Behind Prison
'I,;
Li-'iiiii'hi '.I'mnniUfii ir if J'lii' i--n
Gates
Photos: Evans from Three Lions
A lmost 200,000 people in the U.S. live in
state and Federal prisons.
When many of these men and
women enter prison gates, they take their
last look at the world as we know it A
growing number find the beginning of a
new life, thanks to understanding methods
of rehabilitation. But to a large percent
age of inmates, a prison cell is just another
stopover in a life that is largely spent
behind bars.
In any case, the routine of a prisoner's
first hours behind prison walls is pretty
much- the same. He is photographed,
issued different clothes, given a haircut,
and sees the doctor. After brief isolation,
he is interviewed about his background,
and assigned his cell and a place in the
mess hall. Finally, there is work to be
done, and he is given a job. Perhaps here,
in printing or automotive work, he'll find
his first chance to do something he likes;
it may be the spark needed to restore him
to a useful place in society.
Here pne young man enters the gates of
Iowa State Penitentiary, and the pictures
show his first steps in fitting into the life
of the prison.
Whether they play, work, or just exist, these men's
lives will be limited by high walls for some time.
It? i
Beginning his term, a young man's photo is added Under the watchful eye of a prison guard, he ex- In his next stop, at the barbershop, he is given
to an ever-growing gallery of new prison inmates, changes his street clothes for new prison denims, his first of a series of regulation prison haircuts.
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The prison needs another set ot tingerprmts tor Me finds he likes the work in the print shop, and Solitaire is one of the few diversions which help. '
its files, even if they have been recorded before, this interest can be the beginning of a new career, an inmate while away the lonely hours in his cell.
to
Family Weekly, April 20, 195S