The 6 Biggest Myths About Jail from People Who Have Been to Prison

Apparently, there are a number of myths that spread related to prison. You may have heard one of the myths about prison. And, now you are curious to know about all the myths. Well, in this article, we will share information about the six biggest myths about prison from people who have been imprisoned. To find out this information, just read the article below until the end.

Biggest Myths About Jail

Here are the six biggest myths about jail from people who have been to prison:

1. Innocent people will not be imprisoned

The first myth is that innocent people will not be imprisoned. We found information that there was an ex-convict who never took a plea deal. And, he also did not enter a plea when he was sentenced because he believed that he was innocent of the charges against him. However, due to national security concerns, the ex-convict did not obtain permission to inform the jury of important facts needed for his defense. He ended up not testifying at the trial. New York federal district judge Jed Rakoff estimated that between 1% and 8% of our prison population may be innocent, but they succumbed to the prosecutors’ coercive tactics.

2. Every individual will get time in court to defend themselves

The second myth is that every individual will get time in court to defend themselves. Typically, this right is given in the Constitution. However, it is unfortunately one of the biggest myths. In fact, not all individuals get time in court to defend themselves. The compelling reason is money. Yeah, apparently, money plays an important role in defending yourself in court. You should know that the cost of defending yourself in court is astounding. Everyone needs a lot of money to defend themselves. If they do not have enough money, chances are they can only resign themselves to their fate. We get information that there is an ex-convict who has spent a lot of money over the past 8 years just to exercise his constitutional rights. In fact, the ex-convict said that even simple legal cases would require a lot of money to defend themselves in court. The average perpetrator’s family, especially those without a lot of money, would go bankrupt if they tried to go to court. Prosecutors know this. They sometimes abuse their authority by forcing about 98% of all federal defendants, including innocent people, to accept guilty plea offers and never stand trial.

3. Individuals will only be prosecuted for crimes they commit

The third myth is that individuals will only be prosecuted for the crimes they commit. In fact, prosecutors sometimes prosecute excessively. And, it is a common abuse of the prosecutors. As we know that most laws are very vague. To influence the jury in giving a sentence, the prosecutors often exaggerate criminal behavior. In addition, there are also prosecutors who forcefully increase the costs for the defendant. Of course, this is very detrimental to the offender. However, the prosecutors who commit such misconduct face few consequences. Elements of the criminal justice system cannot be controlled.

4. Prison is a rehabilitative experience

According to research, there are approximately 2.5 million Americans in prison. It seems that America imprisons people to solve various social and economic ills. The poor, minorities, and the mentally ill bear the brunt of this misdirected government policy. A 2006 Justice Department study found that more than half of male prisoners and nearly 75% of female prisoners in US prisons suffer from mental illness. And, rehabilitation is almost non-existent. Of the more than 700,000 people released from US prisons each year, two-thirds are re-arrested. And, more than half usually return to prison within three years.

5. A prosecutor’s duty is to seek justice, not only convict

The next myth about prison is that a prosecutor’s job is to seek justice, not merely convict. These seem to be the words of the American Bar Association standard for prosecutors. Unfortunately, it is only a myth. As we know, today, criminal justice is a system driven by the prosecutorial power, abuse, and discretion. There are many prosecutors who violate people’s due process rights. There are several reasons why prosecutors do this. Money and power are the main reasons. With money and power, a prosecutor can blatantly violate a person’s due process rights. A good record at the Department of Justice guarantees a US prosecutor as a defense attorney at one of the most prestigious firms in the country or as the general counsel of companies whose revenues depend largely on the United States taxpayer. From this myth, we can conclude that a prosecutor can sometimes only convict someone without seeking true justice.

6. We are one nation, under the God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

When we studied in public schools, we would have been familiar with the words that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Apparently, according to people who have been imprisoned, it is one of the biggest myths about prison. In fact, we live in 13 separate federal entities, or districts, each of which has a Court of Appeals. Now, judicial decisions made in one district, even in its Court of Appeals, will not bind judges in other districts. Therefore, the Department of Justice can choose the most favorable federal district to file their charges. One former inmate said that his trial judge often ignored case law in other federal districts regarding important evidentiary and procedural issues.

Also Read: Meaning of SNY Yard in Prison

Conclusion

Based on the explanation above, we can conclude that the six biggest myths about jail from people who have been to prison are innocent people will not be imprisoned, every individual will get time in court to defend themselves, individuals will only be prosecuted for crimes they commit, prison is a rehabilitative experience, a prosecutor’s duty is to seek justice not only convict, and the last myth is that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. After knowing this information, we hope you do not misunderstand or misconception again about jails.

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