Culture: Conrad Black on prison: Prison really sucks and it’s unfair
- It had been an interesting experience, from which I developed a much greater practical knowledge than I had ever had before of those who had drawn a short straw from the system; of the realities of street level American race relations; of the pathology of incorrigible criminals; and of the wasted opportunities for the reintegration of many of these people into society.
- Formerly jailed newspaper magnate Conrad Black • In an article for the National Post discussing his time in prison. Short version: Prison isn’t a lot of fun and he learned a lot about what prisoners go through on the other side of the situation. He noted the nature of some of the injustices, specifically the disparity of cocaine versus crack-cocaine sentencing. He described prisoners as “an ostracized, voiceless legion of the walking dead; they are no one’s constituency.” As it is, though, he learned a lot in his 28 months and 18 days. Is there a chance he’ll return? It’s possible; he’s only out on bail. source