Chapter 6 The Corre ctiona l Clear Cole

Chapter 6 The Corre ctiona l Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

types of offenders long-term elderly situational AIDS career special correctional populations mentally handicapped sex substance abuser mentally ill Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“situational offender” definition ua person who in a particular set of circumstances has violated the law, but who is not given to criminal behavior in normal circumstances and is unlikely to repeat the offense Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“career criminal” definition ua person who sees crime as a way of earning a living, who has numerous contacts with the criminal justice system over time, and who may view the criminal sanction as a normal part of life Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“sex offender” definition ua person who has committed a sexual act prohibited by law, such as rape, child molestation, or prostitution, for economic, psychological, and even situational reasons Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“substance abuser - drugs” definition ua person whose use of illegal chemical substances disrupts normal living patterns to the extent that social problems develop, often leading to criminal behavior Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

drugs and crime % of total inmates % of convicted jail inmates (for selected offenses) who committed their offense to support a drug habit Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“substance abuser - alcohol” definition ua person whose use of alcohol is difficult to control, disrupting normal living patterns and frequently leading to violations of the law while the person in under the influence of alcohol or attempting to secure it Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“mentally ill offender” definition ua “disturbed” person whose criminal behavior may be traced to diminished or otherwise abnormal capacity to think or reason as a result of psychological or neurological disturbance Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“deinstitutionalization” definition u the massive release of mental patients from mental hospitals and their return to the community Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“mentally handicapped offender” definition ua person whose limited mental development prevents their adjustment to the rules of society Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“AIDS offenders” u definition persons who in the course of their lives inside or outside of prison have contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or developed its full-blown symptomatic stage -- acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) issues prevention housing medical care Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“elderly offender” definition u older offenders are becoming an increasingly significant part of the correctional population u WHY? u citizenry are getting older u sentences are getting longer u ISSUES: u health (cost = $69, 000/yr. for inmate > 60) u “institutionalization” is dramatic for elderly u elderly pose a less serious risk upon release; so they are often released early Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“long term offender” definition u increasingly, offenders are doing longer terms, creating same problems as those related to “elderly offenders” u 1 st-time offenders do an average of 22 mo. u 11 - 15% will serve > 7 yr. u 24% will serve > 25 yr. u 9% will serve life u ISSUES: u elderly problems u create meaningful living u maintain contact with outside world Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

“classification systems” u definition specific sets of objective criteria--such as offense history, previous experience in the justice system, & substance abuse patterns--are applied to all inmates to determine appropriate institutional housing and treatment programs Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

Correctional classification criteria commitment offense social & political pressures! program & treatment needs risk of future crime Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th

debate over classification criteria program treatment needs how to help the offender vs. institutional control needs how to manage the institution Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6 th