The Contemporary Prison (The Second Half of the Twentieth Century-Present)
The Contemporary Prison (The Second Half of the Twentieth Century-Present)

Summary/Abstract: The paper analyzes the legislative changes affecting the prison system from the communist regime epoch onwards. Even though prisons have come a long way and inmates are not being tortured in modern prisons and they can still complete their studies and have spare time, prison is far from being a vacation as some would think. Overcrowding, inertia, violence and the high risk of contacting a contagious disease such as AIDS or tuberculosis are the realities that define the prison system nowadays. Inmates are forced to quit their jobs and basically cut off family ties – instead of leading a productive life, non-violent individuals are just “doing time”, a punishment which proved to have little, if any effect on crime rates; in turn, citizens are the ones who pay taxes and support the massive investments needed for the ever expending prison system.

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