Chapter 13 Prisons and Jails

HISTORY OF AMERICAN PRISONS The Pennsylvania System Silence and in-cell labor Constant solitary confinement (the separate system) Only human contact is with visiting clergy The New York System Solitary confinement leads to insanity in inmates Inmates are allowed to work together, while maintaining silence (the congregate system)

Learning Objective 2 List the factors that have caused the prison population to grow dramatically in the last several decades

PRISON POPULATION GROWTH Factors in prison growth: Enhancement and stricter enforcement of drug laws Increased probability of incarceration Inmates are serving more time for each crime Federal prison growth Rising incarceration rates for women

MODELS of PRISONS Three general models of prisons: The custodial model The rehabilitation model The reintegration model

TYPES of PRISONS Maximum-Security Prisons: Supermax: Violent and repeat offenders, those with conduct disorders (16% of prisoners) Fortresses, watchtowers, armed guards Supermax: Prisons reserved for the “worst of the worst” Controlled environment

TYPES OF PRISONS Medium-Security Prisons: Minimum-Security Prison: House less dangerous inmates than maximum security (40% of prisoners) Less restrictive security than maximum security, usually fences instead of walls Rehabilitative programming is available Minimum-Security Prison: Designed for inmates who are a low-security risk, such as non-violent and first-time offenders Inmates have more freedom to move about the facility

PRISON MANAGEMENT Formal Prison Management: Chain of command May lack continuity of purpose Governing Prison Populations: Order The absence of misconduct, such as murder, assault and rape Amenities Comforts that make life “livable,” such as cleaning living conditions, and good food Services Programs designed to improve inmates’ prospects upon release

PRIVATIZATION Arguments for Privatization: Cost efficiency Competitive bidding Labor costs Overcrowding and outsourcing Quality of service Arguments Against Privatization: Safety concerns Financial concerns Philosophical concerns

PURPOSE OF JAILS The Purposes of Jails: To hold those convicted of misdemeanors To hold individuals pre-trial Temporarily hold juveniles awaiting transfer To hold the mentally ill pending transfer To detain those who have violated probation of parole, or have “jumped-bail” To house inmates awaiting transfer to prison To operate community-based corrections programs such as home confinement and electronic monitoring

JAIL ADMINISTRATION Jail Administration: The burden of jail management Sheriff’s may view the jail as a lower priority than crime prevention and control The challenge of overcrowding Living conditions are often miserable The wide variety of persons incarcerated in jails makes management difficult

CONSEQUENCES OF HIGH RATE OF INCARCERATION Positive consequences include a correlation with a drop in the crime rate Negative consequences include social consequences for families and communities, and disenfranchisement of inmates who lose their right to vote