Discussing the meaning of life with a "lifer"

Whether the life sentence results in an attitude characterized by nihilism or adaptation is unknown; however, one could speculate that an individual's pre-incarceration coping skills and overall constitution play a role. Because the plight of the lifer is often unknown to free society, allow me to provide some factual highlights. [...] US attorneys have had to prosecute leaders and members of highly sophisticated organized crime syndicates that operate out of the nation's prisons.