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Everyone’s familiar with the clink and cadence of prisoners performing hard labor in old movies and popular songs. Prisoners chained together or attached to a ball-and-chain, performing rugged labor as punishment, is an accurate depiction of old-time chain gangs. The black and white-striped, iconic prison uniforms further served to identify them as prisoners to the public. Prison officers had inmates dig ditches, harvest crops and chip at rock piles in sweltering heat, icy temperatures and pouring rain.

It was in the hopes this hard labor in demeaning display would be a deterrent to a life of crime for those in the gangs and civilians watching the gangs. The chain gang in the movie Cool Hand Luke may have fit the script, but missed some key elements. Chain gangs were dangerous; performing demanding work while chained to another person often resulted in serious injuries. Shackles frequently caused sores, and because of unsanitary conditions and poor medical care, the sores would become infected. Muscular and skeletal injuries were common; and since those in the chain gang didn’t usually have the sunniest disposition, fights among prisoners were frequent. It’s not like retreat was an option.

Punish Or Promote?

Governments asserted the use of chain gangs provided a way for convicts to repay a debt to society, but the methods used were barbaric. A displeased public was the catalyst for eliminating them, and by the end of the 19th century, they’d been phased out in much of the US. The South, however, continued using chain gangs until 1955. With the “get tough on crime” campaign, some states restored chain gangs around 1995, but these efforts were short lived, and most were again eliminated within a year — with one notable exception.

Maricopa County, Ariz. continues to use “voluntary” chain gangs. This sometimes-controversial county continues to use chain gangs consisting of adults and juveniles (in separate work gangs) working on projects benefiting the corrections department in the often times oppressive desert heat. Juveniles earn credits towards a high school diploma by participating. Adults are provided the option of participating rather than being locked in disciplinary cells for rule infractions.

For much of the rest of today’s correctional facilities prison administrators continue to declare community service an important element of inmate programming. The methods they use are neither dangerous nor much of a deterrent to anyone. Their programs focus on the pride individuals feel when they’ve accomplished difficult tasks and when helping others in need. While the assigned work can be labor intensive, inmates are properly trained, equipped and carefully screened to work on these projects.
By D.M Chamberlain

 

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