Corrections in America - State and Local Prison Systems

CORRECTIONS IN AMERICAAn Introduction, 11/Eby Allen, Latessa, Ponder and Simonsen

1 ©2007 Pearson Education, Inc.Pearson Prentice HallUpper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Chapter 10: State and LocalChapter 10: State and LocalPrison SystemsPrison Systems

Corrections in AmericaCorrections in AmericaAn IntroductionAn Introduction

Eleventh EditionEleventh Edition

Allen, Latessa, Ponder and Simonsen



Annual Costs Of PrisonsAnnual Costs Of Prisons

86%

13.5%

Other States

4%

3%

16%77%

Federal Bureau of Prisons New York City

Cook County Phil. Prison System

$42,939,742,000.00



OffendersOffenders

Over 1,410,000 Over 1,410,000 adult male adult male prisonersprisoners

In more than 1,600 In more than 1,600 adult state and adult state and local prisons in the local prisons in the nation (16%-State nation (16%-State Prisons)Prisons)

93% of all prison 93% of all prison populationspopulations



Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 26 State Correctional Institutions 1 Motivational Boot Camp 13 Community Corrections Facilities 50 Private Community Corrections

Facilities 15,000 employees 45,300 inmates 63 County Prisonshttp://www.cor.state.pa.us/portal/lib/county/countystatistics.pdf



ClassificationClassification

Process by which inmates are Process by which inmates are assigned to appropriate assigned to appropriate security and treatment security and treatment facilities in accordance with facilities in accordance with their characteristics and their characteristics and needs, which determines the needs, which determines the institution to which an inmate institution to which an inmate will be assignedwill be assigned



Classification: Classification: cont.cont.

Some institutional needs Some institutional needs occasionally take occasionally take precedence over an precedence over an individual’s needsindividual’s needs

Is an ongoing process that Is an ongoing process that is reviewed as needed is reviewed as needed (“reclassification”)(“reclassification”)



Sentenced Male Sentenced Male Prisoners, 2003Prisoners, 2003

AgeAge TotalTotal WhiteWhite BlackBlack HispanicHispanic

18-19 26,300 7,500 13,100 5,100

20-24 219,400 63,800 104,100 48,500

25-29 245,300 68,700 116,700 57,300

30-34 238,200 77,500 106,500 51,000

35-39 228,200 82,700 99,200 41,000

40-44 197,900 78,500 83,900 30,400

45-54 190,800 80,200 78,600 26,600

55 or older

60,300 33,300 17,900 7,500

TotalTotal 1,409,281,409,2800

493,400493,400 621,300621,300 268,100268,100



Male Incarceration Rates Male Incarceration Rates by Group by Group (rate per 100,000)(rate per 100,000)

465

3,405

1,231

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

White Black Hispanic



Educational AttainmentEducational Attainment

70% had not 70% had not received a high received a high school diploma or school diploma or GEDGED

U.S population U.S population 36%36%



Marital StatusMarital Status

At the time of the last national At the time of the last national survey of prisoners:survey of prisoners: About 1 in 6 was married (15%) 6 in 10 had never been married

(60%) The others were separated,

divorced, or widowed (25%)



Drug AbuseDrug Abuse

More than 8 in 10 inmates report they have used illegal drugs in their lifetime

Almost 1 in 3 report using those drugs at the time of their instant offense



Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Abuse

Is widespread among male prisoners

More than 8 in 10 reported they consumed alcohol

4 in 10 reported drinking at least a fifth of liquor in a single day (“binge drinking”)



Alcohol Abuse: Alcohol Abuse: cont.cont.

More than 3 in 10 report they were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their instant offense

Most had participated in at least one alcohol/drug abuse program while under correctional supervision



Criminal HistoryCriminal History

At the time of their current At the time of their current offense, almost half of the male offense, almost half of the male inmates in state prison had inmates in state prison had some prior criminal justice some prior criminal justice status:status: 1 in 4 was on parole 1 in 5 was on probation 1% had escaped from confinement



RecidivismRecidivism

The latest survey of state The latest survey of state prisoners found that:prisoners found that: Almost half were violent

recidivists Another 3 in 10 were non-violent

recidivists Less than 1 in 4 had no previous

sentence



Prison Population Prison Population Growth:Growth:

Building costs are high Averaging $74,000 per bed Lower security units are less

expensive (about $30,000/bed) Maximum security units are more

expensive (about $80,000/bed) Per diem incarceration cost:

$70/inmate (house, feed, control, and care for state inmates)



Inmates By Security Inmates By Security Level Level (in percent)(in percent)

10%

12%

36%

35%

7%

Protective Maximum Close Medium Minimum Other



City Operated PrisonsCity Operated Prisons

Cook CountyCook County New York City New York City Washington D.C.Washington D.C. PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

110 adult prisons110 adult prisons Over 30,000 adult offendersOver 30,000 adult offenders



Military PrisonersMilitary PrisonersApproximately 2200 TotalApproximately 2200 Total

25.8%

0.3%

21.2%

19.7%

39%

Army Air Force Coast Guard Navy Marine Corps



Prisoners in the U.S. Prisoners in the U.S. TerritoriesTerritories

All five U.S. territories and All five U.S. territories and commonwealths reported prisoners commonwealths reported prisoners in 2003 (16,494 inmates)in 2003 (16,494 inmates)

The rate of incarceration per The rate of incarceration per 100,000 adults in these 100,000 adults in these jurisdictions was about the same as jurisdictions was about the same as two-thirds of the mainland statestwo-thirds of the mainland states

Puerto Rico had the most prisoners Puerto Rico had the most prisoners (15,046)(15,046)



Cruel and Unusual Cruel and Unusual PunishmentPunishment

1970’: state and federal 1970’: state and federal courts were asked to examine courts were asked to examine the operations and policies of the operations and policies of correctional facilities to ensure correctional facilities to ensure compliance with the 8compliance with the 8thth AmendmentAmendment




By February 1983:By February 1983: The entire prison system was declared The entire prison system was declared

unconstitutional in: Alabama, Florida, unconstitutional in: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan (all the male institutions)Michigan (all the male institutions)

At least one or more facilities in At least one or more facilities in another 21 states were operating another 21 states were operating under a court order or consent decreeunder a court order or consent decree




Civil Rights Law of 1871Civil Rights Law of 1871 Provides citizens denied Provides citizens denied

constitutional rights by the state constitutional rights by the state may sue in the federal courtsmay sue in the federal courts

Designed to protect newly freed Designed to protect newly freed slavesslaves

1964 Cooper v. Pate1964 Cooper v. Pate Prisoners may seek relief in federal Prisoners may seek relief in federal

court by way of the 1871 act.court by way of the 1871 act.



Security Threat Groups Security Threat Groups (STG)(STG)

Formerly known as Formerly known as “prison gangs,” are two “prison gangs,” are two or more inmates acting or more inmates acting together who pose a together who pose a threat to the security threat to the security and safety of and safety of staff/inmates, and/or are staff/inmates, and/or are disruptive to programs disruptive to programs and the orderly and the orderly management of the management of the facilityfacility



Supermax PrisonsSupermax Prisons

Free-standing facility Free-standing facility that provides for that provides for management and management and secure control of secure control of inmates inmates

officially designated officially designated as exhibiting violent as exhibiting violent or seriously or seriously aggressive behavior aggressive behavior while incarceratedwhile incarcerated



Supermax PrisonersSupermax Prisoners

Violent, seriously Violent, seriously disruptive, disruptive, assaultive, and assaultive, and escape-prone escape-prone inmatesinmates

Including gang Including gang activists…activists…

Who pose immense Who pose immense challenges to prison challenges to prison security and custodysecurity and custody



Supermax PrisonsSupermax Prisons

How are inmates selected?How are inmates selected? How do inmates earn release?How do inmates earn release? Cost?Cost? LitigationLitigation

Sensory deprivationSensory deprivation ClassificationClassification Access to law libraries and attorneysAccess to law libraries and attorneys Quality of mental health servicesQuality of mental health services Excessive use of forceExcessive use of force



TrainingTraining

High School Diploma or GEDHigh School Diploma or GED No record of prior felony No record of prior felony

convictionconviction Minimum age of 21Minimum age of 21 Valid driver’s licenseValid driver’s licenseSCSC: 2006 764 Corrections Officer Trainee



SummarySummary

Most prison systems are Most prison systems are overcrowdedovercrowded

Prisoners have multiple problems Prisoners have multiple problems that contributed to their that contributed to their incarcerationincarceration

Some prisoners are dangerous and Some prisoners are dangerous and disruptivedisruptive

Security must be tight for high-risk Security must be tight for high-risk inmates (“supermax prisons”)inmates (“supermax prisons”)

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Corrections in America - State and Local Prison Systems