Prison or confining people is one thing from the outside, another from the inside. Although I’ve never been to prison, I used to think I could handle a year behind bars without problems. But after experiencing military service, I realized something different. During service, whenever I wanted (well, not entirely, but still), I could go on leave. At any moment I felt I couldn’t take it anymore, I could leave and never come back. The freedoms I had in that environment are not comparable to prison. When the time between leaves stretched beyond a month, I felt shattered every second. I can’t even imagine what someone who’s spent six months behind prison bars has felt and endured.

If I had the authority in the judiciary or could add a course to the program that turns students into judges, similar to other fields that have internships or practical units, I would add a six-credit course called Prison. Every student about to graduate would have to spend three months in prison to experience the environment and the feelings firsthand, so they truly understand what a 20-year sentence means when they pass judgment. What it really means to send someone behind bars for 20 years for whatever crime they committed. What it feels like to sit behind bars day and night. What goes through your mind. What your brain does to you.