Hannah Roe and Madeline Nutt

2nd Hour
02/21/19
Shawshank Redemption: The Truth

“Terrible thing, to live in fear. Brooks Hatlen knew it. Knew it all too well. All I want is
to be back where things make sense. Where I won't have to be afraid all the time,” (Darabont).
This was said by Red, a main character in Shawshank Redemption. This shows that reentering
society was very hard on both Brooks and Red himself. They could not cope with the normal life
because they were so used to prison life being their normal. They were so institutionalized that
they both could not function properly outside of prison. Shawshank Redemption demonstrates the
truth that the prison system sets inmates up for failure once released back into society.

One thing inmates have to endure upon release is the drastic environmental change from
a jail cell to the real world. The rules prisoners live by are a night and day difference compared
to the rules of reality. Their taste of daily routine no longer applies when faced with this new life.
For instance, when entering back into society, Red, a main character in the film, didn’t know
how to function like a normal human being. When bagging groceries at work, upon release, he
raised his hand and says, “Ready for my break boss.” His boss looked at him with a look of
concern and motioned him over. He sternly whispers, “You don’t need to ask me everytime you
need to go take a piss. Just go, understood?” Red, shocked by his response hesitated and said,
“Yes sir,” then jolts towards the bathroom stalls, (Darabont). Red’s actions show how much
prison really does affect a person's life. Spending 40+ years in such a dehumanizing environment
can really take a toll on how prisoners operate. When in prison, you are completes ransacked of
all freedom, such as when you can eat, sleep, and even go to the bathroom. When thrown into the
real word it is nearly impossible for inmates to have the mindset that they are now free. This
helps prove that the prison system sets prisoners up for failure by not giving inmates proper job
training and real life skills to survive in the real world.

Another thing that inmates encounter upon release is the struggle to function in a new
environment. They are so institutionalize to the jail cells that it feels their world is being totally
flipped around the moment they walk out into society. They become so used to their environment
that it becomes very difficult for them to adjust to the outside world. Red, a main character in the
film, says, “When you first get in here, you hate the walls around you. Then you grow used to
them, then you grow to need them,” (Darabont). This is a perfect example of institutionalized
because it shows how drawn a human can get to something to the point where they need it to
properly function. Brooks, another character in the film, is a perfect example. When released
from prison his whole daily routine was thrown off to the point where he went mentally insane.
After only a couple days out he killed himself. Imagine coming out of prison, you’d feel all
alone, with no money, no job, and this institutional feeling inside you. Overall, the prison system
makes it nearly impossible for inmates to live a normal life again.

When released from prison most inmates tend to recidivate; the tendency of a convicted
criminal to reoffend. Going from a small restricted area to a world of endless possibilities can
often be quite overwhelming. Prisoners are no longer sheltered by the prison system. Their minds
are completely rewired, forgetting all ways to participate in everyday society. They now have to
look after themselves and make their own income. According to USA Today, 75% of prisoners
return to the system within five years of release in America, (Rivers). Since the prison systems
don’t supply inmates with drug or alcohol treatments, before release, they often go right back to
doing the illegal things that sent them to prison in the first place. To add to the fact, when
released, most prisoners are hit with financial burdens. They get so overwhelmed to the point
where they turn to, what they believe is the last possibility, committing another crime, like theft.
The prison system is setting inmates up for failure by not giving them the proper treatments
needed to get better. Instead, they are bringing these helpless people right back into society.

On the other hand, some people believe prisoners who commit crimes need to be
punished. That they should pay for what they’ve done, therefore believing a brutal time in prison
is necessary to help teach them a lesson. In Shawshank Redemption, the warden and the prison
guards showed this when they used brutality toward prisoners. However, the purpose of the
prison system is to rehabilitate prisoners, so they can have a second chance at life. Some people
believe that all prisoners are bad and a danger to society. In reality, most prisoners are held for
minor crimes and just need to take the proper precautions to help rehabilitate themselves. This
way of handling prisoners is ineffective because they are bound to reenter society, so we need to
help them before they do something bad again.

As can be seen, Shawshank redemption effectively argues that the prison system gives
prisoners a life long prison mindset. Inmates get thrown into prison, which is a completely
different environment then the real world. They are forced to adapt quickly, and they don’t
supply job training or any drug and alcohol rehabilitations. This film helps acknowledge the fact
that prison actually causes inmates to have less of a chance of redeeming themselves. The prison
system is suppose to help inmates get better. In reality, it is just causing more difficulty later on
when the prisoners are released. You may be wondering, What could be done to change our
prison system to work the way it was intended to? We need to challenge our criminal justice
system to change it. Regardless of your mistake, you should always have a second chance to
redeem yourself.

Work Cited Page

Darabont, Frank, Director. Shawshank Redemption. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994.

Rivers, Eileen. “Re-Entry into Society, or Back to Prison?” USA Today, Gannett Satellite
Information Network, 31 Dec. 2017, USAToday