Assignment:
Discussion 1
Introduction
Consider the following scenario from your textbook:
Some say the incident at Jenkins Correctional Facility was long overdue. Officers and inmates alike confirm that the disturbance in the institutional dining room began yesterday at 11:45 a.m., when one inmate threw his food tray at a staff member and yelled "You can eat this shit if you want, but I'm damn sick of it." Other inmates reacted to this aggressive behavior by throwing food, punches, and insults at various staff members who were supervising the area. The mini riot lasted approximately 20 minutes and resulted in eight injuries to staff and convicts. Staff retreated from the dining room and locked the building, but the inmates continued to destroy furniture and equipment that is critical to the prison's operation. The riot was the second serious incident at the facility in many years and both involved food related issues.
A prison spokesperson, Sandy Fellman, released a short statement saying that the incident was under investigation. The press release stated "approximately 30-50 offenders created a disturbance in the institution's food service area yesterday before noon. Security responded to the scene and secured the area within thirty minutes of the incident. Six staff members received minor bruises, and two inmates received minor lacerations from flying objects. Investigators are interviewing all inmates and personnel on the scene to determine the cause of the incident."
Inmate Da'Will Jackson said in a phone interview this morning that everyone was just fed up with the terrible food, the same meals over and over, poor quality food, and filthy conditions in the dining area. One correctional officer, unnamed because he spoke off the record, agreed that the food was an ongoing bone of contention at the prison and that staff members have been commenting on the rise in tension among the inmates.
Initial Post Instructions
For your initial post, analyze the scenario and evaluate the following. Include a synthesis of academic concepts.
? Evaluate why support services like food and mail are so important in a correctional facility.
? How does tension build inside a jail or prison? If anger or resentment is noticed, what should a staff member do with this information?
? Is it possible to differentiate between normal institution grumbling and a serious problem with how inmates are treated? Describe why or why not.
Discussion 2
Introduction
Consider the following ideas from our textbook:
Many would argue that correctional programs are the "meat and potatoes" of the task assigned to public servants who work in prisons and jails in America. The concept of reforming criminals while they are confined dates to the early history of corrections in America. Future arrest records of released inmates are tracked to measure the success of the efforts to prevent offenders from committing future crimes once they have been released from confinement. These recidivism statistics become important to legislative policy makers, practitioners, and the public.
Initial Post Instructions
For your initial post, analyze the scenario and evaluate the following. Include a synthesis of academic concepts.
? If 40% of released inmates return to prison, 60% are successful. Is this success? Why or why not?
? Locate a recidivism study and report on the findings. Do they differ from the 40/60 split above? If so, why? (Be sure to include the link to the study you report on.)
? In today's tight fiscal environment, should precious financial resources be expended on institutional programs? If so, what types of programs? If not, what programs would you not fund and why?
? How would you defend the fact that 40% of released inmates return to prison? Is this a statistic for which correctional authorities should bear responsibility?