Corporate Prisons

How to Avoid

By: Vicki Sanderford-O'Connor

      For years, public safety commissions have led people to believe that punishment is a deterrent to crime. In reality, punitive practices, such as jail time, are a normal part of life for most criminals, and their short forays into the community on parole are mini-vacations. The rehabilitated individuals often find it hard to live in regular society because they lack a sense of the values that the non-criminal population hold dear.

        Why is punishment not always the best disciplinary route? When we examine the typical prison, which epitomizes disciplinary punishment, the answer becomes obvious. Prisons are, in fact, miniature communities, each with their own set of rules, regulations, and behavioral standards. Individual attitudes and actions dominate how prison inhabitants live amongst each other and how the staff punishes those who break the rules. As a result, it’s usually a harsh environment filled with tension and stress. So rather than teach inmates how to live on the outside world crime-free, many prisons simply reinforce the very things society wants off the streets, such as violence, theft, and a disrespect for others and their property.

        A similar environment can be seen in many corporate cultures. Business owners and managers regularly enforce rules that stifle what is unique and creative in their team so as not to offend any outside group. They dictate regulations about corporate dress, speech, practices, and even office decorations in an attempt to create safe and predictable environments that limit risk. Any deviation from these ...

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