A-Infos (en) Greece, ASAK: New Criminal Code and Institutionalization - The premeditated crime of the prison system (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

With the new criminal code, the tightening of penalties will lead to an 
increase in people who, after being convicted of even simpler cases, 
will be forced to serve their sentences. Greek prisons are overcrowded 
with the number of prisoners exceeding their maximum capacity. 
Imprisonment brings about a series of problems for the subject itself, 
as a result of the imprisonment. ---- Entering prison marks the 
beginning of a humiliating process for the inmates, which consists of 
the loss of the means of satisfying their personal needs, the inability 
to define and shape their individual space, and the separation of their 
personal belongings. It has been repeatedly observed, by scholars, that 
the first contact with the closed, dark environment of the prison is a 
shock for the prisoner, as he is abruptly cut off from free society 
while at the same time undergoing the forced process of adaptation to a 
closed society unprecedented, with its own values, culture and laws.

In the first stage of imprisonment, the psychological pressure exerted 
on the prisoner is particularly intense and leads him to a gradual 
disorganization of his personality, a process that will be completed a 
little later with his complete integration into the prison subculture. 
In this initial stage of adjustment the inmate appears to be most 
vulnerable to feelings of frustration, melancholy, depression and 
insecurity. Related research, which has been conducted on incarceration, 
has shown that during the first month of detention, convicts appear to 
be particularly prone to health problems, such as an increase in blood 
pressure as a result of emotional tension. Over the course of this stage 
of adaptation, the most unpleasant effects of prison on the 
psychosomatic health of the individual appear, since he, by adopting the 
laws of the prison, is led to complete self-destruction and deregulation 
of his personality. He allows himself to be carried away and trampled on 
spiritually by the daily routine, while at the same time abandoning any 
attempt to be himself. He shows symptoms of emotional indifference, 
apathy and meekly leads to heterodetermination, that is, to what the 
prison system really aims at: Institutionalization.

Institutionalization causes the mental disorganization of the prisoner, 
in whom the feeling of individual inadequacy develops, resulting in him 
being abandoned to the decisions of others. The main feature of the 
phenomenon of institutionalization is undoubtedly absolute dependence. 
Relinquishing any form of defense, the prisoner is trapped in a sense of 
self-rejection, letting others make the decisions concerning him, his 
needs and desires.

The institutionalization experienced by the incarcerated and the degree 
of their dependence and attachment to the prison environment (especially 
in the one that will be created with type c maximum security prisons), 
becomes particularly evident during the final stage of imprisonment and 
especially shortly before release. Contrary to what one might expect, 
the incarcerated instead of feeling mental well-being with the joyous 
event of their return to free life, show reactions of anxiety and 
insecurity. The uncertain is set before them and they adopt a fearless 
attitude towards life, having been institutionalized. Freedom scares 
them, they seek guidance, restriction and heterodetermination as they 
have forgotten to take initiative and handle life situations with 
confidence. This particular phenomenon is observed mainly in convicts 
with long sentences, who are so institutionalized that they consider 
prison their home and do not wish to be released.

The action of the disciplinary regime in the direction of 
institutionalization promotes, through prohibitions and deprivations, 
the manipulation of the inmates. It is therefore not difficult enough to 
predict the effects that undoubtedly, under such conditions, the 
individual is driven to alienation from himself and shows 
self-destructive tendencies, since he develops feelings of boredom and 
hopelessness. Inmates' self-harm and suicide are not uncommon, 
situations that demonstrate the impact of prison on the fragile mental 
world of man.

The phenomenon of institutionalization is proportional to the degree of 
alienation from free society and correspondingly to the degree of 
adaptation to prison conditions. The more the inmate is removed from the 
outside world, the more his institutionalization increases and vice 
versa. It is therefore of crucial importance to maintain ties with the 
persons of his family and friendly environment, as they contribute to 
the provision of moral and material support, so that the prisoner can 
face the hardships of prison and not alienate his future ability to 
reintegrate, which he undermines the prelude prison itself.
Unfortunately, in the context of depriving prisoners of their rights and 
coercion, communication with the wider social environment is severely 
limited and when it does take place, it is conducted in a suffocating 
environment. Of course, the geographical distribution of prisons should 
not be overlooked, which does not always allow the detention of the 
prisoner close to where his family lives. After all, with incarceration, 
friendship circles are usually broken up, while family ties are shaken.

In conclusion, the institution of prison leads the individual to 
desocialization, alienation from the free world, manipulation and 
self-humiliation. Although incarceration does not always have the same 
consequences for individuals, as it plays a decisive role in the degree 
of institutionalization, other factors also play a role, such as the 
type of criminal sanction, its duration and above all the psyche and 
personality of the prisoner. The incarceration overturns his social 
image until then, as it is tarnished and promotes a review of his 
actions, even past ones, which after the stigmatization take on meanings 
and extensions that no one could previously have given. At this point 
personality traits are re-constructed and stereotypes are created that 
make reintegration into society impossible. The resistance to the new 
Penal Code, to the tightening of sentences, to incarceration and to the 
prison "culture" concerns all of us because now there is no one - and 
this must be understood - who is not a target of the penal system.

Argyris Argyriadis

Anarchist Saints Anargyro - Kamaterou

https://anarchism.espivblogs.net/2024/02/19/neos-poinikos-kodikas-kai-idrymatopoiisi-to-promeletimeno-egklima-toy-sofronistikoy-systimatos/
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