Life inside prison changes people in profound ways. The strict routines, constant surveillance, and lack of personal freedom shape behaviors that often persist long after release. For many former prisoners, these habits are not easily shed — they become part of a survival mindset built over years of adaptation. Some habits protect them, while others reveal the deep psychological imprint of incarceration. Although jail time might seem like a distant possibility for most people, incarceration rates in the United States are steadily rising.
One study published in the journal Pediatrics found that 41% of young adults have been arrested by the time they are 23. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that 6.6% of people serve time in prison at some point in their lives, and the statistic rises to a shocking 32% for African-American men. More than half of inmates are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. As state mental hospitals continue to close and mental health services remain financially out of reach for many people, this number may rise.
