Incarceration can be harsh on inmates; prisons often cause stress, depression, and anxiety. Researchers have found that sports can actually alleviate these problems. Sports can be essential to the rehabilitation process by teaching inmates how to interact in society, and sports can provide major health benefits as well as. Studies have proven that sports can lower stress and anxiety levels, create an outlet for anger, allow for inmates to work out and exercise to have healthy and fit bodies, and sports teach the importance of following rules and social interaction skills. All of the above are essential to having healthy bodies and minds, which makes living in an ever changing society easier.
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Society has been eager to label inmates as "bad people" and "criminals", but we cannot forget that they are human to. There are longstanding arguments regarding to "luxury activities" such as the fact that prisons were created for punishment not for comfort, but even the criminal justice system is confused about the purpose of prisons. People have often argued that recreational activities are a waste of tax dollars, but very little money goes towards prisons, and when it does most of the money pays employee salaries and renovation costs. Another argument is that sports can become dangerous for any community team that participates in or exercise, and weightlifting can become a threat for correction officers.
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Sports create a place that prisoners can release aggression and frustration without hurting another inmate or correctional officer. Inmates who participate in sports and physical activity have higher self-esteem and confidence; lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; and they tend to socially interact with others in a more positive behavior. By removing these recreational programs, inmates will no longer have a place that they can release their anger. Stress, anxiety, and depression rates will increase which may result in more prison violence and suicide. Correction officers will be in even more danger than they already were on the job because inmates will no longer be occupied with weightlifting, basketball, and other activities.
When participating with people who are from outside of the prison walls, the inmates are learning essential behaviors and skills to living in the ever so changing society. After being incarcerated for vast periods of time, society changes and inmates do not always know how to adapt to the new society, or they never knew how to live in the old society. These community members who participate in the sport activities teach the inmates important lessons and skills on how to positively and properly interact with others, what to expect in society, and how they can adapt to the lifestyles outside of the prison walls.