When most people think about
incarceration, what usually comes to mind are images of confinement, loss of
freedom, and difficult daily existence. While prison life is indeed challenging
and restrictive, there’s another side to the story; one that rarely makes
headlines. Beyond the walls and wire fences, many correctional facilities offer
programs and privileges designed to help people who are incarcerated
rehabilitate, learn, and grow. These opportunities often called “prison perks”
are not luxuries, but tools that support personal development and prepare
individuals for a better life or after any release. This blog article is
entitled, “Seven Helpful Prison Perks
For People Who Are Incarcerated”.
Below are seven of the most helpful
prison perks that can make a real difference in the lives of incarcerated
people.
1. The Prison
Library: A Gateway To Growth
For many behind bars, the prison
library is more than a quiet space — it’s a lifeline. Access to books,
magazines, and sometimes even newspapers allow people who are incarcerated to
expand their minds, improve literacy, and escape, even if only mentally, from
the confines of their environment.
The library is where self-discovery
often begins. From novels that inspire imagination to nonfiction that teaches
business, psychology, or self-help, reading becomes a powerful tool for
transformation. People who are incarcerated can learn about the world,
different cultures, and human behavior. Many who enter prison with minimal
education or reading habits experience or leave with a deep love for books. In
fact, reading has been linked to lower recidivism rates, as it fosters critical
thinking, empathy, and communication skills — all of which are essential for
re-entry into society.
2. JPay And
Communication Programs: Staying Connected
Isolation from loved ones is one of
the hardest aspects of incarceration. That’s where systems like JPay come in. JPay is a digital service
used in many correctional facilities that allows people who are incarcerated to
send and receive emails, video messages, and even access music or educational
content (depending on the institution).
Maintaining healthy relationships is
crucial to emotional stability and rehabilitation. With JPay and similar
platforms, people who are incarcerated can stay connected with their families,
share updates, and receive moral support. That consistent communication can
mean the difference between despair and hope. For parents behind bars, it also
allows them to stay involved in their children’s lives — something that keeps
motivation alive and strengthens family bonds that are vital for adjusting or reintegration.
Image Source: Pixabay
3. Education And
Vocational Training: Building A Future
Education is arguably the most
impactful opportunity available in prison. Many facilities partner with
community colleges, nonprofits, and educational programs to offer GED
preparation, literacy classes, and even college-level courses. For those who
may have dropped out of school early, this becomes a second chance to rewrite
their story.
Vocational training is another major perk. Programs in carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, culinary arts, or computer literacy equip people who are incarcerated with practical skills that translate directly into job opportunities before or after any release. Some prisons even offer certification programs that meet national standards, making graduates employable the moment they walk out of the gate. Education not only reduces recidivism but gives people who are incarcerated purpose. It helps them see beyond their current circumstances, fostering self-worth and showing them that transformation is possible.
4. The Recreation
Yard: Physical And Mental Freedom
The recreation yard is a vital part
of prison life not just for exercise, but for mental health. Time spent
outdoors can help people who are incarcerated manage stress, release tension,
and maintain physical health. Activities like basketball, soccer, jogging, or
weight training offer an outlet for aggression and boredom while promoting
teamwork and discipline.
Exercise also boosts serotonin and
dopamine levels, helping fight depression and anxiety—two conditions common in
incarceration. The recreation yard often becomes a space where people who are
incarcerated form friendships, build community, and experience a small sense of
normalcy. In an environment that can be monotonous and emotionally taxing, that
daily hour in the open air can make all the difference.
5. Religious And
Spiritual Programs: Finding Peace And Purpose
Many people who are incarcerated
turn to spirituality as a way of coping and finding meaning. Prisons typically
host religious services, Bible studies, Islamic prayer groups, meditation
circles, and other faith-based programs led by chaplains or volunteers. These
programs help foster inner peace, forgiveness, and moral reflection.
Beyond religion itself, spirituality
provides a framework for personal accountability and emotional healing. It
encourages compassion, self-control, and hope all qualities essential for
rehabilitation. Many former individuals who are incarcerated credit their faith
or meditation practices for helping them survive the emotional strain of prison
life and manage or rebuild their lives afterward.
Image Source: Pixabay
6. Counseling And
Reentry Programs: Preparing For Life After Prison
One of the most underrated perks of
incarceration is access to counseling and reentry planning services. These
programs are designed to help people who are incarcerated deal with trauma,
anger, addiction, or mental health issues while preparing for a successful
transition back into society.
Counseling sessions whether
individual, group-based, or therapy-focused allow people who are incarcerated
to confront the issues that may have contributed to their incarceration.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), for instance, teaches people who are
incarcerated to recognize and change harmful thought patterns.
Reentry programs can help people who
are incarcerated build life skills such as resume writing, job interview
preparation, financial management, and conflict resolution. Some facilities
also connect inmates with halfway houses, employers, and nonprofits that assist
with housing and employment after release. These interventions drastically
reduce the likelihood of reoffending and give people a fighting chance to
rebuild their lives.
7. Work And
Commissary Privileges: Responsibility And Small Comforts
Although prison jobs pay very
little, they serve a greater purpose; responsibility, structure, and dignity. People
who are incarcerated may work in kitchens, laundry rooms, libraries, or
facility maintenance. The routine of work can provide a sense of normalcy and
productivity. It can teach accountability and time management, and the small
wages earned can be used for commissary items — small comforts that make life
more bearable.
The commissary system allows people
who are incarcerated to buy essentials like toiletries, snacks, stationery, and
sometimes even hobby supplies. These privileges encourage good behavior and
provide motivation to follow rules. They also give people who are incarcerated
autonomy over small choices in a place where almost everything is controlled,
helping maintain self-respect and a sense of individuality.
Image Source: Pixabay
Conclusion:
Rehabilitation Through Opportunity
The reality of prison life is harsh;
it can be isolating, monotonous, and emotionally draining. But within that
reality lies a system of opportunities that, when used wisely, can be truly life
changing. The library, JPay, education, recreation yard,
spiritual programs, counseling, and work privileges aren’t just perks; they can be steppingstones
toward rehabilitation and personal transformation.
These programs highlight a crucial
truth: people can change when given the right tools and environment.
Incarceration doesn’t have to mean stagnation. With the right mix of personal
effort and taking advantage of institutional perks, prison can become a place
of rebuilding rather than ruin — a place where individuals rediscover
themselves and/or prepare to reenter society stronger, wiser, and ready to make
a positive impact.
References
https://www.modernman.com/7-great-benefits-when-you-go-to-prison/
https://web.connectnetwork.com/prison-work-programs/
https://sites.northwestern.edu/npep/the-benefits-of-prison-education/
