Chapter 1 The Correctional System Clear Cole American

Chapter 1 The Correctional System Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

The Purpose of Corrections u A System Framework For Studying Corrections • Goals • Interconnectedness • Environment • Feedback • Complexity Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

The Corrections System Today u Key Issues in Corrections • Managing the Correctional Organization • Working with Offenders • Connecting Corrections and Social Relations Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

key correctional goals. . . u. Punishment of the offender • retribution u. Protection of the public • deterrence • rehabilitation • incapacitatio n • restoration Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“corrections” u the variety of programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for the management of individuals who have been accused or convicted of criminal offenses Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“social control” the actions and practices of individuals and institutions designed to induce conformity with the norms and rules of society Class: identify examples of institutions of social control. Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

most visible forms of corrections = incarceration! Prison u u Institution for the incarceration of persons convicted of serious crimes, usually felonies Administered by state (or federal) government Jail u u Facility authorized to hold pretrial detainees & sentenced misdemeanants for periods longer than 48 hours. Usually administered by county government Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

People in Each Category of Correctional Supervision Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“system” (key concept to Clear/Cole’s approach to corrections). . . “a complex whole consisting of interdependent parts whose operations are directed toward common goals & influenced by the environment in which they function” Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

major aspects/concerns of “system” framework in corrections goals (in conflict) environment • public opinion • $ constraints • law complexity (next slide) (functions, agencies, gov’ts) feedback • important “SYSTEM” • but rare • usu. negative interconnectedness (= series of related processes, e. g. , prison, parole, probation, sentencing, classification, supervision) Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

complex distribution of correctional responsibilities multiple functions: • Pretrial detention • Probation • Halfway house • Jail • Prison • Parole • Juvenile services Corrections “system” multiple agencies: • Dept. Human Services • Dept. Public Welfare • Sheriff’s Office • Dept. Corrections • Board of Parole • Superior Court (&others) • U. S. Courts • Bureau of Prisons many levels of government: • City • County • State • Federal • Private many branches of government: • Executive-prison • Judicial-probation • Legislative-all law Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“federalism” system of government in which power & responsibilities are divided between: a national government AND multiple state governments Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“Prison” and “Jail” Prison - An institution for the incarceration of people convicted of serious crimes, usually felonies Jail - A facility authorized to hold pretrial detainees and sentenced misdemeanants for periods longer than 48 hours. Most jails are administered by county governments; sometimes they are part of the state government. Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

Prisoners in federal & state prisons/jails Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

Who pays for what? % of costs borne by different levels of gov’t for various criminal justice functions local, state, federal $ spent on CJ functions 3 sources of $$ total 100% Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

Cost of corrections, annual cost person by type of custody (U. S. ) Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

Cost to build a prison bed, cost per bed by security level (U. S. ) Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

The “big 4” in prison pop. 2004 The ‘big four’ account for about 40% of the US prison population. Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

3 key challenges of corrections-+ the issues they raise… 1. Managing the correctional organization n n Goals: purposes? conflict? Funding: who will pay? how much? for what? Bureaucracy: who does what? Interagency coordination: overlapping jurisdiction? who resolves adverse consequences of systemimpacting decisions? Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“street-level bureaucrats” public service workers who interact directly with citizens in the course of their work, granting access to government programs & providing services within them. • key: street-level bureaucrats must serve needs of bureaucracy AND client • nearly impossible! • e. g. : probation, parole officer Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

. . . challenges of corrections (continued) 2. Working with the offenders n n Coordinating actions of both professional vs. nonprofessional staff Uncertain technologies: don’t know what works and when. Exchange issues: maintaining control over offenders Uncertain correctional strategies: what are we trying to do and how do we best to accomplish it? Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“Technology” a method of applying scientific knowledge to practical purposes in a particular field. Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

Myth: America has such a large prison system, compared to other countries, because it has so much more crime. Fact: Compared to Australia and England, America’s burglary rate is the lowest, and its assault and robbery rates fall in between them. Its incarceration rate is 4 times higher than either country. Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

“exchange” a mutual transfer of resources based on decisions as to the costs and benefits of alternative actions. Exchange is a key component of “system” notion. e. g. Ø plea bargaining Ø inmate “accommodations” (re: compliance) Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th

. . . challenges of corrections (continued) 3. “Connecting corrections with important values” i. e. , remaining mindful that corrections is imbued with important values about social relations & social control n individual rights n human rights n legal/moral/ethical limits on state authority Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th