by Cynthia Sherman

Created on: May 20, 2008

Should children be allowed to visit or tour a prison? This is a loaded question. I feel that a visit can either traumatize them or influence them not to exhibit poor behavior.

There are many reasons for a child to be at a prison. The first would be to see a family member. Children with family member within prison walls understand the reasons for them being there and they usually know what to expect from a visit. I would like to believe that these children do not view a visit as going to the prison but as seeing their loved one. It is hard enough to have a loved one locked up, so a complete understanding of the situation needs to be present and exhibited by the child.

As for taking a tour, this can be used as a determent method for children heading on the wrong path. This visit would have to be closely supervised and an education approach would have to be handled properly. As long as the proper guidelines of safety and education are set and followed, I believe that a tour could benefit many would be criminals. Hopefully this tour would encourage these children to reform their ways before it is to late. A possible age restriction should be in place as well.

I do not feel that the so called "good"children should visit a prison on a field trip. This trip would be unnecessary, unwise, and it could traumatize these children. I feel that if there were a field trip, strict age limits should be in place. High school students would be able to grasp the concept of such a trip and the impact of being in a prison. Elementary children may not be able to. Prison life is an idea that many people especially children may not be able to comprehend. Life in a prison is completely different from life in the suburbs.

I asked this question to a fifth grade class and they all thought I was crazy. No one in that class had any desire to visit a prison. They thought that only bad people went there and if they went to visit, the prisoners would get out and kill them. Clearly they do not understand the concept of cells with bars. I walked away after my discussion with a sense that this group of children are afraid of prison and in life they would not travel down the criminal path.

Overall I feel that a visit or tour should only be used in extreme cases. At risk children and children with parents in prison can visit, but I do not think that a field trip should be allowed. Prison life can be very daunting, scary, and I do not recommend a visit or a tour.

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