CJ V

BCJ 2000, Introduction to Criminal Justice 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit V Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

4. Examine the role of the American correctional system to include probation, parole, and community corrections supervision models. 4.1 Explain probation and parole as well as the advantages and disadvantages to both. 4.2 Explain the American philosophy of imprisonment and how this impacts the U.S. criminal

justice system.

Reading Assignment Chapter 10: Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections Chapter 11: Prisons and Jails Click here to access the Chapter 10 presentation. Click here to access a PDF file of the presentation. Click here to access the Chapter 11 presentation. Click here to access a PDF file of the presentation.

Unit Lesson Generally speaking, the correctional system is the final stage within the American criminal justice system. Remember, however, that this is not always the case as an offender may encounter some elements of the correctional system early in the criminal justice process. Such elements, aside from the obvious ones like prisons and jails, include probation, parole, and community corrections. For this lesson, you will review each of these areas in an effort to gain a comprehensive understanding of corrections here in the United States. The trend will, of course, continue as it relates to the interrelation of subsystems within the criminal justice system. As you have learned, law enforcement must depend on the courts to try, convict, and sentence those arrested. Subsequently, the courts and law enforcement are reliant on the correctional system to carry out those sentences and ensure the public is safe from those convicted. This crucial relationship between the correctional system and the rest of the criminal justice system, because of the punishments and rewards it carries out, is significant in maintaining social order. The focus of the lesson for this unit will be on four key elements related to corrections:

 roles of corrections,

 goals of corrections,

 institutional corrections, and

 non-institutional corrections.

UNIT V STUDY GUIDE

The Correctional System

BCJ 2000, Introduction to Criminal Justice 2

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Before delving into these four elements, it is important to first understand the components of the correctional system and its functions. According to Schmalleger and Smykla (2015), corrections generally encompasses the following components:

 federal, state, and local correctional institutions to include jails, prisons, halfway houses, and other facilities;

 diversion programs such as probation, parole, and alternative programs;

 correctional counseling, education, and other rehabilitation programs;

 correctional professionals including officers, counselors, and administrators;

 correctional policies, procedures, and practices that promote the purpose, goals, and effective management of the correctional enterprise; and

 elements of various criminal or civil laws.

The role of the correctional system is the maintenance and enhancement of the public’s safety and social order. In order to follow through with this role, the correctional system assumes the following responsibilities:

 implement sentences set forth by the court system and supervise offenders;

 provide correctional programs to aid in reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation;

 provide effective programs for successful reentry of offenders;

 consider and address the needs of the victims of crimes;

 regularly review all correctional programs and services to address the needs of the victims, community, and offenders; and

 collaborate with all subsystems within the criminal justice system as well as other professions in order to strengthen and improve reduction in crime and recidivism.

The American correctional system, as you can imagine, relies heavily on correctional professionals to carry out its role, so it should be no surprise that the goals of the correctional system are aimed at such personnel. The American Correctional Association recognizes that the fundamental purpose of corrections is to enhance social order and the safety of the public (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). In order to maintain social order and ensure a safe community, certain measures must be taken in the form of social control. Application of punishment for violations of criminal laws is the responsibility of the correctional system. The most widely recognized form of punishment is that of institutional corrections. According the Bureau of Justice Statistics (as cited by Schmalleger and Smykla, 2015), institutional corrections involves confining and rehabilitating offenders convicted of crimes as well as the confinement of those suspected of crimes who are awaiting trial. The duties of correctional institutions include:

 prisons,

 jails,

 detention centers,

 training schools,

 reformatories, and

 various other forms of confinement to house adults or juveniles.

What is key to remember with regard to institutional corrections is the ever-increasing correctional population, as this is a direct result of the criminal justice system in general. As of 2015, there were approximately 1,700 state prisons and nearly 120 federal prisons in the United States. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (2015a) states that by the end of 2014, approximately 6.5 million offenders were under correctional supervision which equated to about one in 36 adults in the United States, or 2.8 percent of the population. There has been an increase in those confined to prison; the number is up 400 percent. This increase is the result of several factors such as drug control, mandatory sentencing, and public pressure on parole authorities to keep potential parolees confined, to name a few.

BCJ 2000, Introduction to Criminal Justice 3

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The non-institutional element of the correctional system is often referred to as community corrections. Community corrections encompasses:

 probation,

 parole,

 alternative community corrections sentencing, and

 monitoring of offenders via electronic or cyber methods.

Probation is the most common form of sentencing in the justice system today. This type of sentencing is a common alternative to incarceration and involves the offender being ordered to submit to correctional supervision while remaining in the community. Parole, on the other hand, involves the conditional supervised release of an offender from a correctional institution. Schmalleger (2015) states this strategy of prisoner reentry differs from probation because the offender has already been incarcerated and is granted parole administratively. Other options available within the correctional system aside from probation and parole involve intermediate sanctions, split sentencing, shock incarceration, and remote monitoring of offenders. The high utilization of community corrections is evident in the sheer amount of offenders alternatively sentenced with these methods. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (2015b) states that by the end of 2014, more than 4 million offenders were under community supervision, equating to one in every 52 adults here in the United States. During this lesson, you have been offered a comprehensive description of the American correctional system. More importantly, you should now realize the critical role corrections plays in the criminal justice system. The interrelationship of the correctional system with the criminal justice system—with corrections as the final step—is crucial to the effectiveness of the criminal justice process. A fair, firm, and consistent system is needed to carry out the sentences handed down by the courts that will not only serve as a punishment, but also serve as a rehabilitative tool needed to curb recidivism and maintain social order.

References Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2015a). Correctional populations in the United States, 2014. Retrieved from

http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5519 Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2015b). Probation and Parole in the United States. Retrieved from

http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus14_sum.pdf Schmalleger, F. (2016). Criminal justice: A brief introduction. (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Schmalleger, F., & Smykla, J. O. (2015). Corrections in the 21st century (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw

Hill.

Learning Activities (Non-Graded) Complete the “Questions for Review” at the end of Chapter 10. Complete the “Questions for Review” at the end of Chapter 11. Click here to access the Unit V Chapter 10 Questions and Answers presentation. Click here to access a PDF file of the presentation. Click here to access the Unit V Chapter 11 Questions and Answers presentation. Click here to access a PDF file of the presentation. Non-graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.