Celebration Behind Bars: Mercy or Misplaced Sympathy?

Inmates are often seen as terribly wicked people that need to be locked up far from the rest of us so they can face the consequences of their actions, and to be honest, no one is disregarding the need for them to be punished. But does that mean they should be deprived of the basic needs and enjoyment humans deserve in life? Personally I think everyone deserves a second chance at life, but when I say that, I don't mean they shouldn't face the consequences of their actions; what it means is that they should be given opportunities to live, which can bring about genuine repentance and changes for good. When you go to first-world countries, prisoners are still given access to lots. Of basic needs, of which the reverse is the case down here.

Talking about the case of inmates who were allowed to celebrate Christmas and the outcry of some of the people, is that right, or does it even make sense? Personally I think everyone deserves to be treated right and allowed some form of good. And we must also remember that not all inmates are in prison for offenses they commit; some are there based on wrongful judgment, lies, and deception, and when we deprive such people of such moments during Christmas or other periods, it makes us wonder if life is fair. Besides, why will some inmates be treated well, given all their basic needs, while others are living like they're in hell? The inmates in top-world countries aren't more human than those we have here, and that's why I believe it's not a big deal to allow them to celebrate Christmas.

Another reason I'm saying this prisoner should be allowed to celebrate such a festive season is because some of them actually end up in criminal activities due to lack of love and proper treatment by those around them; allowing them to celebrate such festive stuff can lead to them repenting from their evil ways and making a decision to change, and when they are released back to society, they won't go back to their old habits, because such moments can make them understand what it means to be loved and to celebrate. But then, Jen, we deprived them of these things; that's probably why most prisoners come out and become worse than they were when they first went in.

Another name for prison is "correction center," so how then can you correct a bad person from doing the same thing when all he's taught when inside is how to be terrified and neglected and shown no love and affection? Part of correction is allowing them to learn how to love and how to live a better life, which would go on to shape their life for the better and make them a changed person who comes out of prison and uses their own story to advise others from taking the same route.

That's about it on my take on this subject matter. What do you think about it, and what do you think should be done instead?

All photos are taken and edited on canva.