Crime Quote by Piper Kerman
““The public expects sentences to be punitive but also rehabilitative; however, what we expect and what we get from our prisons are very different things. The lesson that our prison system teaches its residents is how to survive as a prisoner, not as a citizen - not a very constructive body of knowledge for us or the communities to which we return.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman, 2010
Prisons teach survival as inmates, not citizenship, creating a gap between public expectations of punishment and rehabilitation.
In simple terms: Prison life teaches survival, not civic skills.
Key Takeaway
Reform prisons to teach civic reintegration.
Themes
justice
rehabilitation
social reintegration
public expectation
penology
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
policy
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- community reentry programs
- public education campaigns
Key Concepts
recidivism
institutional culture
systemic failure
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we align prison outcomes with societal expectations?
- What incentives can encourage rehabilitative practices?
A Different Perspective
Changing prison culture is politically and financially challenging.
![“Inside its crumbling walls the house is riddled with bullet holes, and in its garden only the crimson dahlias still hold their heads high. Jing is lying on a chaise longue [sic] playing with his bird. 'I thought you were in prison.' He looks up, his eyes filled with hate and desire. 'You are my…” quote by Shan Sa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/042/shan-sa-13713_prison_inside-its-crumbling-walls-the-house-is_13990.jpg)
