Corrections in America
Introduction
According to Forbes, the top three most challenging careers in the United States include being a pilot, firefighter, and military personnel majorly due to the life risk involved (Karsten, 2017). Others include police work, events coordination, public relations and media jobs, and taxi driving. The criminal justice system provides working opportunities for a variety of jobs ranging from lawyers, judges, and policemen, to border patrol, child protection, immigration, and corrections. While it is easy to assume that the police or lawyers have the most challenging job in the industry, they also fall under the category of the well-paying jobs in the criminal and justice system. Unlike other jobs that are defined
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For this assignment, I was to visit a detention facility and once again I set off to carry out the assignment with notions I previously got from news and entertainment. I would have preferred to visit the infamous Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Colorado for a maximum experience, but I settled for San Quentin State Prison located in California. Even though it has a lesser reputation for its harshness in comparison to ADX, it is still known for the largest death row executions in the country, and home to more than 3,000 inmates. I spoke to officer *Bob Smith (name changed due to a request for anonymity) who recounted his experience having worked there for 7 years …show more content…
First of all, I concluded that being a correctional officer was more challenging than being a police or lawyer because they are exposed to offenders all day on a daily basis and are prone to danger from fights and attacks from resentful, angry, or frustrated inmates. The media portrays them as mean people, but dealing with felons and maintaining order in such a large facility is a huge task for them. I also realized that this profession is not as highly regarded as working in the police force, and most of the staff is overworked, underpaid, and unmotivated. It is unfortunate that they are equally, if not more exposed to danger as police officers, yet their work goes unrecognized. After my interview, I also concluded that people who commit the most serious offenses can also reform their behavior and transform into useful members of society provided they get proper guidance. This conclusion reaffirmed my previous notion that prisons can also work as rehabilitative and not punishment
The two topics that piqued my interest were found in Chapter 3 and 4. I chose these topics because it was discussed briefly and I wanted to know more about it. I find these topics interesting. The two topics should be addressed more within the concept of correction.
One in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections by the PEW Center offers interesting insight into the system beyond the containment of offenders inside prison walls. For quite a long time, especially after reading Punished by Victor Rios in Professor Morton’s seminar course, my views on probation and parole systems were of a negative light. I read stories of the young boys constantly targeted by police, picked up for small offenses and then immediately on probation and looped directly into the cycle; there was also no respect for the authority, by the boys, of the probation or parole system because of it’s lack of timely response to offenses and control. As a fresh perspective, the article altered my point of a view – it cited specific examples of states that have launched programs to go with community corrections over prison as a first choice and the results are seemingly positive, both in terms of crime reduction and cost benefit. Overall, I really liked this article – and I agreed with the argument which they backed up with cost and population numbers displaying the benefits of community correction versus prison, if implemented correctly. With a focus on helping those on probation and parole, and doling out money for those branches and not just prisons we are putting ourselves on the path to success – one of safety and better budgets.
Inmates as well their loved ones are currently making efforts in bringing light to the situation. In doing so they hope to draw attention from American society and government official’s conscious of the inhumaneness of Ag. Seg in regards to U.S. correctional facilities. This paper will not only discuss why inmates should not be placed in
Prison systems are tough to work in because of the nature of the system as well as the history of some of the inmates. It is important for all individuals performing any duty with the prison to work as a cohesive team. All team members should feel safe and respected regardless or rank, seniority, gender, etc. When trust is broken among peers and management of those working in the Prison System, the system becomes broken and the purpose will not be served effectively. Individuals with Leadership positions should not use their authority to take advantage or misuse other employees. As well as education is used to empower and equip individuals to strive for a better life and a rich outlook on current circumstances, and anyone working with that goals nor anyone else should become a victim of Sexual
The increase of professionalism in corrections facilities and among correction officers is critical and not everyone is cut out to perform such tasks. Furthermore, historical flaws among correction institutes and adapting to new ways in rehabilitating offenders have transitioned into a more professional process than earlier correction institutes. " One early reformer, Richard A. McGee, changed the nature of corrections in California by upgrading the physical plants and staffing patterns, by institutional research, and by developing alternatives to imprisonment", (Siegel & Bartollas, 2014, p. 345). Furthermore, the small transition that McGee implemented was a new movement in taking correction facilities to a new direction and creating a more professional environment among correction institutes.
The important source of correctional law according to my instructor she acknowledged that the bill of rights is very important basically that’s not only a source it’s a big one for our correction system throughout the United States (Bartollas, 2002). The prisoners from our system rights are strictly limited and rights that fall under the bill of rights in addition to the bill of rights must be important to them and restore to prisoners. And not all of them they keep contact to courts and due process of the law (Goldmeier, 2011). According to my instructor the main source of correctional law would be the internal grievance mechanism here are examples of
The prison educational and mental health programs were cut, along with the implementation of the Act, and budge cuts. Through the lack of education, mental health programs and job skill programs makes it more difficult for the offender to reenter into the community and become gainfully employed in order to survive the “real” world. Mr. Patrick (2015) reminded the forum that “The Iron Law of Corrections is that most people come home.” Patrick continued, “What do we want for people when they come home? We want them to get a job and earn a living wage, support their families, be better parents, and be better neighbors” (Patrick,
The Corrections In America of our course explains that Wardens are also known as superintendents. Is considered Wardens is the Chief Executive officer of the prison. “ The warden’s primary responsibility is to mange the operations, supervisory staff, support staff, and inmates.” (Allen, Latessa & Ponder, 2014, p.160). The warden also has assistants that are known as deputy wardens. Like in any other job (more like supervisor) each oversees a different departments within the correction facilities. For example one deputy warden handles the management department, custody, another industry and one for treatment programs.
The United States corrections system is organized distinctive structures that retain certain similarities with the Chinese prisons system. However there remain significant points of departure such as the prevalence of privately run correctional facilities in the United States. This differs greatly from the Chinese system of corrections which relies solely on government-operated public prisons whereby the state does not seek profit as is the case with private prisons (Shen, 2015).
What is prison? To the public, prison is a place for only the most truly evil people in the country. However, contrary to popular belief, some prisons in the U.S. are not as nearly as bad as some of the others. In other words, not all prisons are created equally. The conditions of some American prisons are horrendous. Two grown averaged sized men are being crammed into a six by eight foot concrete cage (“Minncor Industries”). Keep in mind, that dimension includes the bed frames, toilet, sink, and sometimes a desk as well. When the prisoner has to use the bathroom, he is exposed in front of his cellmate and anyone who is in the hallway. Many would describe these conditions as unacceptable and cruel, when others would call them necessary. While these conditions certainly are not the most private or the most
The job of a corrections officer is far from simple. It remains nearly a never-ending learning process, requiring the competency to appropriately handle stressful situations, risk of physical harm, living with highest ethical standards and above reproach, and a willingness to help the worst in society. It is not glamorous. It is not easy. Yet, it offers the possibility to help directly impact those in society who need the most help – creating a channel through which support, guidance, and the exemplification of what a good citizen looks
Having an interest in the legal system will bring certain things to light to a person. Some of these things make perfect sense, some may not. One thing that is fascinating to me is how the corrections program works in the United States. Not only are the inmates provided with some luxuries that may not be available to them in the free world, there is a select group who get special treatment. Private Cells, armed guard escorts, there are many luxuries offered to the inmates who are in protective custody. Some of these inmates might be celebrities, some may convicted law enforcement officers, but the one that offends a large portion of the population is the protection of Pedophiles and other sex crime offenders.
All through history the correctional framework has been seen as the vital method for managing culprits, however its capacity has changed all through time. It has served as a pit for confining suspected lawbreakers, a home for the vagrant, an organization for the crazy, a feared spot of notoriety, quarters for purging and restoration, and a multitude of listed charges. The trials and changes of history have created and molded the foundation that we perceive today. In a matter of seconds, the United States jail populace far surpasses that of some other nation on the planet. The political atmosphere, extreme on wrongdoing approaches, determinate sentencing, and expanding expense of detainment facilities have fundamentally expanded quantities of
The unique opportunity to visit correctional facilities rarely presents itself to a standard member of our society. That being said, it was exhilarating to be given the chance to do so. The reason being is that the rehabilitative or retributive institutions that are utilized after sentencing hold a great deal of importance for stopping criminal behaviors. A facility focused too intently on punishing the offender has little to no chance of keeping said individual from behind bars. It’s similar to being too strict with children; they have the potential to become rebellious and attempt to lash out in a way that allows them to feel free. Punishment is a means to reinforce negative behaviors. The individual is labeled a criminal and as
Shortages in the corrections system generally occur when upper management does not hire qualified staff. Leadership should hire staff whom meet the minimum qualifications to get the job done as well as whom may exceed any expectations. Qualified staff should have the education, skills and experience necessary to perform the required job duties. A large percentage of employers feel by hiring less qualified staff that they can save money. Although, the quantity of the hired employees may be up to par but the quality of the staff may be below average. All salaries should be commendable with an employees job duties regardless of deficiencies. Hiring staff whom are not qualified usually opens the door for liabilities and lawsuits.