...OVERCROWDING OF PRISONS 1 Overcrowding of Prisons Don Bailey SOC 305 Crime & Society Ekaterina Gorislavsky 25 May, 2015 - 1 - [no notes on this page] Running Head: OVERCROWDING OF PRISONS 2 Abstract The correctional institutions are established to correct the behaviors by law breakers. Society believes that once an individual comes out of the correctional facility, he is a reformed person. In addition, these facilities are always expected to warn the law abiding citizens to deter them from committing a crime for fear of being in the correctional cells. However, the population in the correction facilities especially prisons is contrary to this expectation. Over time, there is increased number of offenders. This comprises of the new offenders and the repeat offenders. This causes overcrowding in the correctional facilities which is a challenge to the society. The focus of this problem is the social effect of overcrowding to the judicial system and ways of addressing the challenge. Overcrowding in correctional institutions Crime is punishable for three reasons namely retribution, prevention and deterrence. The main purpose of incarcerating offenders is to stop them from repeating previous crimes they committed. Appraising the current American system using these standards, the deterrence category has failed miserably, insufficient in prevention and providing unsatisfactory retribution through detention. Attempts to deter released criminals who are convicted...
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...Running head: THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN AMERICA The Correctional System in America in need Of Revamping, Yes or No? Abstract The correctional system in America is failing, and it impact on the community is disproportionate. It has a direct and indirect influence in the community, in it values, family structure, and in the lives of the inmates it hold. Americans should take stand and revamp the system today to avoid regretting it tomorrow. Introductory Paragraph I. A growing number of Americans are seeking reforms for the correctional systems in the country. Some agree with this thought and some disagree with it. II. With more prisoners being added by the hundreds each week, chaos is dominating the correctional department. III. Whatever the case may be, there is not a doubt that the correctional system in America is not working, and is failing to resolve important issues such as: A) Crowdedness. B) Health and drugs problems. C) Rehabilitation. Transition Body IV. Prisoners need to be packed like sardines. V. Violation of privacy. VI. The government has to care even for criminals. VII. Lack of personal space might have psychological effects on prisoners, it has been proven. Transition VIII. Health and drugs crimes are also being committed outside. IX. Prisoners are being force to live with health and drugs issues. X. Government should provide...
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...Correctional Subspecialties Roles and Responsibilities Psychologists generally work in the private sector with patients who are in need of psychological evaluations, treatments or interventions when necessary (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). A psychologist who works primarily in the correctional system may hold the title of forensic psychologist or correctional psychologist. The correctional psychologist responsibilities are more in line with the needs of the institution and the individuals incarcerated while being the primary mental health provider (Magaletta & Verdeyen, 2005). The educational training standards vary somewhat between a psychologist who does not have a specialty and a correctional psychologist. The correctional psychologist’s education involves a more in depth curriculum relating to the roles required of a correctional psychologist such as inmate screenings and assessments, or the intervention during a crisis within the correctional facility. Competency of correctional personnel through assessments and treatment when necessary is another role the correctional psychologist provides (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). There are strict guidelines that must be followed relating to confidentiality and the correctional psychologist cannot violate them regardless of who they are working. The American Psychological Association’s code of ethics and code of conduct hold true for all psychologists regardless of their work environment. Most correctional facilities also have a code of conduct...
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...Correctional Subspecialties Roles and Responsibilities Psychologists generally work in the private sector with patients who are in need of psychological evaluations, treatments or interventions when necessary (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). A psychologist who works primarily in the correctional system may hold the title of forensic psychologist or correctional psychologist. The correctional psychologist responsibilities are more in line with the needs of the institution and the individuals incarcerated while being the primary mental health provider (Magaletta & Verdeyen, 2005). The educational training standards vary somewhat between a psychologist who does not have a specialty and a correctional psychologist. The correctional psychologist’s education involves a more in depth curriculum relating to the roles required of a correctional psychologist such as inmate screenings and assessments, or the intervention during a crisis within the correctional facility. Competency of correctional personnel through assessments and treatment when necessary is another role the correctional psychologist provides (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). There are strict guidelines that must be followed relating to confidentiality and the correctional psychologist cannot violate them regardless of who they are working. The American Psychological Association’s code of ethics and code of conduct hold true for all psychologists regardless of their work environment. Most correctional facilities also have a code of conduct...
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...Me First Correctional Policy and Procedures INTRODUCTION For centuries, societies had no trouble stating that the purpose of sentencing was punishment and that punishment was retribution. With the Age of Enlightenment and utilitarian thinking, society recognized three additional goals: deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. The relative importance of these goals became tied to conservative, liberal, or radical ideology. In assuming management of a prison, wardens are responsible for perimeter security and maintaining an orderly, secure internal environment. Wardens often regard themselves as administrators, rather than leaders. As wardens become more educated, the formal structure of modern prisons is likely to resemble a large, private organization with an established hierarchy and defined responsibilities. When governments confine people, they assume certain responsibilities toward them, including provision of constitutional living conditions, thus avoiding law suits and court interventions. Other management issues, such as classification, custody, and control, are also a high priority for modern prisons. During the last several decades, there has been a move toward professionalization in—moving from custody to control to care. Achieving scientific, uniform, and successful administration of public punishment through professional development is the goal of the American Correctional Association. In this professionalization effort, issues such prison...
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...2 The first penitentiary was opened in a wing of the Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Jail in 1790. This penitentiary operated with the belief that silence and labor was the appropriate rehabilitation tactic. “A system of behavior modification was introduced in the Walnut Street Prison, the system of secondary reinforcement so widely used in today's prisons. Each prisoner was given fair pay for his/her labor. The prisoner was debited for the cost of maintenance, and an additional sum was deducted for the prisoner's share of tools. The prisoner was also required to pay the costs of the trial, as well as a fine to the State. If there was a balance against the prisoner at the time of expiration of sentence, the person was retained until it was liquidated.”(Takagi, n.d) Incarceration in the United States is one of the main forms of punishment for the commission of many offenses. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world and the highest prison population in the world. When researching the American Correctional System there is a lot of information to cover, such as the types of offenders in the system and the different levels of security. How do the United States correctional system compare to Canada’s correctional system? In the American correctional system there are varying levels of security ranging from minimum security to high security prisons. “Prisons are operated on the basis of care, custody, and control. Prisoners are classified by security level or type...
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...Prison Health Care Agency HCS/430 Legal Issues in Health Care: Regulation and Compliance August 4, 2014 Prison Health Care Agency There are many facets in the health care industry. Examples include hospitals, urgent care centers, physicians’ offices, medical labs, and more. One not really spoken about, is the prison health care system. Prison health care is the medical treatment of inmates in the United States Correctional Facilities (Means & Cochran, 2012) this is according to the report. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) is a federal agency that oversees the medical needs of prisoners. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2012, the number of admissions to state and federal prison in the United States was 609,800 offenders (Carson & Golinelli, 2013). With these prison inmate statistics, clearly there is a need for health care in the prison system. The NCCHC is a federal agency that was constructed to improve the quality of health care in the prison setting. The NCCHC was founded in the early 1970’s. The American Medical Association (AMA) executed a study on the conditions of jails. The AMA found “inadequate, disorganized health services, and a lack of national standards” (National Commission on Correctional Health Care, 2013). The National Commission on Correctional Health Care states their mission is to improve the quality of health care in jails, prisons, and juvenile confinement facilities. They support their mission...
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...through accreditation. Accreditation is not simply an annual or semi-annual visit but an ongoing process to ensure constant and consistent professionalism. Accreditation is a system of verification that correctional agencies comply with national standards dictated by the American Correctional Association. This accreditation is achieved through a series of reviews, audits, hearings, and evaluations (American Correctional Association, 2011). The accreditation gives correctional facilities a guide by which to operate each facility. The goal of each facility is to maintain a safe and effective institution for the inmates as well as the guards and other employees. In order to maintain this accreditation, each employee of the facilities must handle themselves in a professional manner. In order to further this concept, facilities can construct a series of disciplinary actions for guards or employees fond violating any of the policies and procedures put forth by the accreditation. A zero tolerance for unprofessional behavior will leave facilities to find that the accreditation is easier to maintain as well as positive reactions from the inmates and other employees through the constant professionalism exhibited by the guards and the facilities as a whole. The privatization of prisons has been a controversial issue, but due to the rising prison population and...
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...Me First Correctional Policy and Procedures INTRODUCTION For centuries, societies had no trouble stating that the purpose of sentencing was punishment and that punishment was retribution. With the Age of Enlightenment and utilitarian thinking, society recognized three additional goals: deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. The relative importance of these goals became tied to conservative, liberal, or radical ideology. In assuming management of a prison, wardens are responsible for perimeter security and maintaining an orderly, secure internal environment. Wardens often regard themselves as administrators, rather than leaders. As wardens become more educated, the formal structure of modern prisons is likely to resemble a large, private organization with an established hierarchy and defined responsibilities. When governments confine people, they assume certain responsibilities toward them, including provision of constitutional living conditions, thus avoiding law suits and court interventions. Other management issues, such as classification, custody, and control, are also a high priority for modern prisons. During the last several decades, there has been a move toward professionalization in—moving from custody to control to care. Achieving scientific, uniform, and successful administration of public punishment through professional development is the goal of the American Correctional Association. In this professionalization effort, issues such prison...
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...prison emerged in early America as the alternative to servitude. Prisons systems back during early America faced some of the same types of issues we still face today. Most of the American jails were overcrowded and very unsanitary. The jailer would also charge for special services. In some prisons today they charge almost five dollars a minute for telephone calls. After a couple major scandals surfaced about the mismanagement of private providers the correctional facilities were turned back over to the states. In the late 1900s state legislatures started contracting out prison systems to profit-making firms in order to help manage the escalating cost. Private contractors argued that they could manage prisons at a cheaper cost to the government...
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...duties of a correctional Psychologist Donterise L. Anderson Saint Leo University Abstract An increasing rate of violation of crimes characterizes the current global environment. Different forms of violence and aggression, including drug trafficking and abuse, robbery, and rape cases among other forms of violence necessitates the need for analyzing the roles of a correctional psychologist. The special roles played by the correctional psychologists such as providing environments that improve the safety of the staff and inmates, psychological services, inmate management, and conducting an evaluation of the inmate/prison population and its influence on inmates’ health necessitated the study into the topic. In addition, the fact that the correctional psychology has numerous ethical dilemmas and conflicts makes it wanting to study the topic. Introduction Today, corrections are a complex, high profile operation, which consumes a significant portion of the federal operating budget. This paper will concentrate on the duties of a correctional psychologist. The paper begins with an overview of legal issues pertinent to psychological concepts and legal rights of inmates. We then examine the practice of forensic psychology in the correctional environment. Legal issues This section describes the common legal issues facing psychologists working in correctional facilities. The issues have been...
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...Mentally Ill and Handicapped in Corrections "Corrections is the variety of programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for the management of individuals who have been accused or convicted of criminal offenses" (pg 8). The goals of corrections are fair punishment and community protection. These goals not only define the purpose of corrections but also serve as the criteria by which we evaluate correctional work. "Corrections can be viewed as a series of processes: sentencing, classification, supervision, programming, and revocation" (Clear, Cole, & Reisig, pg. 9). While criminals are being processed, the correctional agencies have to deal with the pressure of public opinion, fiscal constraints, and the law. This may lead to actions not seen best suited for achieving fairness or public protection. "The American corrections system today employs over seven hundred thousand administrators, psychologists, officers, counselors, social workers, and others. The federal government, the 50 states, over three thousand counties, and uncounted municipalities and public and private organizations administer corrections at an average annual cost of over $60 billion" (Clear, Cole, & Reisig, pg.13). Corrections contain many subunits, each have their own functions and responsibilities. These subunits are probation officers, halfway houses, prisons, and others. Theses subunits vary in size, goals, clientele, and organizational structure.They are either administered in institutions...
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...Correctional Counseling and Treatment Correctional counseling is a type of counseling that assists criminal offenders in dealing with specific problems their current personality structure lack, so they can make better decisions in the future. Correctional Counselors deal with specific life-adjustment situations, while trying to expand on the underneath "good" personality that already exists. In our correctional system, this type of counseling exists, but is it effective? With news flashes of violence daily, and deadlines burred with murders and violent acts constantly, it is easy to say no. The re-offending rates in our country are among the highest in the world, and several underlying problems exist in offender lifestyles and upbringing that will allow them to be treated. When you read a newspaper or see the news you often encounter stories of violent acts by criminals with long wrap sheets. They have not been helped simply because the correctional system has not been able to deal with the enormous number of offenders, and therefore cannot give them the individual treatment that they would need. This lack of specific counseling allows the offender to go untreated, and commit more criminal acts. Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release...
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...CHAPTER 1 - What is Corrections? | Chapter Outline and Summary | | | Chapter OutlineI.IntroductionA.Growth of the system has changed how much people know about corrections1.In 1973 the prison incarceration rate was 96 per 100,000 Americans2.By 2008, after 35 years of steady growth, the U.S. imprisonment rate reached 506 per 100,0003.About 7.5 million Americans are now in the corrections system4.Correctional population growth continued throughout the 1990s, although crime rates fell by more than 50 percent between 1993 and 20075.The expansion of corrections has affected some groups more than others6.About one-third of all African American men in their twenties are under some form of correctional control7.Prison budgets, by far the most expensive portion of the overall penal system, grow even when monies for education and others services lag8.Today, Corrections pervasive—especially for poor, minority Americans II.The Purpose of CorrectionsA.Punishment1.From the earliest accounts of humankind, punishment has been used as one means of social control, of compelling people to behave according to the norms and rules of society2.Protecting society by defining limits of behaviorB.Three basic concepts of Western criminal law define the purpose and procedure of criminal justice1.Offense2.Guilt3.PunishmentC.The central purpose of corrections is to carry out the criminal sentence1.Corrections—the variety of programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for the management...
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...increase accountability for an employment organization. Corrections accreditation is standards to help keep prison procedures, policies, and operations in order. With such standards, corrections officers are better professionally developed. The American Correctional Association (ACA) has a department that specifically targets professional development. “The Professional Development Department consists of four sections: Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements, Conference Programming, Training and Technical Assistance, and Educational and Training Products” (READING: Chapter 8 in Corrections). Its goal is to change the attitude and mindset of corrections officers from just having a job, to being considered a professional. I believe that industry leaders can plan for a better correctional officer professionalization and accreditation by improving training. I can presume that many times correctional officers are not considered 'real' law enforcement because of the lack of training and also because the funds are not often supplied as readily as they are for and given to the other agencies of law enforcement. Privatization is a rational and contemporary unravelment to the issues of overcrowding and immense costs facing the U.S. prison system. A plethora of states are distinguishing this, arranging some servicing, arranging the inmates' labor to exclusive firms, and seeking exclusive investments for prison composition. Accumulating counts of states are arranging out the full engagement...
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