Read Me First (CJ Specific)



Week Two Read Me First

Correctional Systems

INTRODUCTION

The operation of jails by local authorities has a long history. Early English jails, or gaols, since the time of King Henry II, were run by local sheriffs, usually under the more direct supervision of a keeper. A keeper’s responsibility to the king and community extended only to keeping offenders confined. Some still argue today that the purpose of jail was, and still is, social control of undesirable elements. Jail is designed to be a temporary holding facility, and the population growth in jails has only served to exacerbate age-old problems of local control, overcrowding, diverse populations, and deteriorating physical structures. The characteristics of American jails—local control, jail clientele, and the short duration of jails stays—make it difficult to solve jail problems of overcrowding, outdated structures, staffing, and idleness.

Week Two also delves into the different correctional agencies that operate prisons. States today typically operate their prisons under a Department of Corrections. Under each state’s Department of Corrections, the state systems may be similar, but no two are alike and there is no master blueprint for prison organization. The Federal Bureau of Prisons was established in 1930 and has been long admired as a model system in which most state systems are patterned after. There are other aspects that the federal prison industry provides. It provides goods and services to the federal bureaucracy and sets standards for confinement and inmate betterment. Federal and state systems are overcrowded and often lack resources needed to effectively respond to corrections needs. Thus, the federal system has a stable, well-paid workforce.

This Week in Relation to the Course

This week presents the different correctional agencies that operate prisons, including states, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the military, U.S. territories, and private correctional companies. Major changes in policies and populations within these public agencies are described––in particular, how changes in federal laws regarding crimes impact the federal and state prison systems. The chapter also addresses the controversial issues surrounding for-profit private companies operating correctional institutions.

For prisons to be safe and secure, there must be sufficient physical security, consistent implementation of security practices, methods to control behavior and prevent inmates from possessing dangerous items, and preparation to reduce the likelihood or to respond to inmate unrest. For prison staff to provide effective rehabilitative services, there must be assessment of needs and the provision of a variety of programs—substance abuse, mental health, religious services, education and recreation, and work opportunities—to address these needs and prepare inmates for release. And, for prisons to accomplish their dual mission in a balanced fashion, there must be skilled prison leadership guiding the delicate balance for both security and treatment.

This week also reviews some of the most recent developments, issues, and challenges facing corrections today and tomorrow. First, trends in prison and jail populations are examined. Second, correctional policy has become increasingly driven by politics over the past 15 years. With the increase in spending, the public’s concern about crime and politicians’ beliefs that they had to show a tough-on-crime posture, this has forever changed. In addition, with the growth in the number of correctional clients, there has been a tremendous increase in budget allocations to correctional agencies. This chapter examines some options that can be used to reduce budget allocations.

Discussion of a Key Point, Thread, or Objective

The American jail is the oldest of the correctional components, initiated well before prisons, probation, parole, or halfway houses. Yet, the role of a jail still has a diverse and difficult mission and role. Few offenders skip the step of passing through a jail as they enter the correctional system. Jails hold a variety of offenders, including those arrested, detained pending trial, sentenced to short terms of confinement for minor crimes, those awaiting transfer to another facility, and those who are held administratively for a criminal justice agency. Jails may hold offenders who were arrested for public drunkenness or multiple murders.

Some jail systems are larger than all but a few state prison systems, and some are extremely small and have only four or five beds. Jails face unique issues such as dealing with unknown offenders, detoxification and medical problems, and serving the court with security and prisoner transportation. Jails can have budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars per year, or they may have budgets of only a few hundred thousand dollars. Jails may have sophisticated management and professional training for staff, or they may have poor management and patrol deputies with no specialized training assigned to watch prisoners.

Practical Applications and Questions

• What is a jail?

• What is pretrial detention?

• What was the Walnut Street Jail?

• What is a detainer?

• What is the principle of custodial convenience?

• What is a maximum security prison?

• What are other levels of security?

• What was the Three Prisons Act?

How Tools, Readings, and Simulations Help Solidify Concepts

As you review the material in the chapters, compare and contrast the purpose, characteristics, and operations of local jails and state and federal prison systems. Use this information as a foundation as you move into topics such as policies, procedures, prisoners, and staff in future weeks.

Summary

The jails are operated by local authorities and primarily hold pretrial detainees. Other jail inmates are serving time for misdemeanors, while others are held for a variety of reasons. State prisons hold sentenced inmates and have their roots in the penitentiary reform ideals of the Age of Enlightenment. Federal prisons are similar in nature, but some believe have better management and supervision.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download