Ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections

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Analyze how the ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections
Describe the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities
Analyze systemic issues that affect incarceration
Scenario
You are working for Vera Institute, a private agency dedicated to “tackl[ing] the most pressing injustices of our day.” Your work group is writing a grant asking for federal funding on behalf of the State of Alabama Department of Corrections, which desperately needs funding in order to build new structures and programs to combat overcrowding. The piece of the grant you will craft is the statement of need, which focuses on reviewing the ideologies of punishment, explaining considerations in corrections facilities, and analyzing systemic issues that affect incarceration. You have been provided with a template Word Document to assist you in organizing your work.

Directions
Grant Proposal Statement of Need
In this assignment, you will craft a statement of need for your grant proposal. This statement will explain the issues that generally relate to today’s corrections departments and how you are seeking to address these issues. Your statement of need should be divided into sections using the following headers:

Ideological Influence on Professional Practice
To begin your statement, you will use research to analyze how the ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections.

First, describe how the goals of sentencing may lead to specific programs and sentencing structures. In your analysis, include each of the following:
Identify the five goals of sentencing. Name and define each goal.
Describe how prison programs can foster rehabilitation.
Describe some of the different goals of sentencing demonstrated through different programs and sentencing structures.
Next, you will explain the impact of sentencing structures. Choose two of the following to explain the impact(s) of sentencing structures:
Determinate and indeterminate
Felonies vs. misdemeanors
Mandatory minimums
Three strikes law
Then, describe how felony convictions create an unintended “invisible punishment.” Be sure to address the following areas of impact that persons convicted of felonies might face upon release:
Civil liberty restrictions
Private sector restrictions
Structure and Logistics of Correctional Facilities
In the next part of your statement of need, use research as you consider the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities.

First, describe the processing of offenders in correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
The prisoner intake process
Application of the Fourth Amendment to searches and seizures in corrections
Transitional services and release planning
Next, describe the physical and organizational structure of correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
The different jurisdictions of correctional institutions, including:
Prisons and jails
Federal, state, local
The impact of different types of sanctions on corrections facilities
The physical layout of a corrections structure and its impact on corrections processes
Then, analyze the impact of age-related diversity on correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
The impact on facilities
The impact on adjudication, including:
Juvenile or adult
The impact of an aging prison population on the correctional system. You may consider describing the following:
Medical care
Financial considerations
Systemic Issues
In the last part of your statement of need, you will use research as you analyze systemic issues that affect incarceration.

First, analyze the impact of diversity in prisons.
Address past policies and practices related to the response to increased diversity in corrections. Consider addressing some of the following:
Mental health issues
Language and cultural issues
Issues in women’s prisons
LGBTQ issues
Next, explain the rise of incarceration rates and strategies to reduce them. Select two of the following events or criminal justice areas to focus on in your explanation:
War on Drugs
Parole/probation violations
Pre-trial detention
Then, describe factor(s) that impact prison culture. Select one or two of the following factors to include in your description:
Long-term incarceration rates
Two models of inmate behavior
Sexual violence in prisons (Eighth Amendment)
Relevant legislation
Court ruling(s)

Sample Solution

The ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections in a number of ways. The goals of sentencing, the impact of sentencing structures, and the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities are all influenced by the ideology of punishment that is dominant in a particular society.

Goals of Sentencing

There are five main goals of sentencing:

  • Retribution: This is the idea that criminals should be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime.
  • Deterrence: This is the idea that criminals should be punished in order to discourage others from committing crimes.
  • Incapacitation: This is the idea that criminals should be punished in order to prevent them from committing further crimes.
  • Rehabilitation: This is the idea that criminals should be punished in order to help them to change their behavior and become productive members of society.
  • Restorative justice: This is the idea that the focus of the criminal justice system should be on repairing the harm that has been caused by crime, rather than on punishing the offender.

The goals of sentencing can lead to different programs and sentencing structures. For example, a system that is focused on retribution may emphasize long prison sentences, while a system that is focused on rehabilitation may emphasize programs that provide education, job training, and counseling to inmates.

Prison Programs

Prison programs can foster rehabilitation in a number of ways. They can provide inmates with the education and job training they need to get a good job after they are released from prison. They can also provide inmates with counseling and other services to help them to address the issues that led to their criminal behavior.

Some of the different goals of sentencing can be demonstrated through different programs and sentencing structures. For example, a program that provides job training to inmates is demonstrating the goal of rehabilitation. A sentencing structure that allows for early release for good behavior is demonstrating the goal of deterrence.

Sentencing Structures

There are two main types of sentencing structures: determinate and indeterminate. Determinate sentences have a fixed length, while indeterminate sentences have a minimum and maximum length.

Felonies and misdemeanors are also different types of sentences. Felonies are more serious crimes, and they carry longer sentences. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes, and they carry shorter sentences.

Mandatory minimums are laws that require judges to sentence offenders to a minimum amount of time in prison, regardless of the circumstances of the crime. Three strikes laws are laws that require judges to sentence offenders to life in prison if they have been convicted of three felonies.

Organizational Structure and Logistical Considerations

The organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities are also influenced by the ideology of punishment that is dominant in a particular society. For example, a system that is focused on retribution may have a more hierarchical structure, with a strong emphasis on security. A system that is focused on rehabilitation may have a more flat structure, with a greater emphasis on treatment and education.

The logistical considerations of correctional facilities also vary depending on the ideology of punishment. For example, a system that is focused on retribution may need to have more space for inmates, while a system that is focused on rehabilitation may need to have more space for programs and treatment.

Systemic Issues that Affect Incarceration

There are a number of systemic issues that affect incarceration. These include:

  • Racial bias: African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, and they are more likely to be sentenced to prison than white offenders.
  • Poverty: People who are poor are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated than people who are not poor.
  • Mental illness: People with mental illness are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated than people who do not have mental illness.
  • Drug addiction: People who are addicted to drugs are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated than people who are not addicted to drugs.

These systemic issues contribute to the high rate of incarceration in the United States. They also make it more difficult for people who are incarcerated to reintegrate into society after they are released from prison.

Conclusion

The ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections in a number of ways. The goals of sentencing, the impact of sentencing structures, and the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities are all influenced by the ideology of punishment that is dominant in a particular society.

The systemic issues that affect incarceration also need to be addressed in order to reduce the number of people who are incarcerated and to improve the chances of success for those who are released from prison.

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