Inmate Entitlement Attitudes - a Growing Problem

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.