Premium Essay

Prison Gangs in Canadian Prisons

In:

Submitted By ksmitty
Words 2013
Pages 9
Summary of critiqued article:

“Are All Gangs Equal Security Risks? An Investigation of Gang types and Prison Misconduct” - Ruddel, R., Gottschall, S. (May 5, 2011)

To date, there has been very little scholar investigation towards the different types of gangs in Canadian penitentiaries, and their unique contributions to prison misconduct. Gangs in the correctional system are one the biggest problems facing correctional staff and administrators. Does every gang pose the same threat towards the Canadian correctional system? This study is an attempt at comparing the various gang members admitted into the correctional system between January 1, 2006 and August 31, 2009. It examines the offence-related characteristics of 1,636 gang members compared to 1,649 non-gang member counterparts. The 5 distinct types of gangs studied are: Aboriginal, Asian, street, outlaw motorcycle (OMG), and traditional organized crime (TOC). This study revealed that there are, in fact, distinct characteristics to each gangs conduct in the correctional system: Aboriginals have highest misconduct, highest rates of previous incarceration; street gangs were similar in violence but had less previous prison sentences; OMG had lower involvement in violent offences, but had longest sentences. Aboriginal gangs being the most violent, then Asian and street, followed by OMG gangs and TOC as the least. The closer examinations of these security threat groups (STG) suggest that the correctional system should imply different strategies to counter prison misconduct with gangs. Instead of aiming at suppressing the gangs, efforts should be more focused in a rehabilitative manner, taking into account the different characteristics of each STG.

Introduction

The studies reported in the article “Are All Gangs Equal Security Risks? An Investigation of Gang types and Prison Misconduct” by Ruddel, R.,

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Crim

...Canadian prisons have always been lacking the needs of offenders and programs to help them. Till now they have the same problem; however, they have been improving and meeting the needs of the offender’s population in a slow manner. Many incidents have occurred during prison time as well as after inmates have been released from prisons. Due to that Canadian corrections have slowly taken more time into their programs and treatments to help the inmates rehabilitate themselves and be able to get back into society in a better state than what they had arrived in. Overtime there have been many facilities available in order to help inmates with certain behavior issues and severe issues. In this paper I will be covering the different types of inmates and how each of them is treated with different programs. Incarceration rate has slowly been going down and there have been more treatment programs to help the offenders rather than just punishing them. Once again, in this paper, I will thoroughly explain how this is done with different types of offenders including; Women in gangs, impaired offenders, offenders who have been diagnosed with HCV (hepatitis C or AIDS), and sexual offenders. Not everyone will be getting treatments or put into programs in prison. Majority of the people are the ones who have a higher risk of danger when being put back into society; however, to prevent this, programs have been available in Canadian prisons. As you read on in this paper you will find out the different...

Words: 2968 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Do the Time, Pay the Crime

...for the on-going errors that inmates keep repeating? Does that make sense? In the United States alone there is approx 2.4 million people incarcerated. 2.4 million inmates! That’s almost 7% of Canada’s population. Prisons cost taxpayers more than $32 billion a year. An American study done in 2010, demonstrated that every year an inmate spends behind bars costs taxpayers anywhere from $30,000.00 to $168,000.00! So an individual sentenced to a five year sentence because of a $2,500.00 theft could costs the public more than $125,000. The cost of a life term averages $1.7 million per inmate! That’s a lot of money coming out of our pockets, your future children's pockets. Studies have shown that certain states are spending more money on prisons than education. Over the course of the last 25 years, the amount of money spent on prisons has increased by 570% while that spent on elementary and high school education was increased by only 33%. That’s a huge difference! Once again I ask, Does that seem right? So why should we pay for this? Here’s a fun fact, NYC’s Riker Island prison’s annual cost for an inmate is $168,000.00! That’s nearly as much as it costs to pay for four years of tuition at an Ivy League university in the U.S. Why so much? Being that the Riker's prison is an Island, it involves many extra costs. The U.S. department of correction says it spends $30 million annually alone on transportation costs,...

Words: 765 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Models!

...The specification says ‘explanations’, which means you’ll need to know at least two explanations. 1. The importation model – this explains aggression in prisons. In brief, it says aggression occurs because of characteristics that prisoners bring inside with them. Cheeseman (2003) said that men in prison have a certain way of behaving (probably why they went to prison in the first place!) and they then apply that behaviour to their new institutional setting. Toch (1997) says this: all prisons inherit their subcultural sediments from the street corners that supply them with clients. This suggests that young people can be aggressive both on the street and in prison. Personal and psychological factors that existed in inmates before being incarcerated can affect the level of aggressive behaviour shown in prison. Mills, Kroner and Weekes (1998) studied prisoners admitted to a Canadian prison using the alcohol dependence scale (ADS). Inmates who had higher levels of dependence were associated with more aggression shown in prison. Also, inmates who had greater periods of unemployment, lower levels of education, and a more serious criminal record were more likely to be aggressive in prison (Kane and Janus, 1981). Demographic variables that seem to influence aggression in prisons are race and age. Studies in America have shown that non-whites and younger prisoners are more likely to be aggressive whilst incarcerated. Kane and Janus (1981) say that this is because these groups...

Words: 1032 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Young Offenders

...Court Case Analysis of a Young Offender The Canadian public perception of youth crime is that it is growing out of control and that violence crime is common. Sensationalized media coverage, frustrated law enforcement officers and vote-seeking politicians, have tended to portray only parts of the overall reality of youth crime (John Howard Society, 2008). The government of Canada has evolved over the many years to deal with youth crime from installing the Juvenile Delinquency Act in 1908 all the way to the Youth Criminal Justice Act recently amended in 2012. What these acts have accomplished is the separation of youth and adult sentences (Stevenson, 2014). This was done in order to protect children because it is the belief in Canada that children are not responsible for their actions because of Doli incapax or the inability to do wrong. That being said there is still legislation in dealing with youth crime that is punishing and effective (Stevenson, 2014). This paper will analyze a court case decision made under the Youth Criminal Justice Act which involves a young offender who was convicted of a gang-related murder and breached Conditional Supervision Order (R. v. S.(M.), 2014). This court case will be analyzed using relevant research on youth gangs using concept of theories that apply to our young offender. In conclusion, this paper will discuss limitations of laws and possible alternatives that dealt with the young offender. A summary of R. v. S.(M.), the court based...

Words: 3723 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Why the Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis Would Improve Canadian Society

...Why the Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis Would Improve Canadian Society Criminology 101 - Section 02 Nikaya Mirhadi-Pathon Capilano University Cannabis, the plant from which marijuana is derived, is the most widely used, produced and trafficked drug worldwide (Ducatti Flister, 2012). The decriminalization of marijuana has been a widely debated topic on a global scale as many advocate for it’s therapeutic purposes. In the city of Seattle, there are reportedly more medicinal marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks outlets. With the recent rise of dispensaries, two Washington University students are preparing to capitalize on this phenomenon by releasing an app for iPhones called Canary, billed as “Uber for marijuana” where an illegal delivery service can bring high-grade cannabis to your home within the hour (Altman, 2014). Governments world wide have invested copious amounts of money in fighting drug production and consumption, even though, the war on drugs has increased cannabis seizures, we see in countries like Canada, that regulated distribution of marijuana, has made it more readily available for both recreational and medicinal users (Ducatti Flister, 2012). Although, police within the Canadian jurisdiction are capable of pursuing criminal charges for cannabis possession for those who are distributing and consuming illegally, there is still a lack of consensus on the legal status of cannabis in Canada. Though the drug is illegal in Canada, with exceptions...

Words: 1468 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Bill C-10 Essay

...mandatory minimum sentences and the proposition of the bill we will look at the challenges that will be faced and met. The bill also introduces eliminating conditional sentences and eliminates double credit for time already served as well as introduces changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act to impose harsher sentences for young offenders. This essay will delve into information that will bring the various issues to light. Firstly an explanation of Bill C-10 will be provided to understand what changes will be made to the Criminal code and who it affects. The dissection of the Bill will open the dialogue for this essay for appropriating topical issues with the concept of progress in a manner that reflects the trouble that this Bill brings to Canadian society. Bill C-10 was introduced by the Minister of Justice on the 20th of September 2011. The Act includes the enactment of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and amendments to the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other relevant legal documents (parl.gc.ca). Bill C-10 is also titled the Safe Streets and Communities Act but many critics say that this title is very misleading. The first Part of the Bill is the creation of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act which introduces a cause of action for victims of terrorism, allowing...

Words: 3926 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

America's Public Enemy Number One

...In today's society, the prisons of America appear to cause more problems than assistance. The country penal system is expensive, overcrowded, and some argue that it is ineffective as well as inefficient. The cost to build, staff, and support these facilities increases dramatically each year. Prisons, which were created to be humane correctional facilities, are currently filled with violence, hostility, and a communal fear. These institutions are meant to control crime by deterrence, incapacitating criminals. This may protect society from potentially dangerous individuals, but these institutions' level of accomplishment is askew. The financial burden attached to the building, maintaining, and staffing of prisons constantly plagues the penal system. During the late 1960s, New York built prisons at a price of $2 million each. Since then, prices have risen dramatically. In 1990, each prisoner required $15,496 to support (“Bureau of Justice Statistics”). A prison containing 2,000 inmates amounts to over $31 million to operate on an annual basis. The United States spends an estimated $60 billion each year on corrections (Prisons in the United States). The operation price is synonymous with the level of security, ranging from the supermax, containing serial killers, to the minimum security, containing drug offenders. Violence is not confined to outside prison walls. In 2005 alone, federal and state prisons reported 885 incidents of sexual violence. Of the aforementioned...

Words: 3668 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Current Event Analysis: Declining Crime Rate In Canada

...The main focus of the Justice Model is to punish the individual who had committed the crime, and not to punish the offender due to their prior criminal record. This model does not have a great impact on this issue of maintaining the trend of declining the crime rate. However, there is an impact that can help emerge Canadians to continue the model of justice. The justice model’s essential factors is to punish offenders- fairly and with justice- through lengths of confinements proportionate to the gravity of their crimes (Logan 1993). The purpose of this model is to punish all offenders who commit the same crime receiving the same sentence within the crime exceeded. However, offenders who do not learn from their consequences, and continue to committing more crime in the future; the sentence is longer than the first time offenders for the same crime. This model creates offenders to help neglect them off the streets for a longer time of period for committing the crime repeatedly. Under those circumstances, I believe that the justice model is in view of a not proving...

Words: 1204 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Dud Laws Immoral

...that this will not pose a threat to our moral standards. According to the article 'Canada's Drug Laws Immoral', written by Joseph Quesnel, he states that “in 2009 an annual report on the state of organized crime in Canada indicates that the illicit drug trade is the most profitable activity for Canadian gangs.” This suggests that out of a majority of illegal gang crime activities such as fraud or white collar crime, the drug trade is the most profitable creating a desire for more individuals who take notice of this type of income to immediately be lured. In order to try and amend this ongoing issue I feel that it is very necessary that we legalize these drugs in three generalized ways that will not compromise our morals as human beings. Firstly, I feel that drugs should definitely be legalized but to a certain extent meaning these drugs should not just be handed out to just anybody solely to protect the safety of children, but should be monitored by an organization such as Public Health Ontario and should not be given to anyone under the age of 19. The central thought is that once they become legal automatically the income stream for these dealers will be cut off causing any gang activity to be put to a halt where money is concerned. Because these drugs are so expensive on the market it causes people to have to pay a large amount of cash just for a small amount of...

Words: 1008 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Asdf

...” (5 Common Uses of Medical Cannabis) Also, medical marijuana helped patients with their loss of appetite. Cannabis stimulated appetite in cancer and AIDS patients in many studies. Animal studies have proven that inhaling cannabinoids increased food consumption. Furthermore, cannabis relieves muscle tension and spasms. Liquid extract used by MS experienced a decrease in muscle spasms and shacking. Studies on MS patients had a decrease in tremors and muscle stiffness when they had an intake of THC. Additionally, marijuana helped relieve pain. A Canadian team has found that three puffs a day of cannabis has helped people with chronic nerve pain due to injury. (Three Puffs a Day Helped People With Nerve Pain, Study Finds) “Those suffering from neuropathic pain – commonly caused by alcoholism, amputation, and spine surgery, HIV or MS – often turn to medical cannabis as a source of relief. In a 2010 study done by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 21...

Words: 1255 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Controlling Organized Crime

...Controlling Organized Crime Rob Papagno CJA/384 03 September 2013 Daniel Barry Controlling Organized Crime Some people would say that organized crime has ruined the United States and allowed petty hoods to gain worldwide recognition. Others would disagree and say organized crime is no different than any major corporation in today’s global economy. Some people would say organized crime is the best thing to happen to neighborhoods which law enforcement will not come into. No matter what side of the fence a person falls on, some part of what they believe will be correct, and part will not. During the course of this paper, the author will look at organized crime, identify the problems presented and the various relationships established by organized crime, and describe the legal limitations associated with combating organized crime, including a critique of major federal laws and strategies that support this effort. Finally, the author will suggest a realistic solution to control organized crime by discussing and evaluating the effectiveness of organized crime prosecutions. Problems with Organized Crime The problem with organized crime is that it often infringes on people’s basic rights and destroys economic structure, and political and civil development, on a global scale. Transnational organized crime rears its ugly head in many different forms, ranging from the trafficking of drugs and people to illegal arms. This is often accomplished by using unsuspecting individuals...

Words: 2487 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Role Of Decriminalizing Drugs In Canada

...political, legal, economic, and social implications. It is also a highly contagious issue that the media cannot seem to cure its self of. Then again the public definitely cares about this issue intensely and so do many politicians whether they are users themselves or just simple supporters (of the tax revenues that legalizing certain narcotics will bring in to the country), especially in the United States and Canada where people are being thrown in jail for years only because of small possession charges (more so in the USA). Prisons in The United States are overcrowded with people who shouldn’t be...

Words: 2645 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Legalization of Marijuana

...Legalizing and Decriminalizing Marijuana When people hear the world marijuana they often associate it with other negative things such as, addiction, gangs, law violations, hallucinations, disorientation, and criminal activity. However marijuana has been used and shown to have positive effects in multiple medical conditions. Marijuana has been found to relieve symptoms of diseases of serious magnitude such as asthma, glaucoma, and muscle spasms are just a few. Marijuana has also been found to relieve a loss of appetite and nausea due to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) wasting syndrome and chemotherapy treatment (AIDS 1). Marijuana has become a major source of relief for many terminally ill patients, as well as people with mental disorders such as depression, and bipolar disorder. Why then if marijuana has multiple positive effects and uses is it illegal? One common answer is that it is a mind altering drug and can be a life treating and can affect health in long term use. This is a weak answer because while marijuana is illegal other substances such as alcohol which is well known to be a mind altering substance and tobacco which is a substance proven to cause health issues including death, are both very legal. Legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing marijuana could have multiple positive outcomes. Legalizing marijuana for medical use would not only give ill patients different treatment options for their illnesses, but the handling and issuing of medical marijuana...

Words: 2243 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Sociology Chapter Sumaries

...Chapter 6 - Inequality Based on Sexual Orientation Essay Question - How do the various theoretical perspectives explain inequality based on sexual orientation? Summarize each perspective and then explain which one you find most compelling and why. Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, Queer, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual they are all just different words for defining individuals. Sexual behaviour whether heterosexual or homosexual is a learnt therefore the focus is on the development of the identity of which they identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight is the Interactionist perspective. It is assumed that most individuals define themselves as heterosexual because it is the established norm; therefore do not have to struggle over their identity. This thought of having a choice over identity should be disregarded. The individual is caught trying to define whom they are when subconsciously they already know. This theory is based on the journey that individuals take to define themselves. (Kendall, Nygaard, & Thompson, 2004) The feminist perspective theory that has changed drastically over the last 4 decades. in the late 1960s and through the 1970s sexual orientation was debated by radical feminist and the oppression of women in society. Today feminist argue that “Feminism asserts the right of all women to make their erotic choices, and this includes choosing men exclusively. Feminism also rejects the hierarchy of sexual practices, and do does not seek to substitute...

Words: 2824 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Electronic Monitoring and House Arrest

...his home under the supervision of a probation officer and some form of electronic monitoring. These monitoring options include the random call method (RC), an ankle monitor using radio frequency (RF) or GPS technology, or a combination thereof (Burell & Gable, 2008). Electronic monitoring is touted as an ideal means of reducing overcrowding in jails and prisons, but how effect is electronic monitoring and house arrest really? More than 30 years after its integration, there are several issues that have developed, or that have yet to be resolved. To demonstrate this lets us look at one example that occurred in the year 2000. Gerald A. Jones, a young, 18 year old man, was convicted of a robbery after sticking a gun into a woman’s face and stealing her watch. As a result, he was placed under house arrest with an electronic monitoring device. Yet, unbeknown to his probation officer, the equipment failed within days of the beginning of his sentence. As the sentence carried on, the failure continued to go unnoticed until one night when Mr. Jones left his house to attend a party to mourn the loss of one of the local gang members. Towards the end of the...

Words: 5158 - Pages: 21