Injustices in Prisons, what is being done?

I have to make a declaration. I am a very ignorant person. I base my knowledge of the world from different sources; the news, peers and even Facebook. I don’t know much about the world without others first introducing me to a current issue. That is why this book Queer (In)Justice by the authors Joey Mogul, Andrea Ritchie, and Kay Whitlock opened up my eyes to the various injustices that the LGBT community are experiencing. Before this book, I was very much unaware about what was going on with LGBT people from domestic violence, court rulings, hate crimes and treatment in prisons. I had no real idea of what was going on in the world. Of course, I had heard whispers about these injustices but I had never been exposed to the truth. I was especially hit hard with the treatment of LGBT people in prisons.

                The very first thing that used to come to my mind when I thought about prisons, is that what ever happened in prison was due punishment for the prisoners. These people were in prison for a reason, weren’t they? At least that is what I thought. I never once stopped to think what prison really meant or what happened behind those doors away from society. Mogul makes the statement that prisons where created for one reason, “repent.., through hard labor, silence, studying the scriptures, and corporal punishment.” Although this doesn’t seem like a good way of running a prison, the very idea of prison has changed drastically and in much more negative way. Prison has become a way to make money for large corporations and it doesn’t really matter how others get treated inside the prison. Mistreatment of individuals, especially LGBT people, is to be expected.

                Mistreatment in prison varies from individual. However, if a person is labeled as or identifies as LGBT, prison will become a horrible experience. In prison, LGBT people are raped. Not only by fellow prisoners but also by prison staff. The very people who are supposed to protect these individuals are the same ones who are causing harm. “Studies indicate that as many as one in four female prisoners and one in five male prisoners are subjected to some form of sexual violence at the hands of prison staff and other prisoners”.  LGBT people are violated and treated as less than human simply because they do not fit the “norm” that was set by society.

                Reading this book, Queer (In)Justices, has left me feeling a bit helpless and shocked at the going-ons in this world. What can be done to protect people who suffer such injustices? I believe that part of the problem lies with an ignorant population. Many people do not know what is going on in prisons. First of, people need to care about their fellow human beings in order to do something about these various injustices. Although, the media can play a negative role in various issues, sometimes it can help open up people’s eyes to different issues going on across the globe. One particular television show has begun the conversation of prisoners and their treatment. “Orange is the New Black” is a show that takes place in a female prison. This particular show has various women identifying as straight, lesbian, and even transgender. Although, this show is a comedy most of the time, it does touch on the mistreatment and injustices that prisoners face. Some characters are raped by fellow prisoners and even by staff members. The transgender character, Sophia, is placed in solitary confinement for her “safety”.  “Orange is the New Black” starts the conversation of prisoners and their treatments. It begins to attract attention from the larger population.

                There are also organizations and laws that focus on helping LGBT people in prison. One particular organization is Black and Pink. This organization focuses on helping prisoners in various ways. People from outside of prison can sign up on their website and become a pen pal with LGBT people in prison. The organization also focuses on liberation from the prison systems. Black and Pink believe that prisons just don’t work and something else must be done to help people reform.  The government is also beginning to pay attention to the people who want to see change. The Prison EliminationAct which targets sexual abuse in prisons has been in place since 2012.

                It may not seem as though anything is being done to help victims of sexual abuse and rape in prisons. It may seem bleak and hopeless. However, I have hope that something can be done about these injustices. We must begin by spreading the word and then we can move on to fixing the problem. My only concern, is how long does it take to make people care?