Understanding the Understanding the Criminal Justice SystemCriminal Justice System

CJUS 101CJUS 101

Chapter 12: A Look Inside the Chapter 12: A Look Inside the American PrisonAmerican Prison

InmatesInmates1.1. The American correctional systemThe American correctional system

- a misnomer- a misnomer- fragmented- fragmented- over 5000 correctional facilities- over 5000 correctional facilities- no central authority- no central authority

a. a. Federal / 50 statesFederal / 50 states - autonomy- autonomy - segmented by age / gender / type of crime- segmented by age / gender / type of crime

b. b. Probation / parole / diversion: autonomousProbation / parole / diversion: autonomous

InmatesInmates2.2. State systemState system

- bulk of corrections- bulk of corrections- over 700 facilities- over 700 facilities- 600,000 inmates- 600,000 inmates

a. a. California / Texas / IllinoisCalifornia / Texas / Illinois - ten or more prisons- ten or more prisons

b. b. Montana / WyomingMontana / Wyoming - one state prison- one state prison - both for male / female- both for male / female

InmatesInmates(1) Contract / industrial prisons abolished(1) Contract / industrial prisons abolished

- task of “- task of “making workmaking work””

- giving menial tasks- giving menial tasks

(2) Establishing smaller prisons(2) Establishing smaller prisons

- honor farms- honor farms

- work camps- work camps

3.3. Federal systemFederal system

- lease space from state prisons / local jails- lease space from state prisons / local jails

InmatesInmatesa. a. Five regionsFive regions

- California / Missouri / Texas / Georgia /- California / Missouri / Texas / Georgia / PennsylvaniaPennsylvania- 41 institutions / 12 community facilities- 41 institutions / 12 community facilities

b. b. Director, Federal Bureau of PrisonsDirector, Federal Bureau of Prisons- regional directors- regional directors- prison directors- prison directors

(1) Large prisons(1) Large prisons- Leavenworth / Atlanta- Leavenworth / Atlanta

InmatesInmates(2) Small facilities(2) Small facilities

- Marion, Illinois- Marion, Illinois

(3) Metropolitan Correctional Centers(3) Metropolitan Correctional Centers- Burien, Washington- Burien, Washington

4.4. Primary problemPrimary problem- opportunity to become more antisocial- opportunity to become more antisocial- exposure to more hardened criminal- exposure to more hardened criminal- problem inmates segregated- problem inmates segregated- maximum / medium / minimum / close custody- maximum / medium / minimum / close custody

InmatesInmatesa. a. MaximumMaximum

- reflect revenge- reflect revenge- high walls / floodlights / armed guards- high walls / floodlights / armed guards- holds 44% of adult offenders- holds 44% of adult offenders- emphasis is custody- emphasis is custody

b. b. Close custodyClose custody- Washington state- Washington state- isolated cells- isolated cells- monitor activities more readily- monitor activities more readily- “- “programprogram” inmate’s activities” inmate’s activities

InmatesInmatesc. Medium c. Medium

- more popular- more popular- replacing maximum security institutions- replacing maximum security institutions- hold 44% of adult offenders- hold 44% of adult offenders- can resemble maximum, but allow:- can resemble maximum, but allow:

(1) More freedom of movement(1) More freedom of movement

(2) Younger inmates, less dangerous(2) Younger inmates, less dangerous

(3) More emphasis on rehabilitation(3) More emphasis on rehabilitation

InmatesInmatesd. d. MinimumMinimum

- nonviolent / nontraditional offender- nonviolent / nontraditional offender- dormitory style- dormitory style- correctional officers = counselors- correctional officers = counselors- hold 12% of adult population- hold 12% of adult population

(1) Allow work / educational release(1) Allow work / educational release

(2) Home furlough(2) Home furlough

(3) can be community-based(3) can be community-based

InmatesInmates5.5. JailsJails

- most important part due to sheer numbers- most important part due to sheer numbers- 3,500 jails in US- 3,500 jails in US- 50% not convicted / awaiting trial- 50% not convicted / awaiting trial

a. a. First real contactFirst real contact - difficult to provide reform measures- difficult to provide reform measures

b. b. Money controlled at local levelMoney controlled at local level - local politics- local politics - 40-to-1 ratio: inmates to correctional - 40-to-1 ratio: inmates to correctional

officersofficers

InmatesInmates6.6. Rehabilitation programsRehabilitation programs

- do they work?- do they work?- law enforcement studies: 50 – 75% re-offend- law enforcement studies: 50 – 75% re-offend- traditionalists: 35% re-offend- traditionalists: 35% re-offend

a. a. Successful rehabilitationSuccessful rehabilitation - needs two things- needs two things - qualified staff in sufficient numbers- qualified staff in sufficient numbers - atmosphere conducive to rehabilitation- atmosphere conducive to rehabilitation

b. b. Rehabilitation vs. total institutionRehabilitation vs. total institution

InmatesInmates- total institution demeaning- total institution demeaning- strip away identity- strip away identity- staff make decisions- staff make decisions- peer group pressure- peer group pressure

c. c. Rehabilitation vs. custodyRehabilitation vs. custody- conflicts between staff- conflicts between staff- rehab feels superior- rehab feels superior- see inmate 1 to 2 hours per week- see inmate 1 to 2 hours per week- custodial has rest of time- custodial has rest of time- inmates use this tension between staff- inmates use this tension between staff

InmatesInmatesd. d. Recent trendsRecent trends

- privatization / boot camps- privatization / boot camps

- causes concerns- causes concerns

(1) Legal questions(1) Legal questions

(2) Quality of care(2) Quality of care

(3) How to monitor(3) How to monitor