Welcome to Corrections in the 21st Century
There is a growing realization in contemporary society of the need to balance the respect accorded the rights of the individual with the interests of society. While the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution must be closely guarded, so too the urgent social needs of local communities for controlling unacceptable behavior and protecting law-abiding citizens from harm must be recognized.
This course is an overview of the corrections field; courts, detention, sentencing, adult institutions, probation, parole, and staffing and personnel issues. This course will be an active and interactive learning experience. Students will use the lecture and reading material to build a framework for understanding current sentencing and correctional practices.
Elisabeth Copeland
Casey Temmel
Prison Officer
A prison officer, or also known as a corrections officer is a male or female responsible for the supervision, safety, and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or any other form of secured custody. Prison Officers are responsible for the care, and control of inmates who have been arrested and are awaiting trial while on remand or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a prison or jail. They are also responsible for the safety and security of the facility itself. Most officers are employed by the government, and others are employed by a private facility.
While on the clock, prison officers have many duties that they have to maintain in order to keep the facility running smoothly and the inmates under control. They have to control the dangerous inmates that society wishes not to deal with. Also they must prevent disturbances that may occur within the facility. When and if a fight occurs an officer or officers must step in and break it up immediately. Prevention is one of the key components to officer’s duties. Some prevention practices that prison officers have are searching their living pods for drugs, weapons, etc.
They may also do full body searches as if an inmate may be hiding a type of weapon on themselves anywhere. Working in a correctional facility can be stressful and hazardous. Every year, prison officers are injured in fights with inmates. Prison officers cannot show favoritism and must report any inmate who violates the rules. Prison officers have no responsibilities for law enforcement outside of their place of work. If a crime is committed within their institution or an inmate escapes, they help the responsible law enforcement authorities investigate or search for the escapee. Prison officers have one of the highest rates of nonfatal on-the-job injuries.
Prison officers go through a training academy and then are assigned to a facility for on-the-job training. Qualifications vary by agency, but all agencies require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some also require some college education or work experience. Prison officers held about 493,100 jobs in 2010. Ninety-five percent of prison officers worked for federal, state, and local governments in May 2010.
Most of the remainder was employed by private companies that provide correctional services to prisons and jails. Prison officers usually work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, on rotating shifts. Some correctional facilities have longer shifts and more days off between scheduled workweeks. Because jail and prison security must be provided around the clock, officers work all hours of the day and night, weekends, and holidays. In addition, officers may be required to work paid overtime.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_officer
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm
Armando Lobato
Correctional Officers must maintain order and daily operations of the facility. A Correction Officer has a responsibility to control dangerous inmates that society themselves do not wish to accommodate. An officer must always prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates. Officers have a responsibility to protect the public from incarcerated criminals, protect fellow officers from inmates and protect inmates from other inmates at all times. An officer must be alert and aware of any and all movement taking place inside the facility. Prevention is one of the key components to officer’s duties. Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons or drugs. An officer must make their presence known at all time and remain assertive and refusing to back down. An officer must be a disciplinarian and enforce the rules and punish when rules are violated.
Corrections Officers also must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility. Officers check for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. Officers must screen all incoming and outgoing mail as well as all visitors as a prevention method for future issues that could cause risk to safety and security of the facilities, inmates and staff. Corrections Officers also must assist in transportation responsibilities that may include transfers to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances and other approved locations. A Correction Officer may assist local Police Officers.
In order to be a Correctional Officer you must pass an entrance test irrespective of any academic qualifications you hold. You must be capable of undergoing some physical exertion. As part of the recruitment process, you are required to pass a medical examination and fitness test. HM Prison Service operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled people, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, who meet the minimum criteria for entry. Some things that may keep your from becoming a correction officer are you must not be an undischarged bankrupt or belong to a group or organization that the Prison Service considers racist. Appointed prison officers must be aged between 18 and 62.
I think a prison officer is always risking his life. If you think about it he has a big target on his back to all the inmates. They always have to be watching behind them because they never know when some inmate is going to come out of nowhere and stab or choke, or even have a gang attack. I think always having that feeling of your life being taken at any givin moment is the reason these people do it. A constant rush all the time. Being in this position would definitely be the best for someone that has an “I don’t give a damn” attitude.
Overall being a prison officer is one of the laws dangers. It is also one of the most favorite positions out there because you are in action from the morning to the night. This job is very important and keeps us all safe from the inmates escaping. Without them there would be chaos everywhere.
Recorces
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.com
Correctional Officer
Brandon Gaede
When talking about law enforcement most people think about police officers, or detectives, but another career in law enforcement is being a correctional officer. The main duties a correctional officer are: maintaining order, protecting other officers from inmates, protecting inmates from inmates, control dangerous people, and making sure that none of the inmates escapes. One of the cool things about being a correctional officer is that you don't need a search warrant to search where the inmates live. Also they have to screen all mail, incoming and outgoing, to make sure no contraband is inside the mail. Another thing correctional officers are responsible for is getting the inmate to all medical appointments and to all court hearings. The working conditions can be pretty dangerous, due to the fact that you deal with violent criminals who cannot obey the law. But most work is indoors, and can be very stressful. Some days go off without a hitch, but some days it just seems like everything goes wrong.
Even though dealing with prisoners all day may not seen very fun, its where most people start out their career in law enforcement. Most people think of it as the bottom spot on the totem pole, but you have to start at the bottom to work your way to the top. Everyone doesn't just start and become a police chief right off the bat. It's a great job to start with because you get to learn the main things you have to do in law enforcement. Also you learn how to calm people down when they are angry, or about to kill themselves. Which are very important things to know when you become a police officer.
The standard training correctional officers go through is: using restraints, self defense, use of firearms, first aid, CPR, writing reports. But recently correctional officers have been trained to prevent inmates from committing suicide. Also you get to learn what are privileges and what aren't, visitation, ability to make phone calls, television. But the prison can't make you stay inside all day. All prisoners have the right to one hour of fresh air. So even though it may not seem like the ideal job just remember it's not where you are now, it's where you want to go.
References
[http://www.prospects.ac.uk/prison_officer_job_description.htm]
[https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/prisonofficer.aspx]
Ariel Hutchinson
Correctional Officers
Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or prison. They must ensure that they are physically secure and can prevent the likelihood of escape and the introduction of contraband into the institution. Officers must search inmates for contraband such as weapons or drugs, settle disputes between inmates, and enforce discipline. The officers enforce regulations through effective communication and the use of progressive sanctions, which involve punishments such as loss of privileges. Sanctions are progressive in that they start out small for a lesser or single offense but become more severe for more serious offenses or when repeat offenses occur. In addition, officers may aid inmates in their rehabilitation by scheduling work assignments, counseling, and educational opportunities. They check cells and other areas for unsanitary conditions, contraband, signs of a security breach such as any tampering with window bars or doors, and any other evidence of violations of the rules. Officers also inspect mail and visitors for prohibited items. They write reports or fill out daily logs detailing inmate behavior and anything of note that occurred during their shift.
Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons or drugs. An officer must make their presence known at all time and remain assertive and refusing to back down. An officer must be a disciplinarian and enforce the rules and punish when rules are violated. Corrections Officers also must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility. Officers check for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. Officers must screen all incoming and outgoing mail as well as all visitors as a prevention method for future issues that could cause risk to safety and security of the facilities, inmates and staff. Corrections Officers also must assist in transportation responsibilities that may include transfers to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances and other approved locations.
A Correction Officer may assist local Police Officers.
To be a corrections officer, most institutions require that you have a high school education or its equivalent, be at least eighteen or twenty-one years of age, be a U.S. citizen, and have no felony convictions. As the trend moves toward having corrections officers function in a wider range of capacities, many institutions are seeking applicants with post-secondary education in the fields of psychology, criminal justice, police science, and criminology. A potential corrections officer must also be in excellent health and meet formal standards of physical fitness, eyesight, and hearing. Drug testing and background checks of applicants are the norm.
Source:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Correctional-officers.htm#tab-2
Source: Criminal Justice The Essentials Third Edition
Chase Pechin
Prison Officers
Correctional Officers have the difficult responsibility of maintaining order within a prison at all times. Controlling inmates who may be dangerous, and that society themselves do not wish to accommodate makes forces these men and women to be properly trained for any situation. With frequently attempted disturbances, assaults, and escapes officers must always be prepared by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates. This makes their training, work ethic and attentiveness crucial for the safety of themselves and others.
Officers have a huge responsibility to protect the public from dangerous criminals, provide fellow officers protection from inmates and protect inmates from other inmates at all times. This means that an officer must be alert and ready of any and all movement taking place inside the facility.
Therefore, officer must establish their presence at all times and remain assertive and refusing to back down by efficiently searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons or drugs and punishing any violators. Corrections Officers also must be aware for health and safety risks within the facility by checking for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. All of these difficult tasks require a prison officer in the United States to go through many training courses such as Use of force and restraints, Weapon use, self defense, first aid and CPR, correction law, criminal law, gang intelligence, hostage negotiation, as well as drug abuse training rapid response training and suicide prevention. A Correction Officer may also assist local Police Officers Corrections Officers in the case of a serious emergency. Although training will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility depending on the legislated power given, each officer will study the same basic training until arrival at specific prisons.
Correctional officers have an extremely demanding job that comes with a large amount of responsibility. Dealing with some of Americas most dangerous criminals requires these men and women to be prepared with training so they can act according to any situation the encounter. With many disturbances happening on the go they are always on their feet
and aware of their surroundings.
Resources
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/prison_officer_job_description.htm]
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Correctional-officers.htm
Arielle Gil-Sanz
Correctional Officer
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Supervise inmates in housing units and those segregated for administrative or punitive measures; instruct inmates in housekeeping and sanitation; supervise the issuance of clothing and other personal effects to inmates.
Make periodic patrols of quarters and work areas and initiate counts of inmates at regular and irregular intervals; maintain control and discipline including use of physical restraint and restraining devices; prevent the introduction of contraband into the institution.
Check inmate mail for possible contraband; maintain a periodic patrol either inside or outside the institution to ensure the security and integrity of the institution. Monitor, supervise and screen inmate visitor traffic; monitor periguard system; observe traffic in and around the compound.
Instruct inmates and maintain control in areas such as the inmate food service area, auditorium, etc. Observe for signs of disorder or tension and report such observations to a higher authority; counsel with inmates regarding institutional, domestic or emotional adjustment problems.
Maintain a record of equipment, supplies and other items; maintain and demonstrate proficiency in the use and care of firearms, restraint methods and equipment and emergency measures; maintain knowledge of communication and other electronic equipment; instruct inmates in the proper care and use of institutional equipment.
Maintain master inmate location counts; setup and receive inmate counts and be familiar with the entire operation of the Control Room; initiate and participate in search of inmate recreation areas, work areas, and housing units to prevent the introduction of contraband items.
Maintain proper security of inmates being transported; ensure that all transportation permits are completed accurately and signed by the appropriate authority; institute proper restraints as appropriate for inmate's custody classification; check transportation vehicles daily.
Resources
http://www.collegesurfing.com/blog/corrections-officer-duties-salary/
http://www.bop.gov/jobs/job_descriptions/correctional_officer.jsp
Ryan Baalmann and Jake Cox
Introduction to Corrections
Elizabeth Copeland
14 December 2009
Jails
The can, inside, joint, and pen. These are all names that people use to substitute the word jail. Now most people get jails and prisons mixed up but today I want to point out those differences. I also want to talk about the purpose of jails and history of jails.
The main difference between jails and prisons is the size. Most jails have a higher average daily population than does a prison. However, a prison will have a higher total admission during the year. Why is this, one might ask? Well, a typical inmate for a jail only for one year or less. An estimated 20 percent will spend at least one month, 12 percent at least two months, and 4 percent will spend more than six months. They spend less time in jail because jails are used to confine people before and after conviction. They are temporary holding cells used to hold people awaiting court action on their current charge, and readmit probation and parole violators. These are just a few examples of how jails are used temporarily. There is a more serious difference between jails and prisons. Locally operated jails are old, overcrowded, poorly funded, staffed by underpaid and poorly trained employees, and given low priority in local budgets. Lets now look into the history of jails to see how it has become this way.
It has been thought that King Henry II of England ordered the first jail built, in 1166. It was made to detain offenders before they were taken to court. From the beginning, jails spread throughout Europe but they weren’t all the same. The fist jail in American was the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1776, originally housed offenders without regard to sex, age, or offences.
By the close of the 19th century, most cities across the United States had jails to hold person awaiting trial and to punish convicted felons. The sheriff became the person in charge of the jail. As crime increased and urban centers expanded, jails grew in importance, as did the sheriffs’ control over jails.
To some historians American jailes have been refered to as poorhouse of the twentyieth century, the dumping grounds for society’s problem. Jails in the 20th century America have changed into institutuions of social control not only for people who committed criminal acts but also for those who made up the underclass in American society.
The term rabble management has been used in recent years to describe 20th century jails. Its defeniton is control of people whose noncriminal behavior is offensive to their communities. The central purpose of 20th century jail was to detain the most disconnected and isreputable persons, who were arrested more because they were offensive than because they had commited crimes. They were individuals of home all were aware yet whom society ignored: public nuisances, junkies, drunks, vagrants, the mentally ill, and street people.
In conclusion, I have discussed the differences between a jail and a prison. Which included the size and the purpose of jails. I have talked about how the jails has evolved over its life time in the world. Now when one of your buddies starts to use a slang word for jail like pen, joint, the inside, and the can you can add input on the purpose and history of jails.
Chapter 7
Prisons Today: Change Stations or Warehouses?
By: Ryan Baalman and Jake Cox
History of Prisons in America
Development of prisons is mainly American. About the late 18-th century incarceration of criminals was much more humane than the other means used before.
In the 19th century two systems of penitentiaries were made. The Pennsylvania and the Auburn system. The Pennsylvania system was formed to rehabilitate criminals through incarceration and isolation from the general public. The system was used in 1970 at the Walnut Street Jail, which was one of the first facility for punishment in the country. This system gave inmates time to think about the crime that was committed. Under this system inmates were not allowed to speak to other inmates or guards. The auburn system began as a way to better rehabilitate inmates. This was done by allowing prisoners to work together during the day then be segregated at night in separate cells. Over time correction facilities lifted the talking bans at night between cells.
These two systems of rehabilitation systems eventually spread to other countries and in time became world-wide. The systems allowed for complete breakdown of inmates to rehabilitate them to make the right decision when they are released.
There are nine different Eras in prison history:
Penitentiary Era-(1790-1825) Pennsylvania and Auburn system were born. 30 state prisons built.
Mass Prison Era-(1825-1876) Rehabilitation prisons flourished, 35 more prisons built.
Reformatory Era-(1876-1890) Allowing inmates with intermediate sentences to be
Released on Parole, 20 reformatories were built. First women’s prison built in New York.
Industrial Era-(1890-1935) Prison industries were created, public accounts system. Which are programs within a prison
that the facility pays for the items and allows inmates to built or raise homes, animals, etc.. Then the facility either sells or donates the final product of the animal or item that the inmates had trained or built. Contract
system eventually replaced the public account system, which allowed inmate labor to go to the highest bidder.
Punitive Era-(1935-1945) Alcatraz was built with the emphasis of strict punishment and custody in mind.
Treatment Era-(1945-1967) began with riots in prisons due to overcrowding. The medical model was used to treat inmate
behavior as a disease.
Community-Based Era-(1967-1980) half-way houses and community corrections buildings were made.
Warehousing Era-(1980-1995) parole was abolished in several states. Incarceration turned to incapacitation. President
Reagan declared “war on drugs.” Prisons became overcrowded making control difficult.
Just-Deserts Era-(1985-present) Prisoners are punished fairly on the severity of the crime committed.
Prisoners Today
Lifetime chances for men are 1in 9 and are six times higher than women (1 in 56)
1 in 3 black males
1 in 6 Hispanic males
1 in 7 white males
All above are expected to be in prison during lifetime
Who are in prison?
11% fed. 89% state
93% male 7% female
34% white 19% Hispanic 41% black 6% other
17% 18-24yo 34% 25-34yo 30% 35-44yo 14% 45-54yo 5% 55+
Why are they in prison?
State
51% violent offenses
21% Drug
7% public order
20% property
Federal
60% drug
9% property
13% violent
18% public order
Programs for prisoners
Prisoners go through a classification process to help authorities decide which prison programs are necessary for rehabilitation. This is done to help decide where in the facility the inmate will be put, help staff to better understand the prisoners needs and problems, and to insure safety. There are two types of classification, external and internal. External classification helps with which security level the inmate should be while inside the facility. Internal classification focuses more on the inmates personality and medical issues.
There are several programs for inmates to participate in while incarcerated. Such as: community service, prison industries, education, recreation, and health care.
Does Incarceration Work?
The only way to see if it does work or not is to just do random designed experiments. The prisons keep a general detterence to help eliminate crime. By locking people up the government can maintain public safety much easier and in more effective ways. Even though incarcerating a person is expensive it must be done to help maintain order in the country. June 2002 272,111 prisoners were released and monitored. In three years 68% were arrested once again.
Chapter 12
By: Bev, Sam, Whitney
Special Prison Populations
Lets start out with the definition of “special-needs inmates” Prisoners who are physical, mentally Ill, and cannot function in a setting with other inmates due to those factors. Furthermore, staff and prison management have to deal with these inmates in a nontraditional and innovative ways.
When people with these mental illnesses commit a felony crime, they get arrested, get put in jail and wait for their sentence. From there, depending on the severity of the offense, they get sentenced to time in the correction facilities. But, did someone maybe overlook the whole picture of the offender having a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar, major depression? Maybe the person that committed the crime has no idea they even have a disorder that makes them behave the way they do. Jails are the largest provider of mental health services in the United States.
Yes, it is true that one-third state inmates admit to have being under the influence of drugs or alcohol during committing their current offense. So this comes to the question of a police officer making an arrest: does the person committing the crime have mental issues or is just under the influence? Do they take them to jail or do they take them to a state/county mental hospital to get evolulated? As you can clearly see this is a tough call for any law enforcement to determine, especially with the illegal use of drugs in todays society. In fact, 400 new prisons have opened their doors as to where 40 state mental hospitals have closed theirs in the last decade. Innovat ive alternatives is a strategy that is set up for law enforcement to divert people with mental illness from the criminal systems, Crisis Intervention Team {CIT} is helpful with working with all aspects of the law in determining if a peson should be in jail, or in need of a professional evoluasion of mental illness. Police officers are starting to be trained more in depth when confronted with offenders with possible mental issues and be able to make a determination if they should seek medical attention or jail. They also provide a “mental heath court” another way of keeping individuals out of the jail/prison facilities, and getting them the help they need and setting a plan for these offenders that are mentally ill. Another strategy is a program called ACT {Assertive Community Treatment} This is a team of people such as social service professionals that have provide services medication and case management, vocational support, and help with housing assistance after the inmates are released from prison/jail. ACT helps with offender to be able to live a life without crime, they help keep them focused on positive goals and offer any help so they will not fall back in a life of breaking the law. This seems like a great program, although there is only 15 Act programs in the U.S. and 3 of them are located just in the state of Ohio alone.
We've talked about mental illness, but what about inmates that have a terminal illness, cancer, HIV or the older inmates that are getting older and cannot do things for themselves like they used to, such as dressing, feeding, bathing themselves,for example Alzheimer's disease. How do corrections staff deal with this issue? Do they just keep them surrounded by younger, stronger inmates? What about the medical care and medications that are needed in their process of getting older or just in the process of a terminal ill inmates demise? They say that a long prison term can age a person 10 years beyond chronological age. Why should we take care the finical part of inmates with heath elements when people in communities cannot even provide this to themselves? Well we have to because the Supreme court ruled in 2006 with the U.S. v. Georgia that prisoners with disabilities can sue if the violation of ADA is serious as to also constitute a violation of civil rights. The national cost per year to house a inmate over the age of 55 is about $70,000 a year. Does society let them go back to the communities, give them an early release, furthermore what about the victims in their offense, do they think this would be justifiable? I don't think I would want them out early if the crime ways committed towards me, I would want them to serve every moment that was handed to them.
Inmates have a constitutional right to have adequate health services for serious medical conditions. Although the constitution does not require that medical treatment be on a up-scale rate nor very good. An inmate can sue physicians for malpractice, but anything awarded would not be anywhere near someone that does it outside a prison setting. The American Health Association, American Correctional Health Service Association and the National Commission on Correction Health Care are in agreement with any person that is in pain or suffering regardless of who they are, should all be treated equal, weather they are a inmate or free citizen.
In conclusion, it all comes down with the correctional facility and their policy: Public Correctional Policy on Offenders with Special Needs. Corrections systems should assure provision of specialized services, programs, and conditions of confinement to meet the special needs of offenders. They need to identify offenders who require special care. As well as maintain appropriate trained staff for tha care, programs and services for inmates. The staff, weather it be in jails or prison has huge responsibilities in maintaining any inmates disabilities, heath issues or their mental illness and all in a days work, make sure they are safe in the working environment.
Chapter 15
Death the Ultimate Sanction
By; Bev, Sam, Whitney
“Whatever you think about the death penalty, a system that will take life must first give justice.”
-
Liebman study has found that offenders that have been sentenced to death row had so many errors during their court proceedings. Ten states had a error rate of 68% and Ten states had a 75% rate or higher in errors. After viewing this study, I have a different point of view on taking someones life for a crime they may or may not have committed. Appealing the death penalty is very time consuming, this process goes to as many as 10 courts in 3 stages: trail, and direct review, state post convictions appeals, and federal habeas corpus. Given this high right of serious errors, I believe more judicial reviews should be considered.
Five methods for a convict to die: 1] LETHAL INJECTION 37 states have this as a predominant method2] ELECTOCUTION 9 states authorize this method3] LETHAL GAS 4] HANGING 5] FIRING SQUAD.2 states authorize this method.
Some convicts sentenced to death have been known to kick and scream when the time has come for them to walk to their death. Prison officials have a emotional time with this because they usually end up carrying that person to be strapped in a gurney. Although the guards do not have a personal connection to the death row inmates, according to the State of Pennsylvania's policy guards are forbidden to have any personal conversations with the inmate while they are on death row. This duty is not something that occurs on a daily basis and regardless of who the staff is carrying out this order, it does leave them in a state of disbelief with aiding in the process of someones death.
A needle is inserted in arm vein, another needle is there for back-up if the first one fails to do the job. Sometimes its hard for the person that is inserting the needle because of the convicts usage of past drug use and have blown most of the good veins out. Through the I.V saline solution is started immediately. Next, 60 cc of sodium thiopental or pentothal is injected, this drug is supposed to make the person unconsciousness. This is the state where controversy is at hand, weather or not the person is unconsciousness or not. No testing is done to the condemned person to see if they have fully “gone to sleep' Next flows in 60cc of pavulon or a drug called pancuronium bromide- which is a drug that is banned in 19 states for the euthanasia of animals. This drug enters the convicts bloodstream and begins instantly to paralyzes the whole muscular system and stops breathing, so if they are fully “put to sleep” they know nothing at this point, but if they are not fully unconscious they have no way to squirm or yell or have no way to let anyone in the execution squad know they can feel the pain that is happening to their body. Finally, 60cc of potassium chloride stops the heart. Anesthetic overdose, respiratory and cardiac arrest are the cause of death. The body is embalmed for the sum of $25 dollars, if any family claims the body this fee has to be paid in full before the body of the convict can be released. If nobody claims the body the state where execution took place has to pay and bury the inmate. It costs around 5 to 6 million dollars to have a person convicted and their wait on death row and the execution itself, a hefty sum of money the state pays. So, it is not cheaper to have the convicted to stay on death row.
When the system fails and inmates are not guilty after all, due to DNA testing, new evidence and get released from death row, what happens to these people? It is called compensating the exonerated. Each state has a award guide to pay these individuals sums of money, college funding, counsel services. In the state of California a wrongful convicted person that has served time, can receive $100.00 each day they were locked up. In MA they can get awarded up to $500k plus expungement of record, educational services at any state or community college. Any amount of money these people would receive, I'm sure it will leave them scarred for life just knowing the humiliation to which they endured and the drama,trauma they suffered with the time spent on death row, not knowing if they were ever going to be found innocent or if they were going to die on a scheduled day. Prejudicial error is costly.
Forty-three percent of death row inmates nationally are in 3 states; California holding 660 to die, Florida holding 397 and last is Texas holding 393 inmates on death row. 1,079 inmates have been executed as of June 15,2007. The highest year was in 1999 with 98 executed. Today there are 3,350 people on death row, with 99% of them being male gender.
Capital punishment, is it right, wrong to take a eye for an eye? Does this method force fear into a person thinking about committing a capital offense, do they think twice before breaking the law? Does it fall under the cruel and unusual punishment? Society has debates in believing in death penalties or if they are just firm in their choice that it is wrong to kill someone regardless of what crime they committed. Most death row inmates lose their connection with the outside world, They spend 22-23 hours in a five by eight, or six by nine foot cells. They eat in that cell, read listen to the radio, they may have a 13inch television in their cell and this is there sanity, They don't dare get in trouble, as all these luxury items will get removed as an exchange for punishment. If they are without a reasonable doubt guilty of the crime they committed, they deserve every moment of time, anxiety, stress and the wait to get strapped to that gurney, because what did the victim of these offenders get?
Reference: John J. Curtain Jr. president of Bar Association, 1990-1991
Reference: Corrections in the 21st Century By, Frank Schmalleger and John Ortiz Smykla
Chapter 17
By: Bev, Whitney, and Sam
Professionalism in Corrections
Corrections work is hazardous, stressful, and challenging. Budget cuts and rising prison populations are an ever-changing, everyday struggle for correctional administrators. Because of these challenges, configuring how to use the limited resources that are available to meet the treatment and management demands of prison societies can prove stressful for administrators to say the least. Judge Arlin Adams once said that people working in corrections are “Professionals [that] have a love for their work that is above that of employment merely to receive a paycheck.”
The growth in prison and jail populations has yielded an increase in the rates of violence in our prisons and jails. Managing these facilities has been made more difficult because crowding and density issues have brought about more violence. New technology is being implemented in the corrections field but the process remains slow. Technology advances help the correctional staff communicate, observe, detect contraband, document, evaluate, interrogate, and perform all aspects of business at higher speeds as well as better accuracy. Although this advancement keeps the staff up to speed with the increasing management needs, it also requires more training for employees and the need for more money resources. The more technologically advanced a security system is, the more maintenance costs it requires.
Professionalism is commitment to a set of agreed-upon values aimed toward the improvement of the organization while maintaining the high standards of of excellence and dissemination of knowledge. Professionals must possess humanistic qualities such as, selflessness, responsibility and accountability, leadership, excellence, honesty, empathy, integrity, and respect. Such qualities are a necessity in order to run and maintain a secure, professional department. These departments can deliver a corrections system that is free of gangs and corruption, and inmate programs that promote positive behavior change. Professional organizations teach employees to be honest and accountable and to lead by example. It's important for employees to be able to trust fellow coworkers so that they can all work toward a common purpose. That purpose is to ensure a secure environment that is professional and encourages rehabilitation. Employees support of one another and effective communication skills are also a need in order for this goal to be achieved.
Professional development is the lifelong and/or career-long dedication to quality selection, training, and development of employees. At the core of creating a professional corrections organization, is a well-planned, well-executed professional development program. However in times of fiscal crisis, it is sometimes neglected in state and county governments. Leaders must take a systematic approach to professional development. The components should include recruitment of quality employees who meet certain requirements. Such requirements include but are not limited to: proper training, a comprehensive application, a written exam, background check, local agency check, psychological screening, personal interview, and in some cases, a polygraph. Recruitment is immensely important as these individuals must possess the proper characteristics and temperament for the job. New employee selection takes a lot of time and money as turnover proves to be costly, so it must be done carefully.
The proper training is of utmost importance to work in corrections. However, budget cuts and an ever-growing population sacrifices some important management aspects in order to provide adequate treatment programs for inmates as well as to run in an efficient manner. Examples of such sacrifices would be training, leader development, salary raise, drug treatment, education and so on. Training can never be overemphasized. Proper training ensures professionalism and wise decision making, without it the side effects can be problematic.
Staff recognition is important too. Employees must be appreciated for their work in situations where it is completed beyond everyday expectations. Examples of such would be a promotion, a degree to show completion of programs, and the like. Recognition affirms the commitment to personal growth and development and it inspires others to achieve excellence. Letters, ceremonies, honors, awards, and certificates are all forms of recognition.
Professionalism is an acquired trait and the need for it in corrections work is immense. Since professionalism is obtained through learning processes, it's important for everyone involved in corrections work to constantly try to improve themselves. Management officials need to be professional with the staff, and the staff needs to be professional with each other and the inmates to ensure a safe, cool-running, work environment.
Work Cited:
Schmalleger, Frank, and John Smykla. Corrections in the 21st Century. Fourth. New York, NY : McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Print.
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