The Stanford Prison Experiment

After reading the article an viewing the clips provided on line, in my opinion the Stanford Prison Experiment was not an accurate reproduction of what goes on within the prison system. The experiment could very well be replicated in today's society, but with some of the following stipulations: (1) a policies and procedural manual to abide by, complete with checks and balances for the staff (2) Repercussion for any excessive use of force, or any unusually harsh punishments inflicted upon the "inmates" (3) rules and regualtions would not only apply and be enforced for the prisoners, but the staff as well, (4) procedures for filing a grievance would be made readily available to the inmates without fear of reprisals. (5) surprise visits would be instituted to be made intermitttently throughout the prison system from outside agencies (without prior notice) to ensure all policies are being adhered to.
The experiment was not ethical. In an environment that left those in positions of authority to "create" their own rules and form their own form of correctional tools; it caused the guards to become sadistic in their efforts to produce a "replica" of what it would be like in the prison system. What started out as role playing turned into a "virtual reality" for the majority. The experiment got extremely out of hand, causing many to be scarred - mentally and physically. The degradation the inmates were subjected to was saddening and sickening to say the least.
An accurate measure of how prison life really is was not portrayed. There are many aspects of prison life that will never reach the outside world. The only way to truly know what goes on within the system is to be placed within the system. Few would volunteer to be subjected to that kind of "experimentation". What is especially appalling is the fact that out of over fifty outsiders who had seen the "prison" only one questioned the morality.
The prison system today does not even begin to compare to the experiment. The environment and treatment of inmates is much worse. Many are deprived of medication vital to their health and welfare. While others are subjected to beatings without provocation - some to the point of death. Still others are thrown into confinement at the whim of the guards.
Speaking from my own personal experience as a family member of an inmate: the treatment inmates receive is "sub-human" and that is putting it nicely. What I have witnessed and experienced as a "visitor" leaves me enraged. It truly makes me ill to see the degradation of another human being. I have witnessed inmates being cursed, and degraded unnecessarily, being treated like animals,, and heard from other inmates how they have witnesses the murder of inmates at the hands of other guards and one of the Captains, but have not spoken out , fearing for their own safety. Additionally, the rules change on a daily basis. Required recreation time has been stripped from the inmates, causing them to be confined virtually twenty four hours a day. Furthermore, many are threatened without provocation. No communication is allowed while traveling from one area to the next and unhygenic conditions are rampant.
No experiment can accurately reflect what "prison life" is like and what the affects are. To get an accurate measure of "prison life" an impartial party must go in undercover for at least six months (without the knowledge of the Warden or any other staff member) and conduct a study over a set time. The Stanford Experiment scratches the surface at best.