Abstract This paper provides many statistics about the rate of literacy of inmates as compared to the national public literacy rate. It shows that the rate is much higher within prisons than without and relates this to crime rates. The paper examines how the authorities are trying to fight this illiteracy amongst prisoners by providing programs and courses to improve their reading skills.
From the Paper "The prison system is a subject of debate in communities around the country. Overcrowding is a problem everywhere, as older prisons close and inmates are shuffled to other facilities. There are strong debates regarding the incarceration of non-violent offenders such as drug users. Many feel drug rehabilitation would be a better alternative for them, and more cost effective, as well as help alleviate the overcrowding. Moreover, many feel that monies would be better spent on rehabilitation programs within the prison system, such as education and training programs."
Abstract This paper argues that, even though restitution and punishment is important, the more vital role of prisons lies in rehabilitation. Realistically, most prisoners will be eligible for parole. It is therefore in the general public's best interests to ensure that prisons serve as venues for rehabilitation by providing services like counseling and job skills training. This paper looks at one of the biggest obstacle to the goal of rehabilitation, violence in prisons, with focus on prison rape.
From the Paper "The problem of prison violence, however, goes beyond individual concerns. Prisons are places where inmates are constantly subjected to threats and the potential of violence -- sexual or otherwise. They are also subjected to a dehumanizing loneliness, one that keeps them isolated from forming connections with other inmates. At best, these factors preclude any training or rehabilitation from taking place. In the worst cases, however, many non-violent offenders quickly learn to adapt to the new rules. As a result, many prisoners develop violent tendencies of their own, tendencies which they maintain when they are released back into society."
Abstract This paper deals with the controversial issue of prisonerrehabilitation or confinement. It presents an analysis of John Dilulio's book "Governing Prisons' and raises points of financial and administrative decisions which need to be made on a daily basis.
From the paper:
"There are so many different opinions on the best way to operate a prison. Should the prison's focus be on punishment or rehabilitation? Should money be spent to make prisoners more comfortable, or should the department of corrections spend that money to try to prevent crime, thereby reducing the prison population altogether? John Dilulio, in his book, Governing Prisons, discusses the administration factors in prisons, and makes claims that many times, administrative factors can and do have an affect on inmate life. These factors must also be taken into account when deciding how money and staffing resources should be used to best meet the needs of the staff and the inmates. There should also be steps taken to ensure community safety and reintegration into the community for the inmates. "
Abstract This paper explains that the only way to truly provide humane conditions is by taking rehabilitative measures to control the number of prisoners by reducing the large number of prisoners who go to jail in the first place or wind up in jail again after their release. It calls for community-based supervision and prisonrehabilitation programs in order to stop the cycle of criminals returning to jail after their release.
From the Paper "To understand why a belief in criminological positivism and a faith in rehabilitation and a welfare characterized crime control has formed in the modern era, there are two major issues to consider. One is the lack of humane conditions that are presently provided in prison systems and the other is the degree of rehabilitation that prisons can and should facilitate to cope with prison populations that are swelling beyond control. Rehabilitation to avoid incarceration in the first place or to reduce the likelihood that inmates will return to prison after their release is the best possible solution."
Abstract This paper explains that society's current focus regarding the role of prisons is on revenge and incarceration. However, the paper argues that society must break out of this idea, which leads to overcrowded prisons and a high rate of recidivism. Instead, society must view prisons as rehabilitation institutions. The paper then describes prisonrehabilitation, training and support systems, which the writer thinks should be society's expectation of prisons. The writer believes that the exploitation, inhumanity and injustice of work in chain gangs need to be brought back into public consciousness.
From the Paper "Some states differ on what they think there prison system should accomplish. Many states believe that they should serve as a rehabilitation institution. However, the state of Florida believes that there first mission is to protect society by incarcerating convicted offenders, then there only after that they will offer the offender means to an education, training, and some work experience and provide counseling. For the states that do believe in the rehabilitation process, they have many programs in place within there prisons."
Tags: revenge rehabilitation work, chain gangs, states
Abstract This paper analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of imprisonment in rehabilitating criminals. In Part II, theories underlying criminal punishment are discussed. Part III examines the history surrounding incapacitation. In Part IV, the effectiveness of incarceration in rehabilitating offenders is analyzed. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations for ways to improve how the criminal justice system handles punishment.
From the Paper "Crime is an issue of paramount importance, one that impacts each and every member of society on both a micro and a macro level. Over the past two decades, public concern has vastly increased over specific aspects of the crime problem, namely juvenile crime, prison reform, the role of television in producing violence, and urban gangs. Crime exacts more than financial costs; emotional costs are incurred when a criminal murders an individual's close friend, family member, or loved one or when an offender is incarcerated, depriving his or her family of emotional and financial support. Imprisonment is one of the oldest and most widely accepted responses to crime. However, while incapacitation is an effective mechanism for removing criminals from society, opponents argue that incarceration does not truly rehabilitate offenders."
Abstract This paper looks at two conditions which need constant supervision from prison authorities and human rights groups with regard to prisons in the U.S. One is whether humane conditions are provided and the other is concerned with the degree of rehabilitation that prisons facilitate. The paper discusses what can be done to improve conditions and prevent previous inmates returning to prisons.
From the Paper "According to Human Rights Watch, prisoners suffer from physical mistreatment, excessive disciplinary measures, intolerable physical conditions and inadequate medical and mental health care. Prisons are severely overcrowded and do not have adequate staffing. Many local jails are unsafe, vermin-infested and lack areas where inmates can get exercise or fresh air. Violence by inmates and guards is common. Mentally ill inmates who comprise between six and fourteen percent of the incarcerated population do not receive adequate monitoring and treatment. Private prisons operate without sufficient control and oversight from public correctional authorities. Both prisoner-on-prisoner sexual abuse and sexual abuse of women is a huge problem. Amnesty International reported that sexual abuse of female inmates is rampant but said many cases go unreported for fear of retaliation. Amnesty reported an undetermined number of cases of prison guards who grope women during daily searches and who rape women. Amnesty also found some prison guards sell female prisoners as sex slaves to male inmates."
Abstract This paper looks at the arguments that favor privatized prison systems and those that oppose it. In support of privatized prison systems, the paper cites the various ways privatization helps eliminate financial waste. Criticisms cited by the paper are the fear that treatment and rehabilitation efforts are overlooked in favor of profit goals, the problem of fraudulent billing by the private companies running the prisons, improper treatment of prisoners, and abuse of incarcerated juveniles.
From the Paper "Currently in the United States, the individual states have two choices for running their prisons. They can either do it all themselves, staffing the prisons with guards and other personnel who are state employees, or they can hire a private company to run some or all of their prisons. When they hire a private company to manage prisons, this is called ?privatization.?"
Abstract This paper begins with a description of the current state of the American prison system. The paper mentions a number of statistics that show how prisons are completely overcrowded to the extent that prisoners are released before due-date just to make room for new ones. The paper shows how high the budget is for the prison system and how much more is needed to fix the problems. Finally, the paper looks at potential solutions to the over-crowding, including more death sentences, rehabilitation programs, and others.
From the Paper "Prisons are so overcrowded within the states that typically "only one criminal is jailed for every one hundred violent crimes committed" (Economist, 1996). Many violent criminal offenders do not even serve out their entire terms; many serve half of their term and are released on an appeal or probation (Economist, 1996). These prisoners are often released to society only to commit another crime at a later date. Overcrowding results among other things, in increased costs, costs that taxpayers often bear the brunt of paying. The problems associated with prison pricing and overcrowding are explored further below."
Abstract This paper describes the social and monetary cost of incarceration in the United States, which boasts the highest percentage of jailed individuals. One major concern, the author stresses, is the quality of rehabilitation the inmates receive while they are in prison. The paper concludes that to keep an inmate from re-offending and have a successful transition back into regular society, he or she must be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.
Table of Contents:
Failing Issue
Working Issue
Conclusion
From the Paper "Society's current focus is on revenge and incarceration in prisons. The cost of the explosion in the criminal population, due to tougher sentencing laws, forces a look at prisons beyond mere incarceration. To keep an inmate from re-offending and have a successful transition back into regular society, he or she must be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. Programs such as vocational training and rehabilitation need to be revamped to provide meaningful skills."
Abstract The paper argues that imprisoning juvenile offenders in adult correctional facilities is counter-productive. The paper explains that adult prisons focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation, which increases the likelihood that these offenders will become violent career criminals. The paper further explains that the harsh conditions of adult prisons only encourages the perpetration of further crimes once these juveniles are released back into society.
From the Paper "Because juvenile offenders in adult prisons are exposed to a criminal culture characterized by violence and abuse, adult prisons tend to degenerate a wayward juvenile delinquent into a hardened career criminal. Daily survival requires finding ways to fit into and be accepted in the adult inmate culture, but most juvenile offenders experience difficulty submitting to authoritarian relationships with adult inmates. Adjusting to this harsh environment requires accepting physical and psychological intimidation as a part of daily lives and developing physical and psychological intimidation behavior themselves in order to survive. (Eisikovits and Baizeman 5-20)"
Abstract This paper explains that violence is one of the main results of jail overcrowding because the guards, who are suppose to keep control of the inmates, are grossly outnumbered by the criminals; therefore, control can slip out of their hands, which leads even more violence. The author believes that criminals who commit serious crimes, like rape or murder, need to be punished for the significance of their crime, even with longer sentences; but less serious crimes, like minor drug offenses, do not need jail time to be punished. The paper states that imprisoning nonviolent offenders often causes more damage than punishment or rehabilitation because short-term inmates often do not receive the rehabilitation they need and become corrupted by the experience of being in jail.
From the Paper "Stealing a few children's videos gave one man in California fifty years to life in prison, while another man received twenty-five years to life for trying to steal a few golf clubs. Does this seem logical? Maybe not to many Americans but in California this occurs quite often. In fact, "more than 7,000 state inmates are serving three strikes sentences of 25 years or more." California has a "Three Strikes Law" that became official on March 7, 1994. This law comes into play when a criminal has one or more prior felony convictions. The second time a criminal commits a felony, their mandatory sentence can be doubled; the third time, the criminal can receive a sentence of twenty-five years to life in prison."
Abstract This paper provides in-depth research into this program being used in a prison in Lebanon, Ohio. It examines a new model currently being tested to help inmates at one correctional center break down the destructive ways of behaving that have earned them imprisonment. The paper provides an analysis into the social behavior, mental condition and personal emotions of inmates who have undergone this program and attempts to examine if the program is effective. It explain what the program entails, which tries to change a prisoner's behavior and thought process.
Introduction
Literature Review
Statement of Problem
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Need
Statement of Assumptions
Statement of Limitations
Methodology
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Corrective Thinking sessions are the heart of the program. This section discusses the theoretical basis for the structuring of these sessions within the framework of established psychological theory and practice.
Each session is governed by the following five mandatory specification:
? No display of disrespect from or toward anyone.
? A clearly defined set of goals for each meeting.
? Establishment at the beginning of each session of a common ground (which is the achievement of the desired goal) between participants and facilitators.
? Explicit agreements between facilitators and participants that they will try to accomplish something beyond the (minimum) stated goals.
? A clear designation of the responsibility of each of the participants and facilitators.
The model of behavioral change currently being tested at this center also specifies a series of guidelines that should be adhered to in every Corrective Thinking Session."
Abstract This paper outlines the four major sections in "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison" by Michael Foucault. The paper summarizes Foucalt's treatment of torture as it was used by law enforcement and correctional officials since the Medieval Period, the emphasis on punishment as a form of correction and/or rehabilitation, the idea of discipline and the creation and maintenance of the modern-day penal/correctional system. The paper labels Foucault's work as exhaustively researched and well-written and asserts that this book deserves to be included in all courses that focus on incarceration, the penal system and even the history of torture and punishment in Western civilization.
From the Paper "In this monumental work, first published in English in 1977, French intellectual Michel Foucault explores the evolution of the penal system in Europe, beginning roughly in the Middle Ages and up to the mid 20th century, with such insight and knowledge that one suspects that Foucault was writing from first-hand experience. In essence, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison contains so much information and description that the reader becomes immersed in not only how the penal system and its corrective/punishment methodologies came about but also how such systems have affected the entire scope of Western civilization."
Abstract This paper examines the problems associated with the current national movement in corrections known as offender reentry. The author considers the challenges that the released prisoners face, including integrating into their former communities and the probability of recidivism. Several viewpoints are considered in connection with prisoner reentry, ranging from those in favor of prisoners serving sentences without the possibility of release to prisoners being given skills, such as job training, to facilitate their integration into society. The Second Chance Act, legislation to facilitate prisoner reentry, is described at length.
Outline:
Second Chance Act
The Institutional Phase
The Step-Down Phase
Community Release Phase
Aftercare Services
References
From the Paper "Challenges presented by reentry, along with concerns regarding ex-offenders returning to their former communities, range from the released individual posing a danger to their former victims to extra expenses related to a crime being committed to the ex-offender not being reestablished and committing another crime. As most offenders eventually return to their home communities, however, counters that contribute to an ex-prisoner becoming a positive part of society need to be assessed and addressed. '"We know from long experience that if they [ex-offenders] can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit crime and return to prison." (Ibid.) "
