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Corrections

Learn about the evolution of corrections from ancient civilizations to modern times, as well as the characteristics of male offenders, their psychological issues, and the challenges faced in correctional facilities.

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Corrections

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  1. Corrections Current Issues in Corrections

  2. Issues in Corrections • Multiple purposes—individual deterrence, general, incapacitation, rehabilitation • Sometimes conflicting • Does prison punish/deter? Rehabilitate? • Incapacitate until they age out? • Serve as a “school for crime,” resulting in none of the above, prisonization

  3. Issues • All of these phenomena might occur for particular individuals, canceling each other out • This might explain why nothing seems to have any effect

  4. History • Hunter-gatherers • Agriculture—hoarding, more specialization of labor, social classes • Civilization—development of criminal codes • Hammurabi, Draco, Justinian • Early punishments brutal

  5. History • Usually torture or death • Prisons in the Roman empire, workhouses in the 1500s, accelerating by the 1700s • John Howard, State of Prisons, 1777 • Advocated sanitation, inspections, abolition of fee system • John Howard died of “jail fever” (typhus)

  6. History • Transportation, hulks, gaols, workhouses and prisons • PA and Auburn systems • Reformatory movement (1800s) • Series of stages, graduated freedom • American Prison Congress, 1870 • Forerunner of ACA (1877) • Elmira Reformatory

  7. History • Industrial and plantation prisons • Hawes-Cooper and Ashurst-Summers Acts • Prohibition of sale of products on the open market (late 1920s) • Profound financial implications • 1930s—era of shame • Expansion of FBP

  8. History • Due process revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, use of 42 USC section 1983 • 1970s: disenchantment of rehabilitation • 1980s: punitive orientation and the War on Drugs • Results: • Longer sentences • Very large increase in correction supervision

  9. History • Prison construction • Very high prison costs • Growth of alternative “intermediate punishments” and community corrections • Search for other alternatives

  10. Characteristics of male offenders • About 94% of prison populations are male • About 22% for drug offenses (a dramatic change) • 15% for robbery • 12% for murder • 10% for assault

  11. Characteristics (males) • Young (under 30) • Heavily concentrated geographically: CA, TX, NY, OH, MI, FL, and IL • IQ: average 87 as compared to 100 in the general population • Over ½ score below 90 (80% score above 90 in the general population

  12. Characteristics • Poor verbal skills as compared to performance skills, LD & ADHD • Low level of educational attainment: 63% have not graduated from high school, as compared to 36% in the general population • Over one-half score below 8th grade level on academic achievement tests

  13. Characteristics • More than ½ are minorities. The proportion of African Americans under correctional supervision has doubled. 1 out of 3 young males currently under correctional supervision • Marital status: about ½ are married on admission, drops to ¼

  14. Characteristics • High percentage of truants, dropouts • Underemployed or unemployed • In one survey, ¾ had been working. Of those not employed at all, ½ reported they were looking, ½ not • 1/6 were above the poverty level before incarceration

  15. Characteristics • Limited job skills • More health and medical problems, including poor nutrition, problems associated with drug use, more diabetes, epilepsy, hepatitis, kidney dialysis, HIV/AIDS, other STDs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes • 100% need dental care

  16. Psychological problems • MMPI: variety of psychological problems • 20% Antisocial Personality Disorder • 10% seriously mentally ill • 10% mentally retarded • Drug and alcohol problems • Drink 3 times as much as other young males

  17. Characteristics • 75-85% use illegal drugs • 2% of the general public has used heroin, 33% of prisoners • Came from seriously deprived backgrounds • High crime neighborhoods with limited opportunities • One parent homes with low annual income

  18. Characteristics • Skill deficits • Social, anger management, assertion, life skills • Do not know how to use available social services in their communities

  19. Issues in corrections • Classification: security and treatment • Dealing with prisonization • Homosexuality and violence, riots • Correctional officers (discretion, turnover, isolation, boring yet stressful, training) • Correctional law, • Prison Litigation Reform Act

  20. Ways to avoid lawsuits • 1. Documentation, keep records • 2. Establish policies and procedures • 3. Consult the states attorney general’s office for a legal opinion • 4. Keep up with current laws and trends • 5. Insurance. Indemnification if in “good faith.”

  21. Lawsuits • 6. Adequate training of employees, keep records • 7. Ethics training • 8. Common sense

  22. Issues • Developing viable correctional programs • Security • Counseling (personality, social skills) • Vocational • Medical/dental • Educational • Recreation

  23. Correctional programs • Independent living skills • Religion • Aftercare • Current lack of individualization

  24. Alternatives • Surprisingly little research about short-term or community corrections • Probation, ISP, home confinement, EM, boot camp, shock incarceration, day reporting centers, halfway houses (halfway in and halfway out) • No good evidence that recidivism rates are lower

  25. Alternatives • On the other hand, their costs are considerably less • Programs tend to be aimed toward low risk offenders • Net widening

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