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The Criminal Justice System & Prisons

The Criminal Justice System & Prisons. In prison, those things withheld from and denied to the prisoner become precisely what he wants most of all. ~ Eldridge Cleaver. Fast facts…. ~12,000 prisoners in federal penitentiaries, and 9,000 staff

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The Criminal Justice System & Prisons

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  1. The Criminal Justice System & Prisons In prison, those things withheld from and denied to the prisoner become precisely what he wants most of all. ~ Eldridge Cleaver

  2. Fast facts… • ~12,000 prisoners in federal penitentiaries, and 9,000 staff • It costs ~ $90 000/year to provide for a male inmate and ~ $200 000/year for a female inmate • Almost all inmates are 20-65 years old • Aboriginals make up 4% of the total population of Canada but represent 18% of federal inmates (taken from http://www.vcn.bc.ca/august10/politics/facts_stats.html)

  3. Purposes/Goals of Prisons • Punish offender • Protect public • Deter others from committing similar crimes • Rehabilitate offender

  4. The Reality of the Goals… • Conditions are quite poor, so the only goal most probably accomplish is punishment • In some cases, younger criminals may actually learn more criminal behaviourin these facilities – schools for crime!

  5. Protection • Locking one person up does not ensure that others won’t commit the same or a similar crime. • Even though the offender is removed from society (sometimes only temporarily) there is no guarantee he/she will be law-abiding upon release

  6. Deterrence • Many violent crimes are committed impulsively or under the influence of drugs or alcohol – so thought is not given to consequences of actions • There is some evidence that harsher penalties deter people from committing white collar crimes and drinking and driving offenses

  7. Rehabilitation • Generally, not very effective • Programs $$$, funding is hard to get • Overcrowding, drugs and violence within the system make programs difficult to administer • Long sentences have 2 effects: prisoners become more antisocial/violent or become so unprepared that they can’t function properly in society once they are released

  8. Possible Solutions??? • More $ needed – for programs and overcrowding • Change sentencing for less violent crimes to free up space • Use electronic monitoring devices • Recognize and treat deeper symptoms of violent crimes – poverty, racism, troubled family lives • Fix the problems that cause crime: boredom, social inequatity, substance abuse, lack of education

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