It’s no secret that criminal justice reform and the role of police officers in our society have become hot political topics in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. As a criminal justice reform activist, I’m glad American citizens are discussing this issue.
One of the arguments I often hear from people who support the police and the current justice system is the following: People who have done nothing wrong and broken the law need not worry about troublesome interactions with police or the threat of police brutality.
I’ve also heard supporters of the current criminal justice system and police culture say that people in prisons deserve to be there, which somehow justifies the inhumane treatment.
There are people who have never had contact with the police and/or the criminal justice system and actually think that everyone serving time in prison is a violent person who commits a horrific crime. They also seem to believe that those in prison need to be isolated from society because they are a threat and should be punished.
Most of those in jail are serving time for non-violent crimes, it is claimed Innocence Project As many as 5 percent of those incarcerated do not commit at all the crime for which they were convicted.
Because prisons are filled with criminals of all stripes—from those who simply possess drugs to those who have murdered countless people—over the years, those serving their sentences have created a hierarchy among the prison population.
The crimes a person commits can affect his/her reputation, which can affect how a person is treated by other inmates. So, that leads to today’s blog post: What are the most hated criminals in prison?
In this blog post, I’ll cover the following topics:
- Prison yards are like school yards
- Are sex offenders universally hated by other prisoners?
- most hated criminal in prison
Prison yards are like school yards
Depending on the security level of the prison, prisoners may be out of their cell/room/block for up to 12 hours a day. Inmates have jobs that help the facility run. They go to educational, occupational, and therapy classes, and they can also go to casinos for physical exercise.
A community with a social structure and economy exists due to the constant interaction among prisoners. In some ways, it’s very similar to high school with all the factions and atmosphere and prisoner behavior.
Prison yards are like school yards, which means there are both bullies and bullied people. If you can’t protect yourself, you have to hire someone to do it for you. However, depending on the crime you committed, it may be difficult to obtain protection.
Are sex offenders universally hated by other prisoners?
I’m in a women’s prison, so the sex offender dynamic is slightly different than a men’s prison. However, based on my own experience and conversations with former male inmates, I can answer this question for both facilities.
The similarity between male and female prisons is that sex offenders are not universally hated. Contrary to popular belief, paying time for a sex crime doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be hated or hurt by other prisoners.
There are several reasons for this. First, not all sex crimes are created equal. I know this might sound crazy, so let me explain. If a 19-year-old has sex with his or her 17-year-old significant other, he or she can be charged with statutory rape. Adult men or women can be charged with statutory rape if they have a consensual relationship with a minor who falsely states their age and claims to be over 18.
You’d be surprised how often this happens and how often people get felony convictions and prison sentences for it. People who spend time with this type of sex crime don’t automatically have a hard time with other prisoners.
There are also differences between sex crimes against adults and sex crimes against children. “Cho-mos” are people who are hated, and often they are segregated from others because they are at higher risk of violence.
Likewise, sex offenders — whoever they are — don’t win any popularity contests in prison. However, prisoners recognize the difference between the types of crime committed and act accordingly.
Another reason sex offenders aren’t universally hated is that there are obviously plenty of people in prison who sell drugs to children, or shoot children, or rape people themselves. Protecting children or punishing sex offenders isn’t really on their list of important things to do, it’s just the honest truth.
“Offenders who commit crimes against children, especially sexual abuse, are subjected to hate, harassment and abuse. Many prisoners refer to their molesters as ‘dirty’ prisoners and some insist that beating or killing them is a service to society .but a criminal’s crimes play only a small role in his social status and security,” Brian Palmer explained slate magazine“Most prison assaults happen because the victim violated prison norms, not because of crimes he committed outside. Those who steal tobacco, disrespect rival gang members, or whistleblowers suffer more than the average sexual harasser. “
Another reason sex offenders are not universally hated is that they are often model prisoners. They usually keep a low profile, don’t bother anyone, and just serve their sentences. On the other hand, inmates who are constantly shouting, fighting, harassing guards or other inmates, or constantly bringing themselves unwanted attention will annoy others and they will quickly be taught that they need to change their routine.
most hated criminal in prison
By far – without a doubt – the most hated criminals in prisons are informers. We’ve all heard the phrase “whistleblowers saved,” and there’s a reason everyone’s heard it—it’s literally true.
No matter what you’re for or what case you’re associated with, if you’re a whistleblower, you’d better be careful. Gangs don’t hesitate to invite sex offenders to help deal with whistleblowers, which is why sex offenders aren’t the most nasty criminals in jail.
Sometimes, the DOC or BOP will go to great lengths to hide the identity of certain inmates if they inform in a case. If they thought an informer was in danger, they would move them to a distant location and record them with a different name and crime.
Are you surprised that sex offenders aren’t the most hated criminals in prison? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources: Interviews with various inmates at WERDCC and SCC Are Child Molestors Really The Most Hated People In Prison?