This article opens up ways for those working in the criminal justice system to better understand inmates. I do not think criminal justice workers really understand what inmates go through until the workers are put in the inmate’s shoes. The professor mentioned that you cannot learn unless you are in their shoes. A former inmate may be able to tell you his/her experience while in jail, but that does not mean much to you since you did not experience it firsthand. The Eureka professor also mentioned he was only in there for three days but underwent dramatic change. He mentioned the smell of walking outside and the exhilaration of being released. He could not believe he was only in there for three days. I am not sure how long this effect will last on him because it was so short term, so it would be more beneficial to be in there for a longer setting, like 90 days. I was surprised how friendly the inmates were to him because I have the idea that new inmates are at the bottom and are not treated the same as older inmates. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. She was able to fix the little fault in the prison based on what she learned while undercover. The professor also mentioned in the article how he had a hard time going to sleep because of his makeshift pillow, the noise, and the not-so-dim lights. This is just one of the things that inmates have to adapt to. Many have to change the way they used to do things just so they can get the proper sleep, eat, etc. I like that this experience changed his thinking. He used to think that inmates needed stricter punishment because they were bad. After experiencing being locked in the jail for three days, he changed his mind. He liked the televisions, food, and other comforting perks he had. Scuba002, Scuba004
I agree that the people working in criminal justice do not know the feelings of the inmates incarcerated in their facilities. Perhaps if they realized the way it felt to be an inmate some of these ideas of harsh punishments my diminish. Just because someone commits a crime doesn't automatically mean they are a terrible person deserving of harsh punishment. They may have had no other option than to commit a crime in order to survive. Regardless of the crime or reason behind it we must realize they are still humans and need to be treated like they are and not like animals. Some of these get tough on crime attitudes may change if the person who feels that way had to spend a few days locked in a jail cell losing all their freedom and things they are accustomed to, such as a peaceful nights rest. All things we take for granted and which some of us would not be able to handle losing. Inmates have to adapt to a wide array of changes once incarcerated and many of us would not be able to handle those changes. So to expect that they not be allowed televisions or other perks is really very selfish and unreasonable. Even with these few little perks life in jail is still not a walk in the park and people lobbying for harsher treatment need to realize jails and prisons are harsh enough. Mommy004
I also feel that to be able to really understand inmates you need to walk in their shoes. That way you will then know the harshness of our criminal justice system. I also agree with how he should have been in there longer. Being in prison is so much different than the outside world by what he says. The professor had said he was in there 3 days and that was already a changing experiment for him. Doing this type of undercover work can also help find problems within the system and then ways to solve those problems. Mustang004
I think this was a great experience for someone interested in the field of criminal justice. We can all imagine what being in jail may be like but until in the situation will never really know the true feelings of being locked behind bars. The sound of the door being shut behind him let the professor know he was in it for the 3 days. The endless pacing back and forth lets you know how boring life behind bars is. The bright light's and noise of the jail made it hard to go to sleep at night. He had to adjust to the noise and lights which is something one doesn't experience in their own home. When he worked as a cop he used to think inmates deserved harsh punishment his 3 day stay in the jail made him realize that was not the case. He enjoyed being allowed to watch tv, and looked forward to meal times as that was actually "doing something" so it broke up the mundane routine he was experiencing. Many of us feel inmates deserve punishment and should not be afforded things such as televisions but like we learned on our jail tour this is a way to keep inmates from misbehaving. They have to be allowed things to do so that they can be taken away when they do something wrong and give them incentives to follow the rules. Although they have committed crimes they are still human beings and should be treated as such. This experience helped the professor to see that not all inmates are bad guys and they don't all deserve to be severely punished.His description of the pure exhilaration he felt leaving the jail after 3 days let's one know that it is not an ideal situation but he learned some things from his 3 days in the jail and perhaps these things opened his eyed a little more and will aid in changing the views he had before entering the jail.Mommy004
Even after reading this article, I can say that a sentence like 90 days, which would have seemed short, actually is pretty long for a situation like this. This instructor will be able to provide his students with a better understanding of the correctional system. I hope more of these types of experiments are conducted around the country. They will allow us to truly get a better idea of the state our prison systems are actually in. Ghost004
The professor who went to the Woodford County jail made an important fact that just because someone hears something about a certain place that person will not understand the live style of the individuals living at that place until you walk in the shoes of those individuals. It was remarkable also in this article that inmates during the day have access to information on how to be successful in the outside world such as educational videos on obtaining a driver’s license, interviewing for a job and health information as well I’m glad that Woodford county jail places an importance on inmates being able to fix their lives inside of victimization, and become inmates again. Most of what these inmates look forward to had to do with different meals that these individuals got throughout the day such as their three meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Also, what could be effective based on the experiment that this professor did Is to create a program around the nation for officers to be able to go into a correctional facility to understand the lifestyle because, as this professor stated he didn’t understand the correctional side of the criminal justice system. I believe future officer who understand what the facilities are like would be more effective on how to treat the person who commits a certain offense. This also helps with also helps to eliminate a lot of tension to understand if correctional officers are doing their jobs effectively or to make certain ideas to prevent any mishap that may prevent someone from being effective on the street if they need to be. He also made a good distention that just because, a correctional facility or anything is believe to exempt certain characteristics it doesn’t mean it’s an over view class characteristics as this may only exist in certain places but as individuals we need to look for ourselves for someone to be true before this will be declared as an overview fact. Eagle001, Eagle002
This professor from Eureka showed an important truth that many people do not understand, and that is that many of us do not know what life is like on the "flip side" if you will, of our society. Living in jail is a completely different aspect of life that many of have and will not experience. Being in the criminal justice system and having aspirations to become a police, one should have the insight into how the system itself works, as they are likely to arrest many people over their policing careers. The professor stated in the article that he did not even have to prove himself to the other inmates and he even states that they were great people. Perhaps he had assumed it would be different because of the implicit bias some people, especially the media, have against people who are in prison. He also talked about how slowly time goes by while being in jail and even stated that he would not have even been able to do 90 days in jail like some of the inmates had to serve. This kind of experiment helps us as a police force and those who do not have a good understanding of the prison system get an idea of what it is like to be behind bars and not have any freedom. I think that every officer should try and have an experience like this one because in the end it would help understand what the people who they arrest and lock up go through. Now of course there are many instances where jail time is inevitable and the officer will not have much discretion, but for the smaller crimes maybe the officer can use his/her discretion to be a little more lenient because will know what its like to spend time in prison. Like the old saying goes, you can't really tell much about a person until you yourself have walked around in their shoes for a bit. Pack001, Pack002
This professor did teach an important fact because a lifestyle can be much different then how it is imagined to look like inside of someones mind. What the professor said relating to the Wood ford County Jail was much different then the way most jails are resembling on TV. I, also believe its important for an officer to understand what the jail like as this will be the living area of some of the people they arrest. I also believe by showing the criminal justice system workers how the lifestyle is this can help most individuals they have to go into connect with this system. Eagle001 Eagle002
When I saw this article floating around Facebook it immediately peaked my interest. I think this is a great experience for someone who works in or is interested in working in the criminal justice field. We can all imagine what being in jail is like, but until we are actually in that situation, will never really know what it truly feels like to be locked up. The sound of the door being shut behind him let the professor know he was truly stuck for the 3 days. I could tell from my experience of working in the Woodford County Jail over the summer that they had him locked in B pod, which is one of the felony pods, because he said he could hear the noise from the other cells at night. Prisoners in A pod have the latest curfew, and are the noisiest all the time anyways. I never saw any of the inmates pacing as he described. They all played cards or watched TV or were on the kiosk to watch the educational videos or message the guards in the control room while I worked my shifts. Meal times and when the guards did their checks were really the only times things got rowdy in the jail, unless there was some kind of argument between inmates in one of the pods (usually pods B or E), it broke up the mundane routine, as the professor described in this article. Many people feel inmates deserve punishment and should not be afforded things such as televisions or the kiosk, but this is a way to keep inmates from misbehaving. They need these things so prison staff has something to take away when inmates do something wrong. This experience helped the professor to see that not all inmates are awful people and they don't all deserve to be severely punished.EKT004
I agree this experience will have a great impact on the professor and the way that his students learn. Teaching students from multiple perspectives is the key to this type of education. It helps them learn about the jailer/offender relationship from the offenders point of view which not many people get to learn. Bike001, BIke004
A criminal justice professor at Eureka College, by the name of Bill Lally, spent a weekend in the Woodford County Jail this month. Bill volunteered for this experiment in order to gain a better perspective on how the correctional system works at the jail level. During his weekend as an undercover inmate he discovered many things he did not expect. He found out just how boring it can be to be locked up, and he also saw how inmates are fed and even how they sleep. He did get some time to check out one of the tablets which provide educational videos and instructions in exchange for video game time. Bill found that life as an inmate wasn't as easy as he thought, but it did offer a positive environment for inmates to "pay the price" for their crimes. The advantages of Bill's experiment are very numerous and important. The local police department and jail got a better idea of how their staff works and the true extent of the environment they place inmates into. It is always better to have an unbiased observer come into the system and examine correctional system for within. We can also look at what Bill experienced before placing our own judgments on the correctional system. I think a lot of prisons nation wide would benefit from this type of analysis, and I am sure we could help avoid corruption of the system with a program like this. Ghost004
I agree with your comment that this type of analysis would benefit prisons and jails nationwide. The unbiased views given by Professor Lally helps not only himself in the education field but also the staff and officers that work within the facilities. They are given information on how the other inmates act, how they feel about their situations, and how they could possibly improve. I also like how you mention that the inmates are in a positive environment. As said in the article, the other inmates approached Lally in a kind manner in which surprised him. The tablets also give the inmates something to work for and look forward to when they have little to nothing else to do. They can educate themselves on certain topics while earning rewards for doing so. This article opened my eyes on certain topics as well. behappy001
Professor William Lally went about educating himself in a very diverse way, in which allowed for better judgement on corrections at Woodford County Jail. The article mentions, similarly to Dr. White, that Lally's students are used to him answering questions that are not given in the book. As a student, these questions are the most interesting to learn from and allow for better understanding. And so, since Lally wasn't as educated on corrections as he liked to be, he went into Woodford County Jail as a volunteer inmate. This allowed him to not only learn first-hand, but to give independent analysis of what it's like to be an inmate. On February 3rd, Lally began this three day experience, as mentioned in the article, felt much longer. A piece of information that caught my eye in the article was the reward process. We have learned in class about how good behavior allows for extra free time, phone calls, etc. Lally, in his particular experience, passe his time on an iPad. He said that the iPad's offered videos on how to apply for health insurance, a driver's license, legal class, and what to expect during a job interview. I think that these tips are crucial to becoming a better citizen in the community and to allow these inmates to get back on their feet after release. Another point that caught my eye was when Lally said he, "Watched more television in three days than he watches in a year, he paced the tier walkway while while tapping the wall, and he counted in his mind the end of every thirty-foot lap. Lally was an inmate for 39 days, and he resulted in doing this in that little time, whereas most inmates are incarcerated for much longer. Lally also touched base on the sleeping conditions and how we was restless and uncomfortable with his makeshift pillow and dim lights. All in all, Professor Lally learned in a very short time the impact that jail has on the inmates and how much he takes freedom, family, his own bed, and fresh food for granted. behappy001
I completely agree that the videos on the iPads that show how to apply for health insurance, driver's license, legal class, and what to expect in a job interview are crucial because they help them to reintegrate back into society as well as their normal everyday lives. This really helps them to avoid being another statistic of recidivism. CAE004.
I agree with you he did go about this a different way which is very good because it's different from other people and this is now an advantage that eureka can give now. This teacher can now give his students learning experiences that he went through. I also agree it makes you realize how much freedom really means to a person especially when you go through that. CRC001,CRC002
William Lally spent twenty years as police officer and earned his Ph.D in Criminal Justice at Bowling Green State University. Lally wanted to know, or at least get a sense of, what life is like for inmates behind bars after they get arrested. He also wanted to learn about how the corrections officers interact with the inmates. Once he arrived at the Woodford County Jail where he would spend three days, Lally was to be placed in a cell in the felony section of the jail. He had to come up with a back story as to why he was in there to begin with. Under the alias of “Billy Quiggens”, his story was that he was a self-employed dry waller and was arrested for felony possession of drugs. One thing that I found intriguing in this article is that Lally mentioned the inmates were never a threat to him. He even mentioned that they introduced themselves to him one by one and that he even felt bad about deceiving them. When the average citizen thinks about people who are in jail or prison, I feel that we think about the stereotypical inmates who want to get in your face, start a fight with you, or cause bodily harm to you. That was not so with this case. I also really liked how it was brought up that there were even videos on the iPads on how to apply for health insurance, how to apply for a driver’s license, and what you can expect in a job interview. All of which are crucial variables to help inmates reintegrate back into normal everyday life and not be another statistic of recidivism. It was definitely interesting reading about how this, although short, experience really changed William Lally’s perception of life behind bars. CAE004.
I think it is pretty amazing how his experience within the jail completely changed his point of view on the situation. Personally, I will just use his experience as my evidence to form a new opinion, and I will do my best to stay on the outside. - AJC001
This article was a great example of many topics that are popular in todays criminal justice field. The first thing that I was really pleased to read in this article was that Woodford County correctional facility shows great educational videos to help prisoners with re entry into society and help them rehabilitate. They are also rewarded based upon if they watch these videos or not. The second thing I noticed which taps into a sociological perspective is the observer bias he went into the jail with because he was a police officer for so long. He thought that offenders were babied and pampered with the tv's and tablets but that was not the case when he experienced it first hand. Offenders have to earn some of the luxuries in the jails and he realized that there should be more than just "doing the time" they have to learn how to get better too and have the means to do so like the videos they were watching. I also thought it was interesting how welcoming and kind the other offenders were to him when he got in. They all introduced themselves and were cool with him. Its not your typical dog house where people are beating and raping each other. Its hard to think that for some people the most exciting part of their day is when they get to eat because we mindlessly eat away at our fridges and pantries every day. It shows how being behind walls can really effect how you think. Thankfully Woodford county supplies them with the amenities that the offenders in Phoenix's Jail dream about. They teach these men how to get a job when they leave and how to get healthcare and a drivers license. These are all things that you wouldn't see at a military styled jail. Overall this will probably change the way he teaches his corrections classes forever. Now he has an inside view of how the jail in his county works and can give his students a different perspective of how the correctional system works. Although this is only one local example of correctional facilities , it can give so much insight to students of how offenders act and the services offered to them inside the jail. Not many criminal justice teachers can teach corrections from the offenders perspective which makes his teaching that much more valuable. It would be great to see him do this at multiple jails to show the differences between counties and the demographics and resources in each. BIke004, Bike001
I agree with you that the article shows that the Woodford Country correctional facility shows a good amount of educational videos for prisoners. I think this is one of the positive things jails can do for their inmates. I like that they made these videos into a reward, because that just adds to the initial benefit of watching the videos. Overall, I think this jail is doing a good job because they treat these inmates like human beings. They give them information they need for when they return to the community. How the professor described the welcoming inmates shows that something is being done right at that prison. Scuba004
People who are in jail are often misunderstood as bad and crimes, but most of them just made one mistake that can ruin their image. I like how Lally would go each year with his students and thought to himself, what it would be like to be on the other side? I think him doing this experience would make it better for him to teach corrections because he would know what it was like in the inside. It was interesting to read that the inmates were nice and welcoming to him as he was watching tv. I like how the jail offered the inmates iPads for education videos showing them how to apply for a license, what to do for a job interview, and apply for health insurance. Even though he was only in there for three days, his views on jails changed. He first thought that inmates should be punished for what they have done. Which they are, but not in an aggressive way. I would like to see this happening in other jails because not all jails are like this. coutinho004
I think this experiment is something a lot more people need to do. This could really be an eye opener to a lot of people and really make a change in the criminal justice system. The system is already bad enough, so having people see what it's like to go through, we will be able to find faults and then help with those issues.The professor was only in there for 3 days. It would be a lot more beneficial if he was in there for longer. Yet, being in there for 3 days he still said it changed the way he thinks of things. He goes on about how boring being in the jail was. This is where i feel so much more could be done. Put in some classes to help the inmates future. Rather than have them watch television, have them actually learn. It's pointless to spend money on an inmate and then have them come right back to jail because they weren't taught the tools to live in society. What the professor had done was very cool though. I honestly think it would also be a very cool experience to go through a bit later in life. Mustang004
I think an experience like the one this professor had was a very important and also educational one. Like he had stated in the article, he had been a police officer for 20 years and could answer all the not in the book questions but when it came to questions about corrections, he didn't always have the answers. He had always just dropped the inmate off and left. So the experience of spending three days in jail would allow him to answer some of the questions about corrections in the future. One thing I liked about this article is hearing about how the inmates can use the tablets for educational use and then entertainment use if they watch the educational videos. The educational videos about getting a drivers license and job interviews are important things to have for these inmates. It allows them to get some education that will help them when they are eventually released. All in all though, I believe that whole experience was a great idea and should be done in other jails. hawkshockey004
I think this experiment is something a lot more people need to do. This could really be an eye opener to a lot of people and really make a change in the criminal justice system. People don’t know what life is really like behind bars until you are really there. The professor was only in there for three days but he was still able to see what life is like though inside the jail. Being undercover as a Criminal Justice professor William Lally was able to see just how inmates are treated by the corrections officers. Once you go undercover you have to know the story on why you are in the jail. Mr. Lally’s was “Billy Quiggens”, his story was that he was a self-employed drywaller and was arrested for felony possession of drugs. The backstory helps make sure that once you’re out you are still going to be safe. Lally said that the iPad's offered videos on how to apply for health insurance, a driver's license, legal class, and what to expect during a job interview. These resources help the inmates for reentry into the the world with citizens who will be looking and judging you just because they know that you had been in jail for some type of crime. People think that once you’re out of jail that your life is over because no one will want to hire someone with a record. Jobs are hard to find but they are not impossible to find one. That’s what those programs are built to help with, gives the inmates a little extra help getting them the jobs. Pie001, 002, 004
I agree that this is a great experiment to do. What Lally experienced gave a lot of perspective and a lot of new information to a guy that was on the police force for 20 years. If it has such a lasting impact on a veteran police officer, I can't imagine the impact it would have on me and how I view the correctional system and jail time that each inmate has to serve for their offense. gh_blackhawks1, gh_blackhawks002
I agree that this experiment was a great idea and it helped the professor have a better understanding of what type of lifestyle that these prisoners as well as the lifestyle of the people that he had locked up over the years. It was a great eye-opening experience for him and I believe it would be beneficial to many people, not just officers to do what he did and see life from another individual's view. Pack001, Pack002
I was very much admire what this professor did in order to better the criminal justice program that he is in charge of. He seemed a bit surprised that when he was inside of the jail, he found that he did not have to defend himself from the other inmates. As a matter of fact, he said “these guys were great, and I feel somewhat bad about having to deceive them.” This was surprising for me to hear as well, because generally jail can be as violent, or more so, than prison since it is more open among the inmates. But in the Woodford County jail, that is not the case thankfully. One thing that did not come as a surprise to me is that Lally said the time went by very slowly, and I can only imagine that three days most likely feels like an entire week of being locked up. It is interesting that the main event of each day is one of the three meals that are provided. Lally said there was a sense of “let down” when it is over because that’s the “event” that you look forward to. Lally was on the force for 20 years, but this entire experience is new information and new experience even as a veteran in the field. He went on to explain that he sees things in a new light, and even though the inmates did something wrong, no one will understand what it is like until they go in and serve time themselves. This makes me rethink how long sentences should be. How much of an effect can extreme amounts of added extra time have? Maybe inmates learn their lesson pretty quickly, as Lally seemed to experience. Lally claims that three days seemed like way longer, and that he does not know that he could even do 90 days in that setting. This puts things in perspective for me. gh_blackhawks 001, gh_blackhawks002
I agree, time undoubtedly passes very slow in prison or jail. This being said however, I feel that it should be this way. The time while a person is incarcerated should be miserable; they broke the law. People who are in jail or prison have committed a crime, and I believe boredom is the least amount of pain they should have to suffer. Do people make mistakes? Yes. But going to jail or prison is supposed to make them never want to make that mistake again, so if they feel this way while incarcerated then so be it.-OKC001
I was very interested to read this article because I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be in a jail cell. You always hear people being sentenced to five years and them saying “oh well his sentencing isn’t that bad”. Not bad? It would feel like an eternity in there. That’s why it didn’t surprise me when he felt like he was in their forever. This always helps eureka out with becoming better with policing especially the teaching aspect. I was surprised to hear that the guys in there were pretty great guys. I figured that they would be more violent towards him especially since he’s the new guy. He even states that he has never done anything like this in his life. He states that he has learned so much from being in there for three days. Experiences that people can’t get unless you live it and have to go through the process. Another aspect of this experience is that Woodford County jail seems to be going about their business right. Which is a good thing to here especially because you hear sometimes that people get mistreated in prison because their criminals. I think some sentences should be shorter depending on what they did because sitting in the jail just for 90 days even will make you realize that you made a mistake and you learned from it. It also didn’t surprise me that their main events are the three meals they get a day. I knew there isn’t much to do and most people love to eat so it only makes since especially when they get small portions of food as well. I feel that it would be so cool to go to eureka and talk to this guy in person about it. This is why eureka will get advantages from this because more students will want to go there so that they can learn and get experiences from him. CRC001,CRC002
I agree with you that five years would feel like an eternity in prison. Even just a few days would feel like a long time. I also like what Woodford County jail is doing; the inmates are friendly. Usually the jail or prison videos I watch involve the tough, unfriendly inmates. To read about the inmates being nice is a pleasant change. Normally older inmates do not want to help out the new inmates. There is a lot of news about new criminals getting mistreated in jail or prison because they are at the bottom of the hierarchical chain of inmates. Scuba002
This Professor is, for lack of a better description, so cool. This man went into jail so he’d be able to give his students a better description of what it is truly like for prisoners in there. This experience not only helped his students knowledge on imprisonment, but it also gives the prison and the community great insight on the treatment of prisoners in that facility. Him going into that jail for a weekend gave the prison valuable information on the treatment of their prisoners, and the professionalism of its correctional officers. Being able to have a trusted source go into, and report on his/her experiences on their treatment within your facility is something jails normally have to pay for, or just don’t do at all. This professor now has very valuable knowledge on our corrections system. I was particularly surprised by his change of heart on our corrections system. I, like Professor Lally, believe that prisoners should receive no forms of comfort during their stay in prison or jail. Dr. Lally however had a change of heart on this thought. He now believes that those comforts don’t even come close to helping the depressing feeling of being incarcerated. Knowing he was a cop for 20 years, and has a lot of experience dealing with criminals, I am slightly torn. Hearing about his experience in his own words, for only one weekend, really makes me think about my view. However, that being said, I still feel very strongly that if you break the law, you deserve n o comfort during your stint of incarceration.-OKC001
I agree that the professor from the article is cool, but I think ours is cooler. It is good to have a professor with first hand experience in every facet of law enforcement. This professor went the extra mile in order to obtain experience on both sides of law enforcement, which will no doubt be invaluable for teaching students about the field of corrections. CoolGuy001
I think the experiment done by William Lally, spending 3 days in Woddfood County Jail was interesting and shows how passionate he is to his job and experiences of when he was a cop. It was mentioned that Lally said that when he was a cop, he was used to putting people in handcuffs but not actually going any further than that. Not seeing the "jail life". This experiment i feel like would give people the honest experience if being locked behind bars. Like he said, he noticed that the inmates greeted him with kindness and no more than that. A lot of people in society may judge or assume that people locked up are nothing but bad people with no morals or values, but with reading this article i get a jest of knowing the real them. Even though not everyone might not be friendly, you can't assume that everyone is dangerous. The adjustments to the food, sleeping habits, and just new surroundings in general really shows how passionate,interested, and dedicated he still is to his profession. kt001
First off, I think this man is pretty brave and admirable, and everyone should know his story. For an innocent man to willingly put himself behind bars just to see what it’s like it pretty crazy. And, in all reality, the man is right. There is a lot to learn by doing this. Bill Lally, a professor at Eureka College, willingly put himself in incarceration for a weekend to learn about jail from the inside. A brave man, indeed. As professor Lally states, being a cop does not give you a lot of insight on how life was within the jails. In order to teach incarceration subjects, he felt he had to get a more intimate connection with the information he was sharing. He chose the fastest route, posing as a criminal in jail for a weekend. The first thing he shows is the “clunk” of the cell closing, and “I knew I was in.” I feel like this sentence could hit hard for anyone who has spent time in prison, as hearing that cell lock is a sound I doubt many prisoners can forget. Mr. Lally says this event was life changing for him. With his extended background of being a cop, Lally had gained this idea that those in Jail got it easy, and they fully deserve the punishment. Like many of us say, they did wrong so they deserve the time. However, after this experiment, the professor had a change of heart. He gave the readers an idea that being in jail for three days was torture enough, and he states that he couldn’t imagine doing 90 days. Or worse. Basically, being in jail helped Mr. Lally to see that life in prison is not a coddling of prisoners, but fully a punishment. And he also said, that after just three days, he felt “exhilarated” upon his release. - AJC001
I agree AJC001, this man is very brave and admirable. It takes a lot of guts to willingly jail yourself simply for the knowledge of what it is like in jail. If I were to ever go to Eureka College, I would definitely want this man as my professor. zmw001
What this professor did was amazing. He willingly locked himself up in jail for three days just so he could better understand the corrections system and better teach his students about what goes on in jail as well. The experience was extremely eye opening to Professor Lally, as he had some ideas about what happened to the inmates in jail, and he was kind of upset about. He believed that prisoners were coddled with their televisions and meals and everything else that they got. He believed that people going into jails and prisons are going in for a reason, definitely not a good reason, and deserved to be punished for it. After his three days in jail, he realized that is not the case and it completely changed the way he looks at corrections and inmates. While in jail, one of the big things he noticed was that the inmates were all really nice guys. He had expected to go in and have to establish himself, but everyone was actually really nice to him. He also said that he had watched more television than he does all year within those three days, and he walked almost seven miles in that time as well. He felt exhilarated after he was released at the end of his three days, and has no idea how people can make it in jail or as long as they do. He also believes that you can not truly know how it is for inmates until you walk in their shoes. zmw001
Your last sentence is very true and reflects a lot about his experience this article. To the normal persons eyes who hasn't served time we don't really realize how much it actually takes a tole on someone.They actually have to be confined for the amount of time they are given to serve. Flannel002
The article centers on the experience of a Eureka College criminal justice department head volunteering to be incarcerated in a county jail for educational purposes. One of the things that was very striking about this article was the way the professor described his treatment at the hands of his fellow inmates. He said that the people there were very nice and personable to the point he felt bad for having to lie to them. This goes to show how that most the people that we will deal with will not be horrible people, but just people who made a bad decision and people who are at their worst. Another thing the professor mentioned in the article was the lack of sleep and activities. The lack of sleep was caused by some of the other prisoners being inconsiderate and making a lot of noise after lights out and by the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The lack of activities to keep inmates occupied was evidenced by the level of importance placed on meals being the only thing that inmates got to do and the perception of how slowly time moved. If prisoners were given menial cleaning or grounds keeping tasks then time might pass more quickly for them. I know of one other place that does something like this. In the National Guard training instalation of Camp Atterbury Indiana there is a small, minimum security correctional facility located on post. They have inmates do most of the grounds keeping for the installation. I saw it when I was there for annual training and thought it was a good idea. I also noticed that inmates there had hackey sacks and other means of entertainment during their downtime that they could have if they behaved. If something similar were implemented in our jails then that could probably help some inmates to be more well behaved and less stir crazy from boredom. CoolGuy001
This whole article was very interesting. The fact that the professor actually took a weekend to server jail time on his own accords just to further his knowledge in the subject is just amazing and shows true commitment. At the end of the article, he said that some guys only get 90 days. To him that would have been an eternity because he only spent three in there. But that makes sense. In jail, it has to be jail. That sounds ridiculous but it's so close to the truth that it's amazing. If you do something bad, you must be punished so that you can learn from your mistake. This guy learned very well what it was actually like to learn from the mistakes. It can't be all fun and games because you wouldn't learn a single thing from that experience. The professor must have had some very interesting classes after his experience in the slammer. I would bet that his students were also very attentive to those classes because I know I would have been. I really like how this whole experience was just for him to get more insight in the field. He really takes a commitment in his job. Also, it must have been very awkward for being on the other side since he was a cop for 20 years. Flannel002
It was so brave of this professor to do what he did. I think it was a great learning experience and something that other police departments and detention center heads could actually use to check the safety of they facilities. I can't imagine getting to the point in my life where I think that getting 90 days is being let off light. I'm not even sure that I'd be able to do the full there days that this professor did. Touring the facility is close enough for me. I wouldn't even want to pretend to be on the wrong side of the bars. Hootie002
I agree that for this professor to serve in jail, it shows that his commitment is true. I know if I didn't have to serve time I wouldn't do it. He took multiple risks and to still go fourth with something regardless of the risks is commitment. He took understanding their perspective to a whole other level. This represents time and dedication not only for his class but his students because he wants them to have broader up close and personal view. MSSA002
I think going undercover like this was a very cool and innovative idea that could be utilized by more detention centers. It's a good way to not only know what your inmates are doing but also to ensure that your staff is treating them correctly. Having to sleep under a fluorescent light is something that I had never considered. In all of the movies and tv shows we see the inmates sleep in the dark like a normal person. But of course this could be unwise for many safety reasons. Another part of his experience that stood out to me was when he was let out and said that after just three days he already felt like he was in there much longer. He said that some inmates are excited that they are only in for ninety days but that he couldn't imagine staying there for that long and that 3 days was enough for him. I personally don't know if I would be able to do a weekend on the wrong side of the bars. I've toured the peoria county jail and the juvenile detention center with classes before at ICC but I've always been up in the observation deck or in the cell with a tour guide. I never actually felt like I was a part of the center. It was a very brave thing for this professor to do and I think he might be on to something. Hootie002
This video was very interesting and opened up my eyes on what it is like to go to jail without committing a crime. This professor experienced something that will help him teach classes in the future and better understand the correctional system but he did not experience the same punishment that a actual inmate would. When any other person goes to jail they are there for a reason, the criminal justice professor was not in there for a negative reason so he did not have nearly the amount of stress as the other inmates. The actual inmates in the jail have night and day in a cell to think about the reason they are in jail which makes jail alot worse. He said you can not understand someones experience in jail unless you have put yourself in their shoes but in reality he only say through part of a inmates perspective. KLICK001
I found that this proffesor going under cover to find out the part of policing that he never knew about was pretty cool. He did what most people would have turned down and spent a weekend in jail. from what i read he said it was a life changing experince. 20 years a cop and the most he knew about the jail was that he would drop off to the jailer. He thought people in jail had so many things but was quick to learn that they don't have much of anything. I really hope this experince helped him and his teaching of our future police officers.evo001
This article opens up ways for those working in the criminal justice system to better understand inmates. I do not think criminal justice workers really understand what inmates go through until the workers are put in the inmate’s shoes. The professor mentioned that you cannot learn unless you are in their shoes. A former inmate may be able to tell you his/her experience while in jail, but that does not mean much to you since you did not experience it firsthand. The Eureka professor also mentioned he was only in there for three days but underwent dramatic change. He mentioned the smell of walking outside and the exhilaration of being released. He could not believe he was only in there for three days. I am not sure how long this effect will last on him because it was so short term, so it would be more beneficial to be in there for a longer setting, like 90 days. I was surprised how friendly the inmates were to him because I have the idea that new inmates are at the bottom and are not treated the same as older inmates. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. She was able to fix the little fault in the prison based on what she learned while undercover. The professor also mentioned in the article how he had a hard time going to sleep because of his makeshift pillow, the noise, and the not-so-dim lights. This is just one of the things that inmates have to adapt to. Many have to change the way they used to do things just so they can get the proper sleep, eat, etc. I like that this experience changed his thinking. He used to think that inmates needed stricter punishment because they were bad. After experiencing being locked in the jail for three days, he changed his mind. He liked the televisions, food, and other comforting perks he had. Ciaccio001/002
This article really opened up about what it's actually like for inmates. William Lally being in the criminal justice field being a cop for 20 years and actually having his Ph.d in criminal justice really wanted to know what it was like to be an inmate. You don't really know he said, you don't really know what the life of an inmate looks like. Just because you are a part of the criminal justice system doesn't mean you know what it's like. Being in on the other side of the bars is totally different. He couldn't believe he was only in there for three days and when he got out he found it so exhilarating! He mentioned he heard someone saying "90 days no big deal" and he was thinking to himself he couldn't do 90 days. Jail is a culture shock. Overtime we go on the jail tours with dr.white I just think to myself "I would not make it". We take the things we have for granted, so when they are taken away from us it's like a slap in the face. Like he said being cop he thinks "punishment" so when he first got there he always thought it needed to be stricter, but after he got out his state of mind changed. Jail can either set your straight and narrow or if your a lifer it's just another day for you. -dicaprio001
Intriguing story. I always love to hear about these types of events, where someone that has a say in things, like a professor can get into the field for an extra experience to bring to others. We hear alot about high and increasing recidivism rates, and we oftentimes hear of the lack of rehabilitative actions in jails and prisons. But it's good to hear that even something as small as a three day sentence can open a small window into the day to day like of inmates of jail from a different perspective than someone who is actually an inmate. I feel it is important for experiences like this, especially if your'e a generational cop and have spent so long in without seeing the other side. I do hope his students gain from this. Perhaps with scenarios like this so easily allowed, correctional facilities all around will take a second look at what they do and see if there is room for improvement, as the text suggests that there surely is. JAY001 JAY 002
I find it astounding that this professor did this. I really liked how he mentioned how he has always been able to answer his classes questions about the criminal justice system, but by doing this he can now give even more detailed and informative responses to questions that directly relate to the correctional area of study. I find it very interesting how he said that before he thought that inmates were privileged with he televisions, and other perks that are given and now that he has a completely new mindset on inmates and how the correctional system works. It it hard to change a cops beliefs, especially in this case of a veteran police officer who has the "DNA" encrypted into his blood. For him to say it changed the way he views this topic goes a long way. It just goes to show how there is always a different way of looking at situations. We all have different ideas of what being locked up inside a jail would be like, but this just goes to show that whatever bias's or ideas we have, we can never know what it is really like until you actually experience it. Blackhawks001
This article is really interesting to see a police officers perspective of being inside of a jail cell. Not only was this a good experiment for Lally to do so he can explain to his students what it is really like inside of a jail and how the inmates actually act versus what we see on tv, but it was good for the people who work at the jail to know what goes on when they aren't around and how the inmates treated new inmates. I believe that this experience really did change his perspective on the inmates and how he now feels about them for when he did put them into jail to now. You never know what really goes on until you are put into the situation yourself and i think that this experience gave Lally better knowledge for when he is teaching his students and for the real world. Even though he is a retired cop he now has a different perspective. I think this is a good experience for other cops to look at because it may change their perspective on policing as well. Not everyone that goes into jail is necessarily a bad person, they just made a wrong choice along the way. I also thought it was interesting how he was so excited to have his freedom back even though it was only 3 days that he actually was in jail. bball001, bball002
When he worked as a cop he used to think inmates deserved harsh punishment his 3 day stay in the jail made him realize that was not the case. He enjoyed being allowed to watch tv, and looked forward to meal times as that was actually "doing something" so it broke up the mundane routine he was experiencing. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. Another part of his experience that stood out to me was when he was let out and said that after just three days he already felt like he was in there much longer. This professor now has very valuable knowledge on our corrections system. I was particularly surprised by his change of heart on our corrections system.This always helps eureka out with becoming better with policing especially the teaching aspect. I was surprised to hear that the guys in there were pretty great guys.-NIKE001/NIKE002
From a policing background he was very brave to take that on not knowing the conditions of the jail and the environment. He experienced a warm welcome in spite of the average persons thought of what jail is. He also understood what it felt like to not have freedom, which is always the worst part of jail. They received strict rules and conditions but when he was an officer he believed in that, as an inmate he saw it from a different point of view. Three days changed his whole perspective on what he believed. That's a great experience for someone is in criminal justice it makes you relate to the offender.
This article opens up ways for those working in the criminal justice system to better understand inmates. I do not think criminal justice workers really understand what inmates go through until the workers are put in the inmate’s shoes. The professor mentioned that you cannot learn unless you are in their shoes. A former inmate may be able to tell you his/her experience while in jail, but that does not mean much to you since you did not experience it firsthand. The Eureka professor also mentioned he was only in there for three days but underwent dramatic change. He mentioned the smell of walking outside and the exhilaration of being released. He could not believe he was only in there for three days. I am not sure how long this effect will last on him because it was so short term, so it would be more beneficial to be in there for a longer setting, like 90 days. I was surprised how friendly the inmates were to him because I have the idea that new inmates are at the bottom and are not treated the same as older inmates. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. She was able to fix the little fault in the prison based on what she learned while undercover. The professor also mentioned in the article how he had a hard time going to sleep because of his makeshift pillow, the noise, and the not-so-dim lights. This is just one of the things that inmates have to adapt to. Many have to change the way they used to do things just so they can get the proper sleep, eat, etc. I like that this experience changed his thinking. He used to think that inmates needed stricter punishment because they were bad. After experiencing being locked in the jail for three days, he changed his mind. He liked the televisions, food, and other comforting perks he had. Scuba002, Scuba004
ReplyDeleteI agree that the people working in criminal justice do not know the feelings of the inmates incarcerated in their facilities. Perhaps if they realized the way it felt to be an inmate some of these ideas of harsh punishments my diminish. Just because someone commits a crime doesn't automatically mean they are a terrible person deserving of harsh punishment. They may have had no other option than to commit a crime in order to survive. Regardless of the crime or reason behind it we must realize they are still humans and need to be treated like they are and not like animals. Some of these get tough on crime attitudes may change if the person who feels that way had to spend a few days locked in a jail cell losing all their freedom and things they are accustomed to, such as a peaceful nights rest. All things we take for granted and which some of us would not be able to handle losing. Inmates have to adapt to a wide array of changes once incarcerated and many of us would not be able to handle those changes. So to expect that they not be allowed televisions or other perks is really very selfish and unreasonable. Even with these few little perks life in jail is still not a walk in the park and people lobbying for harsher treatment need to realize jails and prisons are harsh enough. Mommy004
DeleteI also feel that to be able to really understand inmates you need to walk in their shoes. That way you will then know the harshness of our criminal justice system. I also agree with how he should have been in there longer. Being in prison is so much different than the outside world by what he says. The professor had said he was in there 3 days and that was already a changing experiment for him. Doing this type of undercover work can also help find problems within the system and then ways to solve those problems. Mustang004
DeleteI think this was a great experience for someone interested in the field of criminal justice. We can all imagine what being in jail may be like but until in the situation will never really know the true feelings of being locked behind bars. The sound of the door being shut behind him let the professor know he was in it for the 3 days. The endless pacing back and forth lets you know how boring life behind bars is. The bright light's and noise of the jail made it hard to go to sleep at night. He had to adjust to the noise and lights which is something one doesn't experience in their own home. When he worked as a cop he used to think inmates deserved harsh punishment his 3 day stay in the jail made him realize that was not the case. He enjoyed being allowed to watch tv, and looked forward to meal times as that was actually "doing something" so it broke up the mundane routine he was experiencing. Many of us feel inmates deserve punishment and should not be afforded things such as televisions but like we learned on our jail tour this is a way to keep inmates from misbehaving. They have to be allowed things to do so that they can be taken away when they do something wrong and give them incentives to follow the rules. Although they have committed crimes they are still human beings and should be treated as such. This experience helped the professor to see that not all inmates are bad guys and they don't all deserve to be severely punished.His description of the pure exhilaration he felt leaving the jail after 3 days let's one know that it is not an ideal situation but he learned some things from his 3 days in the jail and perhaps these things opened his eyed a little more and will aid in changing the views he had before entering the jail.Mommy004
ReplyDeleteEven after reading this article, I can say that a sentence like 90 days, which would have seemed short, actually is pretty long for a situation like this. This instructor will be able to provide his students with a better understanding of the correctional system. I hope more of these types of experiments are conducted around the country. They will allow us to truly get a better idea of the state our prison systems are actually in. Ghost004
DeleteThe professor who went to the Woodford County jail made an important fact that just because someone hears something about a certain place that person will not understand the live style of the individuals living at that place until you walk in the shoes of those individuals. It was remarkable also in this article that inmates during the day have access to information on how to be successful in the outside world such as educational videos on obtaining a driver’s license, interviewing for a job and health information as well I’m glad that Woodford county jail places an importance on inmates being able to fix their lives inside of victimization, and become inmates again. Most of what these inmates look forward to had to do with different meals that these individuals got throughout the day such as their three meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Also, what could be effective based on the experiment that this professor did Is to create a program around the nation for officers to be able to go into a correctional facility to understand the lifestyle because, as this professor stated he didn’t understand the correctional side of the criminal justice system. I believe future officer who understand what the facilities are like would be more effective on how to treat the person who commits a certain offense. This also helps with also helps to eliminate a lot of tension to understand if correctional officers are doing their jobs effectively or to make certain ideas to prevent any mishap that may prevent someone from being effective on the street if they need to be. He also made a good distention that just because, a correctional facility or anything is believe to exempt certain characteristics it doesn’t mean it’s an over view class characteristics as this may only exist in certain places but as individuals we need to look for ourselves for someone to be true before this will be declared as an overview fact. Eagle001, Eagle002
ReplyDeleteThis professor from Eureka showed an important truth that many people do not understand, and that is that many of us do not know what life is like on the "flip side" if you will, of our society. Living in jail is a completely different aspect of life that many of have and will not experience. Being in the criminal justice system and having aspirations to become a police, one should have the insight into how the system itself works, as they are likely to arrest many people over their policing careers. The professor stated in the article that he did not even have to prove himself to the other inmates and he even states that they were great people. Perhaps he had assumed it would be different because of the implicit bias some people, especially the media, have against people who are in prison. He also talked about how slowly time goes by while being in jail and even stated that he would not have even been able to do 90 days in jail like some of the inmates had to serve. This kind of experiment helps us as a police force and those who do not have a good understanding of the prison system get an idea of what it is like to be behind bars and not have any freedom. I think that every officer should try and have an experience like this one because in the end it would help understand what the people who they arrest and lock up go through. Now of course there are many instances where jail time is inevitable and the officer will not have much discretion, but for the smaller crimes maybe the officer can use his/her discretion to be a little more lenient because will know what its like to spend time in prison. Like the old saying goes, you can't really tell much about a person until you yourself have walked around in their shoes for a bit. Pack001, Pack002
ReplyDeleteThis professor did teach an important fact because a lifestyle can be much different then how it is imagined to look like inside of someones mind. What the professor said relating to the Wood ford County Jail was much different then the way most jails are resembling on TV. I, also believe its important for an officer to understand what the jail like as this will be the living area of some of the people they arrest. I also believe by showing the criminal justice system workers how the lifestyle is this can help most individuals they have to go into connect with this system. Eagle001 Eagle002
DeleteWhen I saw this article floating around Facebook it immediately peaked my interest. I think this is a great experience for someone who works in or is interested in working in the criminal justice field. We can all imagine what being in jail is like, but until we are actually in that situation, will never really know what it truly feels like to be locked up. The sound of the door being shut behind him let the professor know he was truly stuck for the 3 days. I could tell from my experience of working in the Woodford County Jail over the summer that they had him locked in B pod, which is one of the felony pods, because he said he could hear the noise from the other cells at night. Prisoners in A pod have the latest curfew, and are the noisiest all the time anyways. I never saw any of the inmates pacing as he described. They all played cards or watched TV or were on the kiosk to watch the educational videos or message the guards in the control room while I worked my shifts. Meal times and when the guards did their checks were really the only times things got rowdy in the jail, unless there was some kind of argument between inmates in one of the pods (usually pods B or E), it broke up the mundane routine, as the professor described in this article. Many people feel inmates deserve punishment and should not be afforded things such as televisions or the kiosk, but this is a way to keep inmates from misbehaving. They need these things so prison staff has something to take away when inmates do something wrong. This experience helped the professor to see that not all inmates are awful people and they don't all deserve to be severely punished.EKT004
ReplyDeleteI agree this experience will have a great impact on the professor and the way that his students learn. Teaching students from multiple perspectives is the key to this type of education. It helps them learn about the jailer/offender relationship from the offenders point of view which not many people get to learn. Bike001, BIke004
DeleteA criminal justice professor at Eureka College, by the name of Bill Lally, spent a weekend in the Woodford County Jail this month. Bill volunteered for this experiment in order to gain a better perspective on how the correctional system works at the jail level. During his weekend as an undercover inmate he discovered many things he did not expect. He found out just how boring it can be to be locked up, and he also saw how inmates are fed and even how they sleep. He did get some time to check out one of the tablets which provide educational videos and instructions in exchange for video game time. Bill found that life as an inmate wasn't as easy as he thought, but it did offer a positive environment for inmates to "pay the price" for their crimes. The advantages of Bill's experiment are very numerous and important. The local police department and jail got a better idea of how their staff works and the true extent of the environment they place inmates into. It is always better to have an unbiased observer come into the system and examine correctional system for within. We can also look at what Bill experienced before placing our own judgments on the correctional system. I think a lot of prisons nation wide would benefit from this type of analysis, and I am sure we could help avoid corruption of the system with a program like this. Ghost004
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment that this type of analysis would benefit prisons and jails nationwide. The unbiased views given by Professor Lally helps not only himself in the education field but also the staff and officers that work within the facilities. They are given information on how the other inmates act, how they feel about their situations, and how they could possibly improve. I also like how you mention that the inmates are in a positive environment. As said in the article, the other inmates approached Lally in a kind manner in which surprised him. The tablets also give the inmates something to work for and look forward to when they have little to nothing else to do. They can educate themselves on certain topics while earning rewards for doing so. This article opened my eyes on certain topics as well. behappy001
DeleteProfessor William Lally went about educating himself in a very diverse way, in which allowed for better judgement on corrections at Woodford County Jail. The article mentions, similarly to Dr. White, that Lally's students are used to him answering questions that are not given in the book. As a student, these questions are the most interesting to learn from and allow for better understanding. And so, since Lally wasn't as educated on corrections as he liked to be, he went into Woodford County Jail as a volunteer inmate. This allowed him to not only learn first-hand, but to give independent analysis of what it's like to be an inmate. On February 3rd, Lally began this three day experience, as mentioned in the article, felt much longer. A piece of information that caught my eye in the article was the reward process. We have learned in class about how good behavior allows for extra free time, phone calls, etc. Lally, in his particular experience, passe his time on an iPad. He said that the iPad's offered videos on how to apply for health insurance, a driver's license, legal class, and what to expect during a job interview. I think that these tips are crucial to becoming a better citizen in the community and to allow these inmates to get back on their feet after release. Another point that caught my eye was when Lally said he, "Watched more television in three days than he watches in a year, he paced the tier walkway while while tapping the wall, and he counted in his mind the end of every thirty-foot lap. Lally was an inmate for 39 days, and he resulted in doing this in that little time, whereas most inmates are incarcerated for much longer. Lally also touched base on the sleeping conditions and how we was restless and uncomfortable with his makeshift pillow and dim lights. All in all, Professor Lally learned in a very short time the impact that jail has on the inmates and how much he takes freedom, family, his own bed, and fresh food for granted. behappy001
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the videos on the iPads that show how to apply for health insurance, driver's license, legal class, and what to expect in a job interview are crucial because they help them to reintegrate back into society as well as their normal everyday lives. This really helps them to avoid being another statistic of recidivism. CAE004.
DeleteI agree with you he did go about this a different way which is very good because it's different from other people and this is now an advantage that eureka can give now. This teacher can now give his students learning experiences that he went through. I also agree it makes you realize how much freedom really means to a person especially when you go through that. CRC001,CRC002
DeleteWilliam Lally spent twenty years as police officer and earned his Ph.D in Criminal Justice at Bowling Green State University. Lally wanted to know, or at least get a sense of, what life is like for inmates behind bars after they get arrested. He also wanted to learn about how the corrections officers interact with the inmates. Once he arrived at the Woodford County Jail where he would spend three days, Lally was to be placed in a cell in the felony section of the jail. He had to come up with a back story as to why he was in there to begin with. Under the alias of “Billy Quiggens”, his story was that he was a self-employed dry waller and was arrested for felony possession of drugs. One thing that I found intriguing in this article is that Lally mentioned the inmates were never a threat to him. He even mentioned that they introduced themselves to him one by one and that he even felt bad about deceiving them. When the average citizen thinks about people who are in jail or prison, I feel that we think about the stereotypical inmates who want to get in your face, start a fight with you, or cause bodily harm to you. That was not so with this case. I also really liked how it was brought up that there were even videos on the iPads on how to apply for health insurance, how to apply for a driver’s license, and what you can expect in a job interview. All of which are crucial variables to help inmates reintegrate back into normal everyday life and not be another statistic of recidivism. It was definitely interesting reading about how this, although short, experience really changed William Lally’s perception of life behind bars. CAE004.
ReplyDeleteI think it is pretty amazing how his experience within the jail completely changed his point of view on the situation. Personally, I will just use his experience as my evidence to form a new opinion, and I will do my best to stay on the outside. - AJC001
DeleteThis article was a great example of many topics that are popular in todays criminal justice field. The first thing that I was really pleased to read in this article was that Woodford County correctional facility shows great educational videos to help prisoners with re entry into society and help them rehabilitate. They are also rewarded based upon if they watch these videos or not. The second thing I noticed which taps into a sociological perspective is the observer bias he went into the jail with because he was a police officer for so long. He thought that offenders were babied and pampered with the tv's and tablets but that was not the case when he experienced it first hand. Offenders have to earn some of the luxuries in the jails and he realized that there should be more than just "doing the time" they have to learn how to get better too and have the means to do so like the videos they were watching. I also thought it was interesting how welcoming and kind the other offenders were to him when he got in. They all introduced themselves and were cool with him. Its not your typical dog house where people are beating and raping each other. Its hard to think that for some people the most exciting part of their day is when they get to eat because we mindlessly eat away at our fridges and pantries every day. It shows how being behind walls can really effect how you think. Thankfully Woodford county supplies them with the amenities that the offenders in Phoenix's Jail dream about. They teach these men how to get a job when they leave and how to get healthcare and a drivers license. These are all things that you wouldn't see at a military styled jail. Overall this will probably change the way he teaches his corrections classes forever. Now he has an inside view of how the jail in his county works and can give his students a different perspective of how the correctional system works. Although this is only one local example of correctional facilities , it can give so much insight to students of how offenders act and the services offered to them inside the jail. Not many criminal justice teachers can teach corrections from the offenders perspective which makes his teaching that much more valuable. It would be great to see him do this at multiple jails to show the differences between counties and the demographics and resources in each. BIke004, Bike001
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the article shows that the Woodford Country correctional facility shows a good amount of educational videos for prisoners. I think this is one of the positive things jails can do for their inmates. I like that they made these videos into a reward, because that just adds to the initial benefit of watching the videos. Overall, I think this jail is doing a good job because they treat these inmates like human beings. They give them information they need for when they return to the community. How the professor described the welcoming inmates shows that something is being done right at that prison. Scuba004
DeletePeople who are in jail are often misunderstood as bad and crimes, but most of them just made one mistake that can ruin their image. I like how Lally would go each year with his students and thought to himself, what it would be like to be on the other side? I think him doing this experience would make it better for him to teach corrections because he would know what it was like in the inside. It was interesting to read that the inmates were nice and welcoming to him as he was watching tv. I like how the jail offered the inmates iPads for education videos showing them how to apply for a license, what to do for a job interview, and apply for health insurance. Even though he was only in there for three days, his views on jails changed. He first thought that inmates should be punished for what they have done. Which they are, but not in an aggressive way. I would like to see this happening in other jails because not all jails are like this. coutinho004
ReplyDeleteI think this experiment is something a lot more people need to do. This could really be an eye opener to a lot of people and really make a change in the criminal justice system. The system is already bad enough, so having people see what it's like to go through, we will be able to find faults and then help with those issues.The professor was only in there for 3 days. It would be a lot more beneficial if he was in there for longer. Yet, being in there for 3 days he still said it changed the way he thinks of things. He goes on about how boring being in the jail was. This is where i feel so much more could be done. Put in some classes to help the inmates future. Rather than have them watch television, have them actually learn. It's pointless to spend money on an inmate and then have them come right back to jail because they weren't taught the tools to live in society. What the professor had done was very cool though. I honestly think it would also be a very cool experience to go through a bit later in life. Mustang004
ReplyDeleteI think an experience like the one this professor had was a very important and also educational one. Like he had stated in the article, he had been a police officer for 20 years and could answer all the not in the book questions but when it came to questions about corrections, he didn't always have the answers. He had always just dropped the inmate off and left. So the experience of spending three days in jail would allow him to answer some of the questions about corrections in the future. One thing I liked about this article is hearing about how the inmates can use the tablets for educational use and then entertainment use if they watch the educational videos. The educational videos about getting a drivers license and job interviews are important things to have for these inmates. It allows them to get some education that will help them when they are eventually released. All in all though, I believe that whole experience was a great idea and should be done in other jails. hawkshockey004
ReplyDeleteI think this experiment is something a lot more people need to do. This could really be an eye opener to a lot of people and really make a change in the criminal justice system. People don’t know what life is really like behind bars until you are really there. The professor was only in there for three days but he was still able to see what life is like though inside the jail. Being undercover as a Criminal Justice professor William Lally was able to see just how inmates are treated by the corrections officers. Once you go undercover you have to know the story on why you are in the jail. Mr. Lally’s was “Billy Quiggens”, his story was that he was a self-employed drywaller and was arrested for felony possession of drugs. The backstory helps make sure that once you’re out you are still going to be safe. Lally said that the iPad's offered videos on how to apply for health insurance, a driver's license, legal class, and what to expect during a job interview. These resources help the inmates for reentry into the the world with citizens who will be looking and judging you just because they know that you had been in jail for some type of crime. People think that once you’re out of jail that your life is over because no one will want to hire someone with a record. Jobs are hard to find but they are not impossible to find one. That’s what those programs are built to help with, gives the inmates a little extra help getting them the jobs. Pie001, 002, 004
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a great experiment to do. What Lally experienced gave a lot of perspective and a lot of new information to a guy that was on the police force for 20 years. If it has such a lasting impact on a veteran police officer, I can't imagine the impact it would have on me and how I view the correctional system and jail time that each inmate has to serve for their offense.
Deletegh_blackhawks1, gh_blackhawks002
I agree that this experiment was a great idea and it helped the professor have a better understanding of what type of lifestyle that these prisoners as well as the lifestyle of the people that he had locked up over the years. It was a great eye-opening experience for him and I believe it would be beneficial to many people, not just officers to do what he did and see life from another individual's view. Pack001, Pack002
DeleteI was very much admire what this professor did in order to better the criminal justice program that he is in charge of. He seemed a bit surprised that when he was inside of the jail, he found that he did not have to defend himself from the other inmates. As a matter of fact, he said “these guys were great, and I feel somewhat bad about having to deceive them.” This was surprising for me to hear as well, because generally jail can be as violent, or more so, than prison since it is more open among the inmates. But in the Woodford County jail, that is not the case thankfully. One thing that did not come as a surprise to me is that Lally said the time went by very slowly, and I can only imagine that three days most likely feels like an entire week of being locked up. It is interesting that the main event of each day is one of the three meals that are provided. Lally said there was a sense of “let down” when it is over because that’s the “event” that you look forward to. Lally was on the force for 20 years, but this entire experience is new information and new experience even as a veteran in the field. He went on to explain that he sees things in a new light, and even though the inmates did something wrong, no one will understand what it is like until they go in and serve time themselves. This makes me rethink how long sentences should be. How much of an effect can extreme amounts of added extra time have? Maybe inmates learn their lesson pretty quickly, as Lally seemed to experience. Lally claims that three days seemed like way longer, and that he does not know that he could even do 90 days in that setting. This puts things in perspective for me.
ReplyDeletegh_blackhawks 001, gh_blackhawks002
I agree, time undoubtedly passes very slow in prison or jail. This being said however, I feel that it should be this way. The time while a person is incarcerated should be miserable; they broke the law. People who are in jail or prison have committed a crime, and I believe boredom is the least amount of pain they should have to suffer. Do people make mistakes? Yes. But going to jail or prison is supposed to make them never want to make that mistake again, so if they feel this way while incarcerated then so be it.-OKC001
DeleteI was very interested to read this article because I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be in a jail cell. You always hear people being sentenced to five years and them saying “oh well his sentencing isn’t that bad”. Not bad? It would feel like an eternity in there. That’s why it didn’t surprise me when he felt like he was in their forever. This always helps eureka out with becoming better with policing especially the teaching aspect. I was surprised to hear that the guys in there were pretty great guys. I figured that they would be more violent towards him especially since he’s the new guy. He even states that he has never done anything like this in his life. He states that he has learned so much from being in there for three days. Experiences that people can’t get unless you live it and have to go through the process. Another aspect of this experience is that Woodford County jail seems to be going about their business right. Which is a good thing to here especially because you hear sometimes that people get mistreated in prison because their criminals. I think some sentences should be shorter depending on what they did because sitting in the jail just for 90 days even will make you realize that you made a mistake and you learned from it. It also didn’t surprise me that their main events are the three meals they get a day. I knew there isn’t much to do and most people love to eat so it only makes since especially when they get small portions of food as well. I feel that it would be so cool to go to eureka and talk to this guy in person about it. This is why eureka will get advantages from this because more students will want to go there so that they can learn and get experiences from him. CRC001,CRC002
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that five years would feel like an eternity in prison. Even just a few days would feel like a long time. I also like what Woodford County jail is doing; the inmates are friendly. Usually the jail or prison videos I watch involve the tough, unfriendly inmates. To read about the inmates being nice is a pleasant change. Normally older inmates do not want to help out the new inmates. There is a lot of news about new criminals getting mistreated in jail or prison because they are at the bottom of the hierarchical chain of inmates. Scuba002
DeleteThis Professor is, for lack of a better description, so cool. This man went into jail so he’d be able to give his students a better description of what it is truly like for prisoners in there. This experience not only helped his students knowledge on imprisonment, but it also gives the prison and the community great insight on the treatment of prisoners in that facility. Him going into that jail for a weekend gave the prison valuable information on the treatment of their prisoners, and the professionalism of its correctional officers. Being able to have a trusted source go into, and report on his/her experiences on their treatment within your facility is something jails normally have to pay for, or just don’t do at all. This professor now has very valuable knowledge on our corrections system. I was particularly surprised by his change of heart on our corrections system. I, like Professor Lally, believe that prisoners should receive no forms of comfort during their stay in prison or jail. Dr. Lally however had a change of heart on this thought. He now believes that those comforts don’t even come close to helping the depressing feeling of being incarcerated. Knowing he was a cop for 20 years, and has a lot of experience dealing with criminals, I am slightly torn. Hearing about his experience in his own words, for only one weekend, really makes me think about my view. However, that being said, I still feel very strongly that if you break the law, you deserve n o comfort during your stint of incarceration.-OKC001
ReplyDeleteI agree that the professor from the article is cool, but I think ours is cooler. It is good to have a professor with first hand experience in every facet of law enforcement. This professor went the extra mile in order to obtain experience on both sides of law enforcement, which will no doubt be invaluable for teaching students about the field of corrections. CoolGuy001
DeleteI think the experiment done by William Lally, spending 3 days in Woddfood County Jail was interesting and shows how passionate he is to his job and experiences of when he was a cop. It was mentioned that Lally said that when he was a cop, he was used to putting people in handcuffs but not actually going any further than that. Not seeing the "jail life". This experiment i feel like would give people the honest experience if being locked behind bars. Like he said, he noticed that the inmates greeted him with kindness and no more than that. A lot of people in society may judge or assume that people locked up are nothing but bad people with no morals or values, but with reading this article i get a jest of knowing the real them. Even though not everyone might not be friendly, you can't assume that everyone is dangerous. The adjustments to the food, sleeping habits, and just new surroundings in general really shows how passionate,interested, and dedicated he still is to his profession. kt001
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I think this man is pretty brave and admirable, and everyone should know his story. For an innocent man to willingly put himself behind bars just to see what it’s like it pretty crazy. And, in all reality, the man is right. There is a lot to learn by doing this.
ReplyDeleteBill Lally, a professor at Eureka College, willingly put himself in incarceration for a weekend to learn about jail from the inside. A brave man, indeed.
As professor Lally states, being a cop does not give you a lot of insight on how life was within the jails. In order to teach incarceration subjects, he felt he had to get a more intimate connection with the information he was sharing. He chose the fastest route, posing as a criminal in jail for a weekend.
The first thing he shows is the “clunk” of the cell closing, and “I knew I was in.” I feel like this sentence could hit hard for anyone who has spent time in prison, as hearing that cell lock is a sound I doubt many prisoners can forget.
Mr. Lally says this event was life changing for him. With his extended background of being a cop, Lally had gained this idea that those in Jail got it easy, and they fully deserve the punishment. Like many of us say, they did wrong so they deserve the time. However, after this experiment, the professor had a change of heart. He gave the readers an idea that being in jail for three days was torture enough, and he states that he couldn’t imagine doing 90 days. Or worse. Basically, being in jail helped Mr. Lally to see that life in prison is not a coddling of prisoners, but fully a punishment. And he also said, that after just three days, he felt “exhilarated” upon his release.
- AJC001
I agree AJC001, this man is very brave and admirable. It takes a lot of guts to willingly jail yourself simply for the knowledge of what it is like in jail. If I were to ever go to Eureka College, I would definitely want this man as my professor. zmw001
DeleteWhat this professor did was amazing. He willingly locked himself up in jail for three days just so he could better understand the corrections system and better teach his students about what goes on in jail as well. The experience was extremely eye opening to Professor Lally, as he had some ideas about what happened to the inmates in jail, and he was kind of upset about. He believed that prisoners were coddled with their televisions and meals and everything else that they got. He believed that people going into jails and prisons are going in for a reason, definitely not a good reason, and deserved to be punished for it. After his three days in jail, he realized that is not the case and it completely changed the way he looks at corrections and inmates. While in jail, one of the big things he noticed was that the inmates were all really nice guys. He had expected to go in and have to establish himself, but everyone was actually really nice to him. He also said that he had watched more television than he does all year within those three days, and he walked almost seven miles in that time as well. He felt exhilarated after he was released at the end of his three days, and has no idea how people can make it in jail or as long as they do. He also believes that you can not truly know how it is for inmates until you walk in their shoes. zmw001
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence is very true and reflects a lot about his experience this article. To the normal persons eyes who hasn't served time we don't really realize how much it actually takes a tole on someone.They actually have to be confined for the amount of time they are given to serve. Flannel002
DeleteThe article centers on the experience of a Eureka College criminal justice department head volunteering to be incarcerated in a county jail for educational purposes. One of the things that was very striking about this article was the way the professor described his treatment at the hands of his fellow inmates. He said that the people there were very nice and personable to the point he felt bad for having to lie to them. This goes to show how that most the people that we will deal with will not be horrible people, but just people who made a bad decision and people who are at their worst. Another thing the professor mentioned in the article was the lack of sleep and activities. The lack of sleep was caused by some of the other prisoners being inconsiderate and making a lot of noise after lights out and by the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The lack of activities to keep inmates occupied was evidenced by the level of importance placed on meals being the only thing that inmates got to do and the perception of how slowly time moved. If prisoners were given menial cleaning or grounds keeping tasks then time might pass more quickly for them. I know of one other place that does something like this. In the National Guard training instalation of Camp Atterbury Indiana there is a small, minimum security correctional facility located on post. They have inmates do most of the grounds keeping for the installation. I saw it when I was there for annual training and thought it was a good idea. I also noticed that inmates there had hackey sacks and other means of entertainment during their downtime that they could have if they behaved. If something similar were implemented in our jails then that could probably help some inmates to be more well behaved and less stir crazy from boredom. CoolGuy001
ReplyDeleteThis whole article was very interesting. The fact that the professor actually took a weekend to server jail time on his own accords just to further his knowledge in the subject is just amazing and shows true commitment. At the end of the article, he said that some guys only get 90 days. To him that would have been an eternity because he only spent three in there. But that makes sense. In jail, it has to be jail. That sounds ridiculous but it's so close to the truth that it's amazing. If you do something bad, you must be punished so that you can learn from your mistake. This guy learned very well what it was actually like to learn from the mistakes. It can't be all fun and games because you wouldn't learn a single thing from that experience. The professor must have had some very interesting classes after his experience in the slammer. I would bet that his students were also very attentive to those classes because I know I would have been. I really like how this whole experience was just for him to get more insight in the field. He really takes a commitment in his job. Also, it must have been very awkward for being on the other side since he was a cop for 20 years. Flannel002
ReplyDeleteIt was so brave of this professor to do what he did. I think it was a great learning experience and something that other police departments and detention center heads could actually use to check the safety of they facilities. I can't imagine getting to the point in my life where I think that getting 90 days is being let off light. I'm not even sure that I'd be able to do the full there days that this professor did. Touring the facility is close enough for me. I wouldn't even want to pretend to be on the wrong side of the bars.
DeleteHootie002
I agree that for this professor to serve in jail, it shows that his commitment is true. I know if I didn't have to serve time I wouldn't do it. He took multiple risks and to still go fourth with something regardless of the risks is commitment. He took understanding their perspective to a whole other level. This represents time and dedication not only for his class but his students because he wants them to have broader up close and personal view. MSSA002
DeleteI think going undercover like this was a very cool and innovative idea that could be utilized by more detention centers. It's a good way to not only know what your inmates are doing but also to ensure that your staff is treating them correctly. Having to sleep under a fluorescent light is something that I had never considered. In all of the movies and tv shows we see the inmates sleep in the dark like a normal person. But of course this could be unwise for many safety reasons. Another part of his experience that stood out to me was when he was let out and said that after just three days he already felt like he was in there much longer. He said that some inmates are excited that they are only in for ninety days but that he couldn't imagine staying there for that long and that 3 days was enough for him. I personally don't know if I would be able to do a weekend on the wrong side of the bars. I've toured the peoria county jail and the juvenile detention center with classes before at ICC but I've always been up in the observation deck or in the cell with a tour guide. I never actually felt like I was a part of the center. It was a very brave thing for this professor to do and I think he might be on to something.
ReplyDeleteHootie002
This video was very interesting and opened up my eyes on what it is like to go to jail without committing a crime. This professor experienced something that will help him teach classes in the future and better understand the correctional system but he did not experience the same punishment that a actual inmate would. When any other person goes to jail they are there for a reason, the criminal justice professor was not in there for a negative reason so he did not have nearly the amount of stress as the other inmates. The actual inmates in the jail have night and day in a cell to think about the reason they are in jail which makes jail alot worse. He said you can not understand someones experience in jail unless you have put yourself in their shoes but in reality he only say through part of a inmates perspective.
ReplyDeleteKLICK001
I found that this proffesor going under cover to find out the part of policing that he never knew about was pretty cool. He did what most people would have turned down and spent a weekend in jail. from what i read he said it was a life changing experince. 20 years a cop and the most he knew about the jail was that he would drop off to the jailer. He thought people in jail had so many things but was quick to learn that they don't have much of anything. I really hope this experince helped him and his teaching of our future police officers.evo001
ReplyDeleteThis article opens up ways for those working in the criminal justice system to better understand inmates. I do not think criminal justice workers really understand what inmates go through until the workers are put in the inmate’s shoes. The professor mentioned that you cannot learn unless you are in their shoes. A former inmate may be able to tell you his/her experience while in jail, but that does not mean much to you since you did not experience it firsthand. The Eureka professor also mentioned he was only in there for three days but underwent dramatic change. He mentioned the smell of walking outside and the exhilaration of being released. He could not believe he was only in there for three days. I am not sure how long this effect will last on him because it was so short term, so it would be more beneficial to be in there for a longer setting, like 90 days. I was surprised how friendly the inmates were to him because I have the idea that new inmates are at the bottom and are not treated the same as older inmates. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. She was able to fix the little fault in the prison based on what she learned while undercover. The professor also mentioned in the article how he had a hard time going to sleep because of his makeshift pillow, the noise, and the not-so-dim lights. This is just one of the things that inmates have to adapt to. Many have to change the way they used to do things just so they can get the proper sleep, eat, etc. I like that this experience changed his thinking. He used to think that inmates needed stricter punishment because they were bad. After experiencing being locked in the jail for three days, he changed his mind. He liked the televisions, food, and other comforting perks he had. Ciaccio001/002
ReplyDeleteThis article really opened up about what it's actually like for inmates. William Lally being in the criminal justice field being a cop for 20 years and actually having his Ph.d in criminal justice really wanted to know what it was like to be an inmate. You don't really know he said, you don't really know what the life of an inmate looks like. Just because you are a part of the criminal justice system doesn't mean you know what it's like. Being in on the other side of the bars is totally different. He couldn't believe he was only in there for three days and when he got out he found it so exhilarating! He mentioned he heard someone saying "90 days no big deal" and he was thinking to himself he couldn't do 90 days. Jail is a culture shock. Overtime we go on the jail tours with dr.white I just think to myself "I would not make it". We take the things we have for granted, so when they are taken away from us it's like a slap in the face. Like he said being cop he thinks "punishment" so when he first got there he always thought it needed to be stricter, but after he got out his state of mind changed. Jail can either set your straight and narrow or if your a lifer it's just another day for you. -dicaprio001
ReplyDeleteIntriguing story. I always love to hear about these types of events, where someone that has a say in things, like a professor can get into the field for an extra experience to bring to others. We hear alot about high and increasing recidivism rates, and we oftentimes hear of the lack of rehabilitative actions in jails and prisons. But it's good to hear that even something as small as a three day sentence can open a small window into the day to day like of inmates of jail from a different perspective than someone who is actually an inmate. I feel it is important for experiences like this, especially if your'e a generational cop and have spent so long in without seeing the other side. I do hope his students gain from this. Perhaps with scenarios like this so easily allowed, correctional facilities all around will take a second look at what they do and see if there is room for improvement, as the text suggests that there surely is. JAY001 JAY 002
ReplyDeleteI find it astounding that this professor did this. I really liked how he mentioned how he has always been able to answer his classes questions about the criminal justice system, but by doing this he can now give even more detailed and informative responses to questions that directly relate to the correctional area of study. I find it very interesting how he said that before he thought that inmates were privileged with he televisions, and other perks that are given and now that he has a completely new mindset on inmates and how the correctional system works. It it hard to change a cops beliefs, especially in this case of a veteran police officer who has the "DNA" encrypted into his blood. For him to say it changed the way he views this topic goes a long way. It just goes to show how there is always a different way of looking at situations. We all have different ideas of what being locked up inside a jail would be like, but this just goes to show that whatever bias's or ideas we have, we can never know what it is really like until you actually experience it. Blackhawks001
ReplyDeleteThis article is really interesting to see a police officers perspective of being inside of a jail cell. Not only was this a good experiment for Lally to do so he can explain to his students what it is really like inside of a jail and how the inmates actually act versus what we see on tv, but it was good for the people who work at the jail to know what goes on when they aren't around and how the inmates treated new inmates. I believe that this experience really did change his perspective on the inmates and how he now feels about them for when he did put them into jail to now. You never know what really goes on until you are put into the situation yourself and i think that this experience gave Lally better knowledge for when he is teaching his students and for the real world. Even though he is a retired cop he now has a different perspective. I think this is a good experience for other cops to look at because it may change their perspective on policing as well. Not everyone that goes into jail is necessarily a bad person, they just made a wrong choice along the way. I also thought it was interesting how he was so excited to have his freedom back even though it was only 3 days that he actually was in jail. bball001, bball002
ReplyDeleteWhen he worked as a cop he used to think inmates deserved harsh punishment his 3 day stay in the jail made him realize that was not the case. He enjoyed being allowed to watch tv, and looked forward to meal times as that was actually "doing something" so it broke up the mundane routine he was experiencing. It is also beneficial that these criminal justice workers go undercover so they can find faults in the system. I read an article how a corrections officer went undercover and found how inmates were sneaking contraband in. Another part of his experience that stood out to me was when he was let out and said that after just three days he already felt like he was in there much longer. This professor now has very valuable knowledge on our corrections system. I was particularly surprised by his change of heart on our corrections system.This always helps eureka out with becoming better with policing especially the teaching aspect. I was surprised to hear that the guys in there were pretty great guys.-NIKE001/NIKE002
ReplyDeleteFrom a policing background he was very brave to take that on not knowing the conditions of the jail and the environment. He experienced a warm welcome in spite of the average persons thought of what jail is. He also understood what it felt like to not have freedom, which is always the worst part of jail. They received strict rules and conditions but when he was an officer he believed in that, as an inmate he saw it from a different point of view. Three days changed his whole perspective on what he believed. That's a great experience for someone is in criminal justice it makes you relate to the offender.
ReplyDeleteMSSA002
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