The US prison system is used to both punish and rehabilitate criminals. The first thing that is done in this process is punishment. Punishment of offenders occurs in many different ways. The first and most obvious way is prison life in general. Offenders are far from family and friends, so the effect of this punishment is not always immediately apparent to the inmate. Sometimes I'm not in the state of mind to realize how having a family member in prison can damage the relationships of the entire family unit. Once incarcerated, the institution now controls all aspects of the inmate's life. Institutional rules dictate when inmates can exercise, eat, shower, what they can buy, who can visit them, and when they must go to bed. Some states still have forced labor that inmates must perform while incarcerated; the term chain gang may be familiar to many people and often paints a picture of inmates performing manual labor while linked together by shackles and shackles (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition, September 2013). Many states have moved away from this form of punishment, while in other states it is still widely used (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition, September 2013). In some states, offenders, who have been classified as low risk, enter the private sector and hold regular jobs even while incarcerated. Offenders are able to reintegrate into society by having a job where they can learn a trade, but then return to prison at the end of the working day. Offenders are able to keep this job even after leaving prison, which helps them stay grounded as they begin a new chapter in life. When sent to prison, a person loses a number of rights afforded to him...... middle of paper ......in an anger management course. Rehabilitation is essential for offenders who are reintegrating into society. Rehabilitation can help change the way criminals think, which will help ensure that once they get out of prison they stay out. Works Cited Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition. September 2013, p1-1. Condemn the work. Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=voh&AN=39000667&site=eds-live Roscher, S. The development of coping strategies in female prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment . Retrieved from: http://www.drc.state.oh.us/web/Reports/RoscherInternetSummary.pdfWright, M. 2007. Criminal Rehabilitation: Working toward a Better Life for Inmates and Their Families. Retrieved from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Criminal-Rehabilitation---Working-Towards-A-Better-Life-For-Inmates-And-Their-Families&id=455250