The below is a clip from my prison essay that can be found at http://www.true-emotions.org/Prison/ Throughout this article there are several areas that I feel are ethnocentric in one way or another. However, I have outlined my all time favorite as it is probably the most ethnocentric statement I have ever heard!

85.71% of the 100 students and faculty surveyed at Highline Community College believed that offenders should receive human treatment, 61.11% believed that offenders should be permitted to utilize weight-training devices, and 53.66% believed that offenders should be allowed the privilege of television. Since the participants of the survey were assumed to be educated individuals, the results from this portion of the survey were the most alarming of all (Montgomery).

46.34% of the students who were asked if television should be available along with 21.88% of those asked if offenders should be permitted to use weights answered no. They presume that because an offender has committed an illegal act they should not receive privileges (Montgomery). They felt that the Government over spends its budget and should spend the money on more beneficial purposes. They felt that offenders should be forced to spend their time thinking about the issues that brought them to prison to begin with instead of �Beefing Up�. One sarcastic individual even went on record saying, they would approve of weights only because �[the offender] will look better on the death table.� Maybe these individuals would change their mind if they were forced to lose everything they hold dear, and do their time without an opportunity to release the frustration and anxiety associated with this loss.

It�s easy to view extra curricular activities as amenities. However, in many instances, amenities are helpful during the rehabilitation process. It is a �Carrot verses the Stick� situation. If an offender follows the rules set forth then they receive certain privileges (carrot). If the offender fails to adhere to said rules, then they lose privileges (stick). Usually creating a win-win situation.

In 1996, eight hundred prison staff was surveyed by Sam Houston University. Less than 25% of those surveyed felt that amenities should be eliminated from the offenders� daily life. The majority of the staff felt that extra curricular activities have several purposes. They said that allowing an offender to release built up tension reduces boredom, decreases negative attitudes, and reduces anxiety thus helping the officers in charge manage the offenders� actions. Over all this provides positive interaction between offenders and staff members (Sifakis 36).

The fact is, these low cost amenities are financed through inmate funds (Sifakis 280). Inmates must pay $3.00 for cable weather they utilize the service or not. The privilege of weight training costs the offender $5.00 a month (Doc Guide 56), and only those inmates that �earn� this activity may participate (Doc 56). For most offenders this is the only free time activity they have to fulfill their time. (Anonymous #3) Since this information is not common public knowledge, it is probably the number one contributing factor leading to public misconception. As for offenders �Beefing Up�, when was the last you heard of anyone being attacked by a weight lifting x-con? Over all, �the absence of normal human interactions, and reasonable mental stimulus and almost anything that makes life bearable is emotionally, physically and psychologically destructive.� (Herman)

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