Doing Time, Doing Vipassana is a documentary on the ancient meditation technique called Vipassana and how Tihar Jail, notorious for its harsh and inhuman living conditions, became transformed into a sanctuary of peace and compassion. The technique allowed the prisoners of the jail to take control of their lives through inner peace and meditation. In 1993, Kiran Bedi was appointed as the Inspector General of Prisons in New Delhi and introduced Vipassana to the inmates and guards after a fellow jail officer recommended the technique. “To see things as they really are,” is the true meaning of Vipassana. It is a journey through one’s own mind; the goal is to become transformed by the journey and start to live a better life. After offering the course to 100 inmates, the results were immediate and dramatic. The prisoners of Tihar Jail underwent profound changes through the practice of Vipassana. Due to the success of the reformation, the following year 1,000 prisoners were allowed to take the course, thus being the largest Vipassana course of that time. Tahir jail now offers regular Vipassana courses to the inmates in what is known as the “Vipassana Ward” where inmates can volunteer to work. It has become a form of rehabilitation adopted by several jails even ranging from England to the United States. What I found amazing was the amount of compassion displayed towards the prisoners from the guards and the inspector in Baroda Jail. I really admired how the Superintendent of Baroda Jail, Mr. Vora took the initiative to take the ten-day course himself after witnessing the changes in his prisoners. I can’t speak from personal experience, but from what has been shown in the media and portrayed in films, it seems like inmates are treated p... ... middle of paper ... ...eal with everyday burdens and maintain a peaceful and happier life. The film won the NCCD Pass Award from the American National Council on Crime and Delinquency in 1998. Following that the film won the Silver Award at the Crested Butte International Film Festival for best documentary in 2000, amongst other awards. Many prisoners don’t change while in jail, and after being released, end up back in jail after committing another crime. The technique of Vipassana used in the two jails from the film show the positive effects of this ancient technique and should be applied to more jails all around the world. Beyond the awards the positive message lies within the actions taken for peace and not inhuman matters. I personally admire the acts of compassion towards every problematic person who stepped foot into the Tihar Jail whose life was changed in such a positive manner.
Neither Conover nor Santos paints a favorable picture of conditions within prison. In particular, Santos description of violence within prison shows a very disturbing setting for people to live. Santos describes a daily fight to remain safe and alive. ...
The picture this book paints would no doubt bother corrections professionals in prisons where prisoner-staff relationships and officer solidarity are more developed. In training, Conover is told that "the most important thing you can learn here is to communicate with inmates." And the Sing Sing staff who enjoy the most success and fulfillment i...
...they want to be not only respected but also being able to survive in the prison environment. In prison, there are so many inmates and not two inmates are the same. The inmates will disrespect the officers by calling them names, giving officers difficult times, but it goes the other way around too. It is disturbing image after learning that sometimes it is the officer’s fault and not just the inmates’ wrongdoings. There will be times when officers and inmates will engage in a conspiracy crime and times when the female staff is engaged in sexual actions with an inmate. Conover wrote this book to allow the audience to see the prison society from many different point-of-views and give future officers an early insight to becoming a correctional officer.
After reading the book I have gained a new understanding of what inmates think about in prison. Working in an institution, I have a certain cynical attitude at times with inmates and their requests. Working in a reception facility, this is a facility where inmates are brought in from the county jails to the state intake facility, we deal with a lot of requests and questions. At times, with the phone ringing off the hook from family members and inmates with their prison request forms, you get a little cynical and tired of answering the same questions over and over. As I read the book I begin to understand some of the reason for the questions. Inmate(s) now realize that the officers and administrative personnel are in control of their lives. They dictate with to get up in the morning, take showers, eat meals, go to classes, the need see people for different reason, when to exercise and when to go to bed. The lost of control over their lives is a new experience for some and they would like to be able to adjust to this new lost of freedom. Upon understanding this and in reading the book, I am not as cynical as I have been and try to be more patient in answering questions. So in a way I have changed some of my thinking and understanding more of prison life.
Warden Cain uses an unusual system at Angola. He strives on the motive that his inmates will improve themselves at Angola and have a free, fulfilled life post prison as a result. Rather than lock the prisoners up in their cells for hours on end, he has amplified the opportunities for visitors, the use of the library, work on the prison grounds and a variety of special programs. He is able to wake up in the morning and come to work because of the inmates. His desire for their improvement is highly incomparable. Many woul...
The documentary The Dhamma Brothers deals with a group of prisoners in an Alabama who partake in an intensive Vipassana meditation retreat, their experience illustrates that even those serving life sentences for crimes are not beyond personal growth and rehabilitation. In the documentary, the Birmingham Maximum Security Prison in Alabama participated in an intensive meditation program based off the Vipassana principles. Prisoners that volunteered were to remain in total silence and meditate for 10 days as part of the program. It viewed the lives of four prisoners convicted of murder before, during the intensive and arduous meditation process and the after effects of the program. Through the Vipassana program, it emphasizes even inmates that
All in all, Kerman’s year sentence in jail opened her eyes to some of the many problems within the federal prison system. She witnessed favoritism, abuse, health violations, etc. that helped her realize that she never wanted to go back to prison, despite all the true friendships she made. Through her use of rhetoric, mainly ethos, Kerman showed her audience a firsthand account of what an actual prison sentence is like. She also explored the idea of how one bad decision can change a person’s life forever.
Prison contemplative programs are also of great help to both prison inmates and staff. These contemplative programs include yoga, meditation and prayers for contemplation. Through such programs, both prison staff and inmates benefit a lot especially when it comes to relieving stress. In most countries and especially America, majority of the prisoners are dealers of illicit drugs. It is logical that most drug addicts engage in criminal activities. Therefore, drug treatment programs in jails and prisons are a useful tool for rehabilitation and reformation of inmates into better people who can be productive once their jail term ends. However studies show that currently in America, only a small proportion of inmates requesting for drug treatment actually receive it (Listverse,
The documentary, Hard Time: Worse of the Worse offered an eye-opening glimpse into the American prison system. The film showed the American prison system is one with strict rules to follow, ran with a zero tolerance policy. The documentary was an accurate portrayal of how prison life is that offered adequate information of how inmates behind bars live their lives day to day in a maximum-security prison. It was interesting to see a documentary on a maximum-security prison, since it is less common amongst the security types. The documentary depicted the American prison system to be ruthless, rule orientated, and militaristic with high security discipline, and its own prison subculture.
...ple. Before this experience, I do not think I could have ever said I respected a convicted burglar or any criminal. These were humans who made incredibly bad decisions, but that does not mean they do not deserve a second chance if they are willing to change, some aren’t, but I emphasized for the prisoners who were. Prison is a lot of their second chances. “I am lucky to still be alive, if I were not here (in prison), I most likely wouldn’t be alive,” exclaimed one prisoner. This experience allowed me to be thankful for the life I was given, the home I grew up in, and how my parents raised me. I cannot say I would not walk into a prison frightened and with preconceived thoughts again because I would be lying. I have been taught by society to be scared of these people, but I am thankful I can say I did meet kind, remorseful prisoners waiting for their second chance.
Dodd, Vikram. "Why Prison Education?." . Prison Studies Project, Teaching Research Outreach, 16 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. .
In the media, prisons have always been depicted as a horrible place. The film, The Shawshank Redemption, is a prime example that supports the media 's suggestions about prison life. In the film we are familiarized with Andy Dufresne, who is a banker that is wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. While trying to both remain discreet and find his prison identity, he assists Ellis Boyd 'Red ' Redding, a peddler, and Brooks Hatlen. In his attempt to fit into the rough prison subculture, Andy strategically starts a business relationship with the captain Captain Bryon Hadley and Samuel Norton. The film gives an insider 's look at various aspects of prison life. These aspects include prison culture; explicitly, guard subculture and inmate subculture.
Firstly, in order to gain a better understanding of the problems that plague or correctional system we must fully understand the enormous overcrowding problem that exist in the majority of or state and federal prisons. Since 1980 the prison population has quadrupled and only the numb...
It is just as difficult to prevent those who commit misdeeds in prison as it is to prevent that person from committing the crime, this is why tougher punishment is of high importance. Focusing on reform will not deter an inmate from misbehaving within or outside of prison. A unpleasant punishment however, will turn away a criminal from his misbehaviors while incarcerated and with the enduring impression of prison life outside of the cell walls. Although this article fails to address those circumstances that an inmate will need solitary confinement, it does prevail in bringing light to those few who are mistreated in prison facilities. The article those who are mistreated on the other hand are sparse and should be treated differently from those who are stable and
... overcome the obstacles that once held them back and had led them to prison in the first place The experiences of prison are enough to make a former inmate “do whatever it takes to avoid a second term” (“Rehabilitative Effects”) This being said, the many religious, therapeutic, and educational proceedings have also given prisoners an initiative to stay out of prison The religious aspect gives inmates hope and courage The therapeutic provides inmates with a safe environment to share their issues and to receive positive encouragement And finally, the educational offers a way to acquire a GED and or occupational skills that will enable the previously incarcerated with skills that will give them an advantage to obtaining a job. The negative side of prisons has become the face of prisons, blinding the public to all of the good that incarceration offers the incarcerated.