Sounds like life in general frankly. There's also typically a heavy religious influence within prisons including helping people out with necessities. It's complicated.

That's not to say it is perfect by any means. I have friends who have been to prison that form my opinion and what impacts them most is not the prison but the society around them when they leave. They get passed over for jobs and end up on social assistance, social housing (when your rent cap is $376 and average rent is $1200 for a bachelor and your basic needs amount to $300 assuming you get some special diet).