Exam 13: Core Concepts of US Correctional Theory and Practice

In the colonial era of the American republic, correctional institutions were not widely used for punishment and jails were used for the purpose of:

A correctional agency may have impressive goals or ideas for innovative programs, but without money to fund them, those goals or programs will go unrealized. This demonstrates:

The solitary system was criticized because complete isolation could cause mental distress and because separate cells and yards for each individual inmate were expensive.

Parole is less common than it once was.

Talk About: -Importation hypothesis

A concern is that heavily prisonized inmates may come to reject positive social norms and then be at greater risk for reoffending.

Talk About: -Mortification

The mark system was successful in reducing recidivism, although it was later dismantled because it was perceived as being too soft on crime.

Talk About: -Split sentence

Finckenauer and Gavin describe a cycle they call the panacea phenomenon. The first step is:

Talk About: -Farm system

Talk About: -Mark system

Talk About: -Solitary system

In the American criminal justice system, correctional agencies are responsible for carrying out sentences imposed by the criminal courts.

Some may feel that the most appropriate decision making occurs when well-trained professionals are able to provide individualized attention to the specifics of each case. On the other hand, correctional case processing often relies on a bureaucratic approach in which discretion is minimized. This demonstrates:

It is uncommon for offenders to be re-classified multiple times during their sentences.

Talk About: -Prison

The control over the inmate is total in a total institution.

In response budget reductions, states have closed prisons, shifted priorities (such as reducing treatment programs, even those required by law), and even changed laws to reduce the number of persons who are sentenced to prison. This demonstrates:

All correctional institutions are operated by a county sheriff.