Prisons in America Practical Citizenship Unit 5

Security Levels  Three major levels of prison security: –Maximum –Medium –Minimum

Maximum-Security Prison  Large institutions with several thousand prisoners  Have high fences, thick walls, and guard towers

Maximum-Security Prison  Used for most dangerous inmates who are a severe threat to public safety  Prisoners given little opportunity to associate with each other or have visits  Typically in cells for 23 hours/day

Prison Tour  Virtual Prison Tour – Florida Virtual Prison Tour – Florida

Medium-Security Prisons  Less serious crimes (minor assaults, small thefts)  Secure dormitories for up to fifty prisoners

Medium-Security Prisons  Prisoners have more freedom (use library, exercise yard, etc.)  Some inmates can work outside of the prison under supervision of correctional officers  Prisons often have educational facilities

Minimum-Security Prisons  Prisoners who are the least risk to public safety  Prisoners can roam within the confines of the prison  Single perimeter fences, no armed guards

Super-Maximum Security Prisons  Meant to hold most dangerous prisoners  First one was Alcatraz, island in San Francisco Bay  Prisoners kept in individual cells  Furniture often made of cement, can’t be moved

Poor Prison Conditions  Biggest problem is usually overcrowding –Can lead to discipline problems, unrest, unhealthy conditions, and violence  Many court cases say that poor conditions violate the 8 th amendment, but overcrowding does not if the prison still meets “contemporary standards of decency”

Parole  Parole = the process of returning prisoners to society if they have displayed good behavior, and if they give their word to avoid further crime  Parole Board examines behaviors, determines release  Parole officer sees to it that parole conditions are met and that the parolee makes a successful transition to life on the outside

Staying Out of Prison  Many ex-convicts have difficulty adjusting to society and staying out of trouble  Imagine that you were just paroled and are trying to stay out of prison. Write a journal of your experiences in the first few weeks after release. Include the following incidents and explain how you dealt with them.

Journal Requirements Include these items in the journal: –Finding a place to live –Relating to your family and loved ones –Searching for a job, going to a job interview –Running into an old friend from your criminal days, one you are forbidden to associate with