.
Current Issues in Corrections
Course
Correctional
Services
Unit VIII
Current and
Future Issues
of Corrections
Essential
Question
What current
issues are
correctional
administrators
facing in
today’s
society?
Rationale
The field of corrections is constantly changing. To be effective, correctional
officers must be aware of the current issues that corrections administrators
face on a daily basis.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Discuss the causes of increases and decreases in prison and jail
populations
2. Explore the role that politics plays in setting correctional policies
3.Identify the impact of budgets on correctional policy
4. Examine the need for staff diversity in the correctional institution
5. Analyze the effectiveness of treatment programs
6. Research the impact of technology on corrections
Engage
Do an Internet search for the following video: the cost of a nation of
incarceration. Show the video to the class. Use the video for a class
discussion about the current rates of incarceration and the many
alternatives to incarceration that are available. Use the Discussion Rubric
for assessment.
TEKS
§130.297(c)
(1)(A)
(6)(A–C)(D)(H) Key Points
(7)(A)(B)(C)
I. Current Issues in Corrections
A. Fluctuations in prison and jail populations
Prior
1. For years there was a significant increase in the prison and jail
Student
populations
Learning
2. However, from 2009 to 2010, both jails and prisons had a decline
None
in their populations (Seiter, 2013)
3. From 2000 to 2010 there was an increase in the number of
Estimated
inmates housed in private prisons
Time
4. Reasons for the slowdown in the corrections population:
2 hours
a) It is natural that after a significant period of growth, with large
numbers of incarcerations, that there would be a decrease in
admissions and population
b) Political agendas are targeting corrections budgets
(1) Penalties are being lessened because of the need to
balance the budget
(2) The effectiveness of tougher penalties has been
questioned
c) There was previously an era of lengthening sentences, but
now, because of the need to balance budgets, sentences are
becoming less stringent
d) “Many states have increased their use of alternatives to
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incarceration, and these efforts are finally having some impact.”
(Seiter, 2013)
e) The cost to incarcerate individuals continues to rise, and public
safety does not seem to be increasing with the larger number
of incarcerations
f) Alternatives to incarcerations, such as probation, have proven
to be more cost effective when offenders are properly classified
according to their risk
g) The cost of building and maintaining correctional facilities can
be taxing on a government’s budget. Since the economy
slowed in 2008, the government’s budget continues to be a
challenge
5. With indeterminate sentencing, offenders went before the parole
board when they had served the minimum sentence and many
were released on their first appearance
6. “Between 1990 and 2005, more than 500 prisons were built
across the country, increasing the number of facilities nationwide
by 42 percent.” (Clear, 2013)
a) Recent research suggests that if you build more prison beds, it
causes judges to assess prison time instead of probation
b) William Spelman analyzed prison populations and found that
state spending on new prison construction greatly predicted
population increases (Clear, 2013)
7. Minorities are subjected to the criminal justice system at much
higher rates than whites (Clear, 2013)
a) Disparity – “the unequal treatment of one group by the criminal
justice system, compared with the treatment accorded other
groups” (Clear, 2013)
B. Politics and policy
1. Politicians rarely make decisions based on research, cost
analysis, or the weighing of alternatives
a) Most often they make decisions based on the public’s
perception of the “right thing to do” (Seiter, 2013) in order to get
themselves (re)elected
2. Changes in sentencing and incarceration policies have more
impact on inmate population than anything else
a) Due to changes in policy there was an 88 percent increase in
population growth between 1980 and 1996
b) “Only 12 percent of the growth was the result of changes in the
crime rate or the makeup of criminal offenders” (Seiter, 2013)
3. Politicians do not want to be known for being soft on crime
a) Ronald Reagan implemented a policy with tougher penalties for
federal drug offenders, causing the federal prison population to
increase
b) George Bush successfully used the public’s fear of crime to
defeat his opponent in the 1988 presidential campaign
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4. When correctional spending increases, budgeting for other
services, including the services that reduce crime (i.e. higher
education, child care, mental health, and medical services),
decreases
5. Sentencing guidelines and set sentencing policies remove the
discretion of judges and correctional professionals
a) This “one-size-fits-all” sentencing reduces the chance for
successful rehabilitation (Seiter, 2013)
6. Research has shown that the public favors addressing the root
cause of crime rather than creating tougher sentences (Seiter,
2013) (i.e. The public wants to see rehabilitation through
education and job training)
7. Polls also suggest that the war on drugs has left our prisons full
a) However, most people see drug addiction as a medical
problem instead of a criminal problem
b) Most people favor counseling and treatment over incarceration
(Seiter, 2013)
C. The impact of budgets on correctional policy
1. Budget shortfalls and the need to reduce spending are forcing
policies to focus on cheaper alternatives to incarceration (i.e.
community supervision)
a) “A good example is Texas, which avoided spending an
estimated $523 million in more prison beds by expanding drug
treatment and diversion beds, many of them in secure facilities”
(Seiter, 2013)
b) “Texas also changed parole practices and expanded drug
courts” (Seiter, 2013)
2. Changing how parole and probation violations are processed is
also aimed at reducing spending
a) Parole violations account for a large number of incarcerated
inmates
b) Some violators are returned to prison for technical violations
only
c) Those violations are now being handled by community
sanctions such as electronic monitoring, community service,
and day reporting centers
3. States are also focusing on releasing and reducing recidivism by
offering good-time credit and transitional programs to offenders
4. Prison policy is directed mostly by the budget
a) Earned time credit is being pushed as a reform measure to
reduce budget restraints
b) Offenders in 21 states are now being granted time off of their
sentences if they complete required coursework
c) 18 states are giving credit for work assignments
d) 14 states assign credit for rehabilitation programs
e) 13 states are awarding credit for meritorious services (Clear,
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2013)
D. Staff Diversity
1. Staff diversity − “the representation of a wide variety (in gender,
race, and ethnicity) of people working for a correctional agency”
(Seiter, 2013)
2. Staff diversity is important for several reasons:
a) Women bring a calming effect into the men’s prison
environment and double the workforce pool
b) Diversity aids in correctional management because large
numbers of the incarcerated population are minorities
c) Corrections personnel learn from each other, which provides
better supervision of the inmates
3. There has been a tremendous shift in the cultural representation
of the prison population
a) Now there is a disproportionately large Black and Hispanic
population
4. Correctional staff must be representative of the inmate population
in order to avoid incidents such as the Attica Prison Riot of 1971
a) The Attica Prison Riot of 1971 occurred when white staff
supervised predominately black and Hispanic inmates. This
was partly due to cultural and racial differences that led to
hostility, mistrust, and a lack of communication that continued
to escalate
E. Effectiveness of treatment programs
1. The public support for treatment programs comes with an
expectation that they will reduce recidivism
2. There has been no significant findings that these programs
reduce recidivism
a) This led to a move from indeterminate to determinate
sentencing with an emphasis on deterrence and incapacitation
(Seiter, 485)
3. Recidivism − “commission of any new crime during the period of
community supervision and a return to prison” (Seiter, 2013)
F. Impact of technology on corrections
1. Some institutions are starting to use electronic messaging (email)
to reduce the cost of hiring mailroom staff
a) Family members can pay a fee and then send a letter through
email to the offender, which is then printed and delivered
b) Software programs automatically search for key words, which
improves security and reduces staff time
c) The system pays for itself through the fees charged
d) Inmates can access email through centrally located kiosks that
are connected to secure servers and have no access to the
Internet
2. Drug detection devices are now used to detect small amounts of
drugs that are placed on envelopes
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3. Technology is available that detects cell phone signals within
prisons in order to help locate and confiscate the cell phones, but
the technology is expensive
4. The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) helps community
supervision officers monitor their high risk offenders
5. Some agencies use advanced body armor to protect their officers
6. The United States Department of Defense has developed the
Staff Alarm and Inmate Tracking System (SAINT), which allows
officers to activate an alarm that then
a) Pin points an inmate’s location on the system and
b) Activates the cameras in that vicinity
Activities
1. Correctional Policy Activity. Divide the class into groups. Have them work
together to create at least four reform policies to ease the growing prison
population in the local area. Give them the following suggestions:
 Analyze the need to: reduce the length of sentences; restrict the
use of prison beds for parole violators; and increase the use of
community resources for probation violators
 Consider the punishment alternatives for victimless crimes
 Consider reducing probation and parole sentences, parole and
probation revocation rates, and utilization of intermediate
sanctions
 Research the current policies in your area (if needed) before
suggesting reforms
When finished have the groups present their proposals to the class. Use
the Group Evaluation Rubric, the Peer Evaluation Rubric, the
Presentation Rubric and the Research Rubric for assessment.
Assessments
Current Issues in Corrections Quiz and Key
Discussion Rubric
Group Evaluation Rubric
Peer Evaluation Rubric
Presentation Rubric
Research Rubric
Writing Rubric
Materials
Current Issues in Corrections computer-based presentation
Computers with Internet Access
Optional: research materials (textbooks) and computer-based presentation
software
Resources
Seiter, Richard P. Corrections: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Boston:
5
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Pearson, 2013.
Clear, Todd R., George F. Cole and Michael D. Reisig. American
Corrections. Tenth Edition. United States. Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning, 2013.
Do an Internet search for the following: the cost of a nation of incarceration
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, have the students research the current issues in
corrections such as budget, staffing, legislative changes, and policies. This
can either be done individually or in groups. Use the Research Rubric for
assessment.
For enrichment, divide the students into teams. Then have the teams create
new legislation that would help to decrease the prison population and to
ease the overstressed correctional budgets. The teams may focus on nonviolent offenders, drug offenses, or any other type of crime they feel would
significantly impact the prison population. Use the Group Evaluation Rubric
and the Writing Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.297. Correctional Services (One to Two Credits).
(1)
The student researches the history of correctional services.
The student is expected to:
(A)
examine the history of corrections in the United States
and Texas;
(6)
The student recognizes constitutional laws and laws of
correctional systems. The student is expected to:
(A)
apply constitutional laws and the laws of arrest to
execute official correctional service duties while
respecting citizen rights;
(B)
explore the impact of the United States legal system on
the correctional system;
(C)
differentiate between the civil and criminal justice
systems and explain how change impacts correctional
services;
(H)
state the conditions under which citizens and noncitizens of the United States may be interrogated in the
correctional environment.
(7)
The student models behaviors during interactions with
prisoners that demonstrate concern for individuals with
disabilities. The student is expected to:
(A)
apply the appropriate procedures for use with
individuals who have mental disorders, physical
disabilities, communication disorders, and atypical
behaviors;
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(B)
(C)
execute protocols to provide appropriate assistance to
people with disabilities and impairments; and
analyze the impact of the Americans with Disabilities
Act on inmates and correctional staff.
College and Career Readiness Standards
English Language Arts Standards
III. Speaking
A. Understand the elements of communication both in informal group
discussions and formal presentations (e.g., accuracy, relevance,
rhetorical features, organization of information).
1. Understand how style and content of spoken language varies in
different contexts and influences the listener’s understanding.
B. Develop effective speaking styles for both group and one-on-one
situations.
2. Participate actively and effectively in group discussions.
3. Plan and deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey
clear and distinct perspectives and demonstrate solid reasoning.
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Name________________________________ Date__________________________
Current Issues in Corrections Quiz
1. _____Since 2010 the prison and jail populations have decreased. Which of the following
is NOT a reason for this decline?
A. It is only natural for populations to decrease after a period of growth
B. Penalties are being lessened because of a need to balance budgets
C. States are creating harsher sentences
D. States are increasing the use of community sanctions
2. _____What does research suggest about the public policy on incarceration?
A. They favor treating the root cause of crime
B. They favor incarcerating all drug offenders
C. They favor tougher sentences
D. They favor giving judges more discretion
3. _____Texas decreased their budget by $523 million dollars by doing which of the
following?
A. Building more prisons
B. Increasing sentences for drug offenders
C. Returning parole violators to prison for technical violations
D. Expanding drug treatment and diversion beds
4. _____Many agencies are finding creative ways to reduce their budgets. Which of the
following has NOT contributed to the reduction of spending?
A. Handling parole violators through use of community sanctions
B. Increasing sentences for drug offenders
C. Diverting offenders to rehabilitation centers
D. Allowing offenders to earn good time credit toward early release
5. _____Staff diversity is important for all of the following reasons, except which of the
following?
A. Women bring a calming effect to a men’s prison environment
B. Diversity aids in correctional management since many offenders are minorities
C. Diversity causes segregation among the prison population
D. Diversity in staff helps create a positive representation among inmates
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6. _____Which of the following would NOT be a form of recidivism?
A. Committing a burglary while on parole
B. Completing a sentence and being returned to prison for a new crime
C. Committing a robbery while on community supervision
D. Committing a technical violation while on probation
7. _____Which of the following is NOT an example of the use of technology in the
correctional environment?
A. Use of electronic messaging to allow inmates to send and receive mail without
mailroom staffing
B. Use of officers to conduct shake downs on a regular basis to find contraband
C. Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking to monitor high risk
offenders on community supervision
D. Use of drug detection devices to detect small amounts of drugs on inmate mail
8. _____Budget shortfalls and the need to reduce spending are forcing policy-makers to
focus on which of the following?
A. Cheaper alternatives to incarceration, such as community supervision
B. Building more prison beds
C. Creating tougher sentencing laws
D. Increasing the use of technology
9. _____Which of the following areas is a current issue in corrections?
A. Correctional policy’s impact on budget
B. Staff Diversity
C. The impact of technology on corrections
D. All of the above
10. _____Which of the following is NOT a method to reduce correctional spending through
community sanctions?
A. Electronic monitoring
B. Good time credits
C. Prison drug treatment programs
D. Community service and day reporting centers
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Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Current Issues in Corrections Quiz Key
1. C
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. B
8. A
9. D
10. C
10
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name_______________________________
Date________________
Group Evaluation
Group 1
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 2
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
8
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
9
Yes
10
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
11
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Group 3
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
Yes
10
8
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 4
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
Yes
10
8
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
12
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Group 5
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
Yes
10
8
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
Group 6
Did the group take the assignment seriously?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Yes
10
Could you tell what the group was trying to portray?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Yes
10
Was the group portrayal creative?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
Yes
10
8
9
Yes
10
7
Did the group include the correct elements?
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Would you like to see this group demonstrate its talent for you in the future?
No
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Score_______
13
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Your Name___________________________________ Your Group Number_______
Peer Evaluation
1) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
2) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
14
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
3) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
4) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
15
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
5) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
6) Name of Student________________________________________
At what level of seriousness did they take this activity?
Not Very Serious
Very Serious
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to the brainstorming process?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Did they make a significant contribution to preparing for the activity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
What was the level of their participation in the activity(s)?
None
A Lot
0
1
2
3
4
Would you want to work with this person in a group again based on
their level of productivity?
No
Yes
0
1
2
3
4
Total Score_______
16
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
17
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Presentation Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Topic/Content
 Topic discussed completely and in-depth
 Includes properly cited sources (if used)
Creativity/Neatness
 Integrates a variety of multimedia effects to
create a professional presentation (transition
and graphics) or appropriate visual aid used
 Title slide, table of contents, bibliography are
included, using acceptable format
Mechanics
 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization are correct
 Image and font size are legible to the entire
audience
Oral Presentation
 Communicates with enthusiasm and eye
contact
 Voice delivery and projection are dynamic
and audible
Audience Interaction
 Presentation holds audience’s attention and
relates a clear message
 Clearly and effectively communicates the
content throughout the presentation
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
18
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
19
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Writing Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The writing has all required parts from
introduction to conclusion in smooth
transition.
The writing is interesting, supportive,
and complete.
The writing demonstrates that the
writer comprehends the writing
process.
Accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
The content of paragraphs
emphasizes appropriate points.
The writer shows an understanding of
sentence structure, paragraphing, and
punctuation.
All sources and references are clearly
and accurately documented.
Total Points (28 pts.)
Comments:
20
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