Most of us know the children’s story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Goldilocks, upon trying different extremes, finds the happy medium.  Prison centers need to be evaluated using the same philosophy.Prisons, much like porridge for Goldilocks, can be either too hot and relaxing, too cold and unforgiving or just the right balance of the two.Convicted British murderer Ashley Graham boasted “jail is just like being on a holiday” on Facebook from his prison cell. The killer enjoys social networking sites through a smuggled cell phone, the Mail Online [UK] News reported Feb. 16.The British Prison Service promises to place more regulations on mobile phones after receiving complaints from friendly sites. “Prisoners are not allowed access to mobile phones or the Internet,” a British Prison Service spokesman told The Daily Telegraph on Feb. 18. But phone use is not the only aspect that makes prison lenient. Earlier this year, some London penal institutions launched a scheme that allowed prisoners to visit pre-approved Web sites to take part in online learning and job hunting.If one is found undeniably guilty, prisons then offer luxurious condolences.The lax British system is contrasted with the “eye for an eye” philosophy employed in Iran.An Iranian man, Majid Movahedi, poured acid on a woman’s face, permanently blinding her after she refused to marry him in 2004. The court ruled in favor of the woman, Ameneh Bahrami, demanding acid drops be poured into the perpetrator’s eyes, CNN reported Feb. 19.It is almost unheard of to criticize victims for wanting harsh punishment, but most Internet bloggers have bashed Bahrami and the courts for inflicting cruelty upon the            aggressor.Although justice for Bahrami may come through this method, such cold punishment is unnecessary and should not be allowed by any justice system.The right temperature exists primarily in the U.S.Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola — a maximum security prison — offers a cornucopia of programs for recreational rehabilitation. The programs include organizations ranging from a magazine published entirely by inmates to a drama club and religious brotherhoods.  To enjoy these amenities, the prisoners must work as agricultural farmers, training carpenters, field workers, etc. Further, the detainees must undergo mandatory “re-entry classes” emphasizing communication, said Cathy Fontenot, assistant warden and public relations spokesperson at Angola Prison Center. Classes include anger management, development of social skills and interview skills, among others. Upon finishing a certain number of classes, prisoners may be allowed to plead for mercy or a pardon from the state.Rehabilitation and recreation are only parts of being in prison. Fontenot furthers that prison, although it may seem comfortable, “is not a place one wants to be.” Some prisoners live in open-man dorm rooms where each room has 67 other men, the beds are spread 32 inches apart from one another, and there is no air-conditioner.The purpose of creating penitentiaries is not only to remove criminals from society but also to educate and rehabilitate them. In our current world, it is often difficult to choose sides. Justice systems sometimes chose to cater to the aggressor and other times the victim. A golden mean needs to be employed.The average of the two extremes is a prison where criminals are reminded each and every day of their crime without physically enduring any pain.The Goldilocks philosophy on prison conditions ought to be applied when evaluating what will provide the most effective justice.Dini Parayitam is an 18-year-old biochemistry major from Lake Charles. – – – -Contact Dini Parayitam at [email protected]