Corrections chapter 13 ppt

The Future of Corrections

Chapter 13

Dilemmas Facing Corrections

1. Mission

2. Methods

3. Structure

4. Personnel

5. Cost

Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections

Mission Corrections lacks a clear mission Different clients

Offenders, public, other government agencies

Attempt to meet all expectations Must articulate a philosophy of corrections

Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections

Methods Difficulty choosing between competing

methods Often do not seem to work Fads Fairness

Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections

Structure Internally

Divided against itself

Externally Little formal capacity to control demand for

services

Discussion Question

Discuss the internal and external dilemmas that face corrections. What is meant by corrections being a process divided against itself?

Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections

Personnel Attracting the right kind of people

Low salaries Entry-level position

Motivating currently employed to stay Collective bargaining Demoralization Assessment

Discussion Question

What if you were placed in charge of a correctional institution that has been plagued by a high turnover rate and under-educated correctional staff? How would you go about correcting this problem? How would you attract more educated individuals who want to excel and stay in the field?

Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections

Costs Building Personnel Crowding Fiscal restraint Privatization

Discussion Question

Should cost be a factor in sentencing an offender? What are the pros and cons of taking costs into consideration?

Four Trends in the CorrectionalSystem

Evidence-Based Practice What works?

Recidivism

Evaluation

Random field trial

Four Trends in the CorrectionalSystem

Techno-Corrections Electronic monitoring High-risk clients Drug-testing Eye-recognition Spatial monitoring Computer-aided decision making

Four Trends in the CorrectionalSystem

Falling Crime Rates Relationship is not straightforward

Change in public opinion

Opportunity for innovation and improvement

Discussion Question

Discuss the falling crime rates in society. What policies could be implemented to address this issue?

Four Trends in the CorrectionalSystem

Professionalization Academic discipline of criminal justice Journals Professional associations Consequences

Higher standard A new voice

Three Challenges for the Futureof Corrections

Challenge 1: Reinvigorate a New Correctional Leadership Acting in ways that correctional clients see as

“legitimate” Maintaining safe, drug-free environments in prisons

and jails where staff and those confined inside can stay “clean”

Making management “transparent”

Three Challenges for the Futureof Corrections

Challenge 2: Refocus Our Investments in What Works Early prevention Risk-focused, evidence-based programs A national council on early prevention Local-level prevention Communities that care

Three Challenges for the Futureof Corrections

Challenge 3: Reclaim the Moral and Ethical High Road American punitiveness

Harsher than other countries

Health care

Social costs

Discussion Question

What if you were placed in charge of a 78-year-old correctional institution that has not been renovated since its construction. You are currently operating at 115% capacity and have 23 less staff than the operational manual suggests. What challenges do you face? How do you fix these?

Changing Corrections: A Final View

Government Agencies National Institute of Corrections

National clearinghouse of information about correctional practices

Source of technical assistance to local and state correctional agencies that wish to upgrade their practices

Training operation, both basic and advanced, open to any correctional employee

Changing Corrections: A Final View

Professional Associations American Correctional Association

Lobbyist

American Probation and Parole Association Organization

Discussion Question

Discuss whether the future of corrections looks promising. Take into consideration what has been explained in this text. What direction does corrections appear to be heading? Rehabilitation? Get tough? Medical Model? What direction do you think it should go?