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Chapter 1. The Correctional System. The Purpose of Corrections. A System Framework For Studying Corrections. Goals Interconnectedness Environment Feedback Complexity. The Corrections System Today. Key Issues in Corrections. Managing the Correctional Organization
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Chapter 1 The Correctional System
The Purpose of Corrections • A System Framework For Studying Corrections • Goals • Interconnectedness • Environment • Feedback • Complexity
The Corrections System Today • Key Issues in Corrections • Managing the Correctional Organization • Working with Offenders • Connecting Corrections and Social Relations
key correctional goals... • Punishmentof the offender • retribution • Protectionof the public • deterrence • rehabilitation • incapacitation • restoration
“corrections” • the variety of programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for the management of individuals who have been accused or convicted of criminal offenses
“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.
Prison Institution for the incarceration of persons convicted of serious crimes, usually felonies Administered by state (or federal) government Jail Facility authorized to hold pretrial detainees & sentenced misdemeanants for periods longer than 48 hours. Usually administered by county government most visible forms of corrections = incarceration!
“system” (key concept to Clear/Cole’sapproach to corrections)... “a complex whole consisting of interdependent parts whose operations are directed toward commongoals & influenced by the environment in which they function”
major aspects/concerns of “system” framework in corrections goals (in conflict) complexity (next slide) (functions, agencies, gov’ts) • feedback • important • but rare • usu. negative • environment • public opinion • $ constraints • law “SYSTEM” interconnectedness (= series of related processes,e.g., prison, parole, probation, sentencing, classification, supervision)
complex distribution of correctional responsibilities Corrections “system” • many levels of • government: • City • County • State • Federal • Private • multiple functions: • Pretrial detention • Probation • Halfway house • Jail • Prison • Parole • Juvenile services • many branches of • government: • Executive-prison • Judicial-probation • Legislative-all law • 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
“federalism” system of government in which power & responsibilities are divided between: a national government AND multiple state governments
“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.
Who pays for what?local, state, federal $ spent on CJ functions 3 sources of $$ total 100% % of costs borne by different levels of gov’t for various criminal justice functions
Cost of corrections, by type of custody (U.S.) annual cost per person
Cost to build a prison bed,by securitylevel (U.S.) cost per bed
The “big 4” in prison pop.2004 The ‘big four’ account for about 40% of the US prison population.
3 key challenges of corrections--+ the issues they raise… 1. Managing the correctional organization • Goals: purposes? conflict? • Funding: who will pay? how much?for what? • Bureaucracy: who does what? • Interagency coordination: overlapping jurisdiction? who resolves adverse consequences of system-impacting decisions?
“street-levelbureaucrats” 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
...challenges of corrections (continued) 2. Working with the offenders • 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?
“Technology” a method of applying scientific knowledge to practical purposes in a particular field.
Myth 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.
“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. • plea bargaining • inmate “accommodations” (re: compliance)
...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 • individual rights • human rights • legal/moral/ethical limits on state authority