what inmate does not have mental health issues, depression or at the very least, anger management issues? There is always an underlying reason why people act out and break the law. In order to find a cure for violence and crime, society must dig deeper for the reasons and start behaving pro-actively and compassionately, caring for people and meeting needs before these individuals reach their 'Breaking Point.' It is obvious that simply warehousing offenders is not the answer.

I felt very sympathetic for one man as Koppel followed him from prison to his situation after release. He had become an addict as a teenager and had repeatedly been in and out of prison. It was obvious that in prison he knew the system and while there he was strong and confident (and drug and alcohol free). Upon release, however, he became nervous, unsure of himself, stressed out and drawn back to his addictions. In prison he receives very little job training or rehabilitation. Each time he is released, he is under pressure from parole officers to get a job and become responsible. It was obvious that access to vital resources to change his situation are blocked from him.