Many people wonder who decides what offenders go into what prisons and why some of those prisons are labeled "maximum security" while others are simply "minimum security". Is it based on a state, local or federal level or is it based on the percentage of felony to misdemeanor offenders the institution houses? In this essay we will dive into the questions of why and how institutions are labeled with different levels of severity as well as what determines that an offender resides within those walls.
This form of labeling is called classification which is driven by the need to determine the surveillance severity of offenders in each institution as needing minimum, medium or maximum security surveillance to be able to successfully do their time while incarcerated. Bartollas Clemens describes this idea of classification as, "probation departments to develop classification systems for placing offenders under intensive, medium, or minimum supervision". (Clemens, 2002).
In this sense Clemens states that probationary departments and correctional systems assign this system as a way of placing offenders under specific amounts of surveillance designed with their offenses and behaviors in mind. This includes determining which correctional institutions an offender can and should be place in to fit their rehabilitation and punishment needs. The key tools for classification in sentencing, determined by judges, is the presentence investigation report which includes the offense that occurred, the effect on the victim, the custody of the offender before, during, and after trial, the offenders criminal history as well as current pending charges and the opinion of their probation officer if applicable as to where they should be sentenced and placed.
[...] Halfway houses are the most publicly recognized form of reentry program for offenders and are typically used for those who need help or have no family or support system within the community upon release. These community programs offer a home for newly released offenders for stipulated amount of time as well as counseling and group therapy while living in the home. Community based assistance is described by Clemens as, “offered a variety of services to ex- offenders in the United States. [...]
[...] Classification and imprisonment in the United States correctional system Classification and Imprisonment in the United States Correctional System Many people wonder who decides what offenders go into what prisons and why some of those prisons are labeled “maximum security” while others are simply “minimum security”. Is it based on a state, local or federal level or is it based on the percentage of felony to misdemeanor offenders the institution houses? In this essay we will dive into the questions of why and how institutions are labeled with different levels of severity as well as what determines that an offender resides within those walls. [...]
[...] Victim and offender mediation is quite similar, however, it is more of a form of problem solving between victim and offender rather than simply stating the effects. Circle sentencing occurs during peacemaking talks and while it involves the victim and offender it also integrates the community and its figureheads as well. Community reparative boards are a way of community to offender restoration and include finding ways to repair the damage done as well as possible forms of restitution. This restitution can sometimes be the sole sentence given in the form of monetary reparations. [...]
[...] While these offenders are considered bad they are nothing compared to the inmates of a maximum security classified institution such as the USP Florence ADMAX prison in Florence, Colorado. The prisoners housed in this institution and others like it are some of the most dangerous and violent offenders in the country as well as those deemed most likely to escape. At rare times those who have serious or chronic medical conditions are housed here as well for treatment. These offenders lead longer sentences than those at the lower level security prisons. Yet one has to wonder how imprisonment affects these prisoners and the culture they live by. [...]
[...] Community Corrections. Retrieved February from JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY OF ALBERTA : http://www.johnhoward.ab.ca/pub/C29.htm JusticeBC. (n.d.). Purpose of Parole. Retrieved February from Criminal Justice Information and Support: http://www.justicebc.ca/en/cjis/you/offender/parole/purpose.html Library Index. (n.d.). Sentencing-Alternative Sentencing. Retrieved February from Library Index: http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2553/Sentencing-ALTERNATIVE- SENTENCING.html Nieto, M. (1996, May). The Changing Role of Probation in California's Criminal Justice System. Retrieved February from California State Library: http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/96/06/96006.pdf Office of Probation and Pretrial Services. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
