Exam 1: Understanding Corrections: Where Are We

Community justice began with a focus on what?

One impact of the war on drugs has been a disproportionate increase in the incarceration of African Americans.

Historically, retribution can be traced back to the ancient law of lex talionis (law of talion) or a(n) __________.

Cost concerns constitute an important issue in corrections. How much should society spend on its prisons?

Beccaria claimed that the ______ of punishment was the most important and the _______ of the punishment was least important.

Ethics Focus: Should We "Hurt" or "Help" Offenders? Offenders are tried and convicted of all types of crimes, ranging from passing bad checks and theft of property to planning and carrying out the murder of another person. As human beings we often feel that those criminals who physically harm an innocent victim should themselves experience similar pain. While our laws, except in capital cases, do not support an "eye for an eye" justice, human desire to punish those who commit acts of violence against us runs deep throughout human history. There are other persons who believe we should attempt to understand why criminals, even violent ones, act the way they do and try to correct their behavior. These persons would be more supportive of encouraging and helping offenders to change into law-abiding, productive citizens. They would be more supportive of rehabilitation than punishment. -Which of these approaches do you feel is most appropriate?

Beccaria argued that the "punishment should fit the crime", meaning what?

Since the writings of Beccaria in the eighteenth century, what has been considered an essential justification for sanctioning and is the philosophical foundation of the criminal justice system?

Eliminating frills from prison has been one recent trend in corrections. What constitutes a frill? List what you consider to be necessities versus frills in prison life. How do you distinguish between the two categories? What would your prison look like? (Note: We will return to this issue in Chapter 7 on prison life.)

The Aos, Miller, and Drake (2006) study indicated that cognitive-behavioral therapy, drug treatment programs, adult basic education, and early childhood intervention programs are ineffective strategies for reducing recidivism.

A second major trend in corrections is a demand for ____________ of criminals.

Many state policymakers are calling for the adoption of ________ practices.

Although corrections is currently a major growth industry in our country, imprisonment rates are decreasing.

What percentage of offenders are supervised by the community either by probation or parole?

Which president asked Congress for 100,000 police officers in 1994 and for more in his 1999 State of the Union Addresses?

Ethics Focus: Should We "Hurt" or "Help" Offenders? Offenders are tried and convicted of all types of crimes, ranging from passing bad checks and theft of property to planning and carrying out the murder of another person. As human beings we often feel that those criminals who physically harm an innocent victim should themselves experience similar pain. While our laws, except in capital cases, do not support an "eye for an eye" justice, human desire to punish those who commit acts of violence against us runs deep throughout human history. There are other persons who believe we should attempt to understand why criminals, even violent ones, act the way they do and try to correct their behavior. These persons would be more supportive of encouraging and helping offenders to change into law-abiding, productive citizens. They would be more supportive of rehabilitation than punishment. -Why do you feel your choice is more effective in correcting offenders?

The federal prison system has outlawed weightlifting equipment in new federal prisons.

Ethics Focus: Should We "Hurt" or "Help" Offenders? Offenders are tried and convicted of all types of crimes, ranging from passing bad checks and theft of property to planning and carrying out the murder of another person. As human beings we often feel that those criminals who physically harm an innocent victim should themselves experience similar pain. While our laws, except in capital cases, do not support an "eye for an eye" justice, human desire to punish those who commit acts of violence against us runs deep throughout human history. There are other persons who believe we should attempt to understand why criminals, even violent ones, act the way they do and try to correct their behavior. These persons would be more supportive of encouraging and helping offenders to change into law-abiding, productive citizens. They would be more supportive of rehabilitation than punishment. -What might be a just balance between punishing and helping offenders to change?

Justice used to be more of a ________ task and responsibility.

What are the traditional goals of corrections? Which is the most important? Which is the least important? Is there another goal that should be mentioned?