Four Principles

Unlike jail or prisons, which create an expensive cycle of violence and crime, these alternatives actually prevent violence and strengthen communities. Community corrections programs provide

Community corrections is continually changing and has been for the past one hundred years. From the early to mid-twentieth century onward it has used three major models, the medical model, community model, and the crime control model. The major turning point for the American community corrections system that led to corrections as we know it today was in 1974 when What Works? - Questions and Answers About Prison Reform by Martinson was published. The system changed practically overnight across the nation. The notion of rehabilitating offenders was dismissed and a more punitive “lock them up and throw away the key” mentality took over. Presently the corrections system is still working in the crime control model, but professionals are trying to restructure how we deal with criminal offenders during and after incarceration. The difficulty in the restructuring is finding the balance between punishing criminal offenders proportionate to their crime, but also rehabilitating them to be productive members of society once they are released so that they do not recidivate.

Incarceration of offenders has been the typical and most commonly used form of sentencing in corrections. Punishment is often the first choice when an offender breaks the law, which is understandable, because criminals should be held accountable for their crimes. Corrections is a system of checks and balances that holds individuals responsible for their actions. We must ask

The current prison and criminal justice system has not proven to be helpful in rehabilitating offenders and preventing recidivism. To successfully alter this situation it is important to understand what steps and measures are available to assist those who find themselves imprisoned. The techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating depression, anxiety and drug addictions among other things. Analyzing the techniques developed in cognitive behavioral theory and applying them to psychotherapy in prison environments can assist in making improvements in the prevention of criminal activity, rates of incarceration and safety and security of the general population. The literature shows that the use of

In the book Managing From The Heart I learned the five principles managers and employees should implement in their life to perceive their line of duty in a manner that comes from the heart. Principle one is “Please don’t make me wrong, even if you disagree”. The main character Harry discovers how to communicate with people correctly. Principle one taught Harry that even when he did not agree with the ideas the employees’ offer him that he needs to come across as they are not wrong. He needs to tell how they are correct and teach them how to fix the rest of the idea he does not agree upon. Principle two states “Hear and understand me”. Harry learns he needs to listen to people before interrupting and making assumptions. Principle three is brought

From a statistical standpoint, there are nearly seven million individuals who are currently on correctional supervision within the United States of America (DeMichele, 2014). Of those seven million individuals, a meager two million or 30 percent are incarcerated within a jail or prison environment (DeMichele, 2014). The remaining five million or 70 percent of those seven million are currently being supervised through community corrections (DeMichele, 2014). The dramatic growth in community-based corrections over the last three decades is nothing short of astounding (Wodahl, Ogle, & Heck, 2011). In a span of less than 30 years, the number of offenders under supervision in the community has more than tripled, with an estimated 5.1 million people under probation and parole supervision in 2008 (Wodahl, Ogle, & Heck, 2011).

Corrective thinking helps individuals recognize their criminal thinking and develop more responsible thinking habits. In order for this approach to be successful, the offender must recognize the errors in his/her thinking, see it is a problem, and then learn and apply new ways of thinking. By focusing on and re-working the old thinking patterns, criminal behavior can be eliminated. Corrective thinking is a cognitive reconstruction method. The idea is that “thoughts determine feelings, which in turn influence choices that determine behavior” (Bye & Schillinger, 2005). Bye (2005) cited a study that concluded using Corrective Thinking models with offenders reduces recidivism by 74% in the three to 15 years after completion of the program. Bye and Shillinger’s (2005) study also determined that the Corrective Thinking Program had a positive impact on the participants and resulted in responsible levels of thinking. None of the participants in the intervention group were arrested while enrolled in training, however, many control group participants had been arrested (Bye & Shillinger, 2005). In order to reduce recidivism, there are many aspects to criminal thinking that must be changed, which is what the Criminal Thinking Program works to address. These programs place an emphasis on the following aspects; new communication patterns, developing close and

We all know that corrections is part of the American way to punish, for this purpose the corrections is been used and in put in play when it comes to law crimes. Corrections has been involved for an extensive amount of time, starting with the colonial times to present day. What help to make a change in the way of punishment was used was the used of penitentiary was the shift of corrections. After the change that brought the penitary the community model try to changed by giving the offendrs the opotunty to become better citizens and be able to recived physiciology help. One of the main goals of the crime control model was to emphaziszed sentencing , incarcerarion, long and mandatory sentencing.

The goals of juvenile corrections are too deter, rehabilitate and reintegrate, prevent, punish and reattribute, as well as isolate and control youth offenders and offenses. Each different goal comes with its own challenges. The goal of deterrence has its limits; because rules and former sanctions, as well anti-criminal modeling and reinforcement are met with young rebellious minds. Traditional counseling and diversion which are integral aspects of community corrections can sometimes be ineffective, and studies have shown that sometimes a natural self intervention can take place as the youth grows older; resulting in the youth outgrowing delinquency.

Cognitive behavior therapy programs operate with some common assumptions. Problematic behavior is mostly rooted in the ways of thinking that promote and support such behavior. For example, take a look at a person who has stolen property all his life. Due to that offenders corrupted thought process, he believes that the only way to obtain property is to take it with no one knowing or by force without any sort of regards to consequences. To change this problematic behavior one must change his or her beliefs, attitudes and modify the ways of thinking. Punitive methods of controlling behavior all too often reinforce modes of thinking that were responsible for the initial anti-social behavior (Gornik 2002). Authority helps to pinpoint rules and assists in reinforcing consequences while reminding and encouraging offenders to make their own decisions. As offenders learn to make conscious and deliberate life choices, they began to take

One of the most interesting things I learned from doing my research on community corrections in my jurisdiction is how the criminal justice system is committed to being fair and balanced. I have observed in a court arraignment how a judge briefed everyone in the court about proper protocols during the hearings .The judge said he could not start court hearings unless a prosecutor was present, and that he cautions the inmate the right to remain silent, and also discussed to the inmate his rights. Community-based corrections developed as a result of dissatisfaction with institutional confinement and in recognition of the problems encountered by inmates reentering society after prolonged incarceration. Belinda R. McCarthy, Bernard J. McCarthy, Jr,& Matthew C. Leone (4th edu.). (2001) Community-Based Corrections. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group. In writing this paper I will inform and discuss the various programs and rules applied to handle offenders who have violated state laws according to the criminal justice system in NC. I will write about the following subjects in the following order: 1) Parole and probation, 2) Community and drug courts, 3) Pretrial release, 4) Victim aid, and 5) Community service (as a function of service of sentence).

Community service was recommended because it is the best technique to provide rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. Since all categories of prisoners are mixed, first time offenders learn

The main concern of community service is safety and risk inmates may possess in society. The debating issue within this research is the justice letting their guards down on the safety of an inmate and the community. Not allowing potentially violent offenders to re enter into society and pose a problem or add to persons being unsafe within the

The principle that I chose was the fourth one. This principle states that “judging the quality of evidence is crucial.” I think that the fourth principle relates to my faith and beliefs because I question everything and I weigh out the evidence to ultimately decide the truth. I have a lot of questions about the bible so when I hear stories about what happened in the bible I want to question it and see if it lines up with history. For example in Genesis it talks about how God created the world and all the animals but nothing is stated about dinosaurs. I know that idea sounds crazy but the story is skipping millions of years from when the earth was actually created and dinosaurs roamed the planet before humans and domestic animals. So unless somebody states facts to me I don’t know how I will feel on the situation.

Actions are to be judged right or wrong mainly by their own consequences. Nothing else matters. Right actions are those that have the best consequences.