1. In the Active Learning Discussion area, (this is a online class) discuss your thoughts on the information that has been posted by your professor and discuss its relevance and implications to the field of Criminal Justice. Students’ remarks can be opinion, but they must be based on their experience, research, and/or prior learning. Use this exercise to converse with fellow colleagues about issues that are important to the field of Criminal Justice. Of particular interest is a dialogue of opinions, thoughts, and comments. Be sure to discuss both sides of the issue as noted in the actual question posting. 2. Your posting must be no less than 200 words 3. Module 1 Discussion
Based on your experience, do you think sentencing guidelines and mandatory sentencing work as a deterrent to crime? ..
Read Chapters 1-4
4. Muraskin, R. (2010). Key correctional issues (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
ISBN: 978-0-13-515426-7
CHAPTERS 1-4 ARE OVERVIEWS, ONLY IF YOU NEED TO USE.
Chapter 1
Corrections is an intricate system fragmented by many programs, agencies, and laws that
govern both on the federal and local levels and by differing philosophies as to what the goals of
corrections are. Many of the current facilities are over crowded. The question always being
asked of the correctional system is, why do we have large numbers of individuals who
recidivate? It should also be noted that we imprison inmates for a longer period of time than any
other western civilization. We are also the only western civilization that uses the death penalty.
Later during the course, we will examine the reason and key issues for its use.
We know that we have over 2.3 million Americans incarcerated. Over half of the federal
prisoners are incarcerated for drug offenses. Incarceration punishes offenders, and the type of
crime determines the length of the punishment. Some would say that our correctional system is
in shambles. Inmates are stereotyped.
Traditionally, the general public has little understanding of what really goes on inside a
correctional facility. Those who do “know” or think they “know” the correctional institutions will
tell you that these facilities are not for all inmates. There are other programs such as probation,
alternatives to sentencing, parole, and other community programs that would better fit the needs
of some of these inmates today. Another method other than incarceration is restorative justice.
This is where a proper settlement is negotiated, establishing a “sentence”without having to
incarcerate the individual.
Correctional officers are expected to work under varying conditions. This includes working with
an inmate population that has infectious diseases. It is believed that improving the health of the
correctional population is a concern of both those who work inside the correctional facilities and
the communities at large.
Correctional facilities have many challenges. They include overcrowding, lack of proper medical
care, and a lack of rehabilitative programs. This all leads to idleness and stress and greater
violence among the inmates. We do a good job of jailing adults but there are still questions
being asked about how we jail juveniles alongside adult offenders. Statistics also show that
black and Hispanic children are far more likely than whites to be prosecuted as adults. Our
prisons do not prepare inmates for the outside world. Prisoner rights are limited. Prisoner
access to the courts has become limited, which has been said to lead to harsher conditions of
confinement.
Adapted from Online Instructor’s Manual for Key Correctional Issues, 2nd ed.