Having been incarcerated for more than 20 years, I’ve seen many changes. I’ve lived in different prisons, under different administrations, and seen the different ways people run things. 

Given my experiences, I put together a list of 10 improvements I’d like to see at my prison, Idaho State Correctional Institution in Boise. 

1. Instead of paying 30 or 40 cents per hour, I’d give workers a decent wage. And all inmate IDs would be encoded like debit cards. I would do away with “hidden” fees that many prisons attach to services like phone calls and commissary purchases. For example, in our prison, there is a 10% surcharge on all purchases that helps support recreation programs, education items and chapel services. That wouldn’t be so bad if inmates had a say in where the money was spent. Many inmates do not even know the fee is there.

2. For meals, I propose a serving line where people could select what they want. So much money is wasted on food that is thrown away. Also, a few special menu items could be selected for a small additional charge. I’d even install vending machines in the chow hall from which inmates could use their ID card to make purchases. This would provide more choices. Most prisons serve the same menu rotation over and over.

3. Junk food options in the commissary are nice as an occasional treat, but there should also be a variety of healthier selections, as well as some TV dinner-type meals for those times when a person doesn’t want to or can’t go to the chow hall.

4. Depending on a prison’s security level, the commissary should sell comfort items, such as plastic chairs, curtains, rugs and floor mats. I have been in a prison where we could buy things like bedspreads and air mattresses. That was nice.

5. Speaking of comfort, why do prisons have to have cells? What about creating little efficiency apartments instead? Of course, the resident would be required to take care of it. Maybe you would need some old-fashioned cells for the few who just don’t care, but I’m certain that would be a small minority.

6. There should be plenty of basic cable TV channels, but I would also install a system like many hotels (and a few prisons) have, in which you can pay for movies, TV shows and even video games.

7. There should be a variety of higher education and vocational opportunities. Incarcerated people who are able to learn a trade or gain a degree will have a much better chance of finding a job when they get out. Even people serving life sentences would feel better if they could accomplish something. With our new access to Pell Grants, more of this is happening — but there should be much more.

8. I would allow inmates to have their own businesses (with regulation, of course). When this has been allowed (and sometimes when it hasn’t), I’ve seen people develop a skill — painting, woodworking, writing — and make a nice income from it. A private Oklahoma prison I was in displayed in-house creations in the visitors’ area. Visitors and staff could purchase the items, with the money going back to the artisan.

9. There could even be programs to help a person learn or improve their skills while solving common prison problems. For example, one of the perennial struggles in prisons is unregulated tattooing. People inside can be pretty ingenious when it comes to making tattoo motors and inks. But this can be dangerous. Someone can easily be infected or catch a disease. What about setting up a prison-sanctioned tattoo parlor, where people can have access to proper training and materials? A fee would be charged for the work to pay the artist and allow them to purchase supplies and proper equipment.

10. I would put an emphasis on organized sports, especially team sports like football and basketball, which teach people to work together. And while many prisons seem to be afraid of the traditional martial arts — such as karate or taekwondo — if taught properly, a person could learn a great deal about honor, respect and self-discipline. At the very least, something like tai chi should be available.

Now, you might be asking yourself: How can I justify improving the quality of life in prison when people are there for punishment?

For starters, most of my suggestions would keep incarcerated people busy, which would keep them out of trouble and make prisons safer. Incarcerated people are constantly punished by the very conditions of prison. No good can come from further restricting our humanity. So let us keep busy with aspirations and small comforts, rather than be constantly subjected to degradation and demoralization. 

It’s also important that incarcerated people learn to feel better about themselves and others. This can only happen if we are treated with respect and dignity. When there are opportunities to be treated like “civilized” people, we can feel better about ourselves and about society. That’s a good thing.