The CJS: corrections Flashcards
What components make up the CJS?
- police
- courts
- prisons
- probation
- parole
What components make up corrections, where is it located in the funnel of crime?
components = prisons and parole
bottom of the funnel
Why can corrections be thought of as a philosophy?
the rationale behind why we put people in prison or out in the community
Describe corrections as a subsystem of the CJS, provide some examples.
- range of programs and services delivered in the community setting (probation, conditional sentences, and conditional release)
- range of programs and services delivered in the institutional setting (anger management, addiction and work programs)
Describe what probation, conditional sentences, and conditional release is/are?
probation = serving time in the community with conditions
conditional sentence = applies to offences where the prison sentence is < 2 years, put on house arrest, if you screw up –> jail
conditional release = go onto parole if you’ve shown good behaviour in jail with conditions
What are the legislative frameworks of corrections in canada?
- charter of rights and freedoms
- constitution act
- criminal code
- corrections and conditional release acts
- provincial legislation
- international agreements and conventions
What is the two year rule? what are the criticisms of this?
rule = if the sentence is…<2 years: provincial prison; >= 2 years: federal prison
criticisms:
- 2 years is an arbitrary number
- because there are two systems, there’s a lot of duplication of guards, prisons, etc., –> possible waste of resources
What are the federal systems of corrections, what does each one do?
- national parole board –> decides if a person should get a conditional release and what their conditions will be
- office of the correctional investigator –> parolees can raise concerns to them, and they put out an annual report every year
- correctional services of canada –> manage institutions, supervise parolees, supervise those out of statutory release
What is statutory release?
if a person has completed 2/3 of their sentence and are not deemed a threat to the community, they are released under supervision
Describe the different types of federal pentitentaries
- minimum security: not high risk folks, no fences, more freedom of movement, kind of like a residence
- medium security: higher risk folks, fences, surveillance cameras
- maximum security: high risk folks, multiple fences, inmate movement is next to nothing, metal detectors
- supermax (special handling units): within max security prisons or there are a few dedicated prisons, inmates are in protective custody because they are deemed very dangerous
What correctional services does the Alberta Solicitor General provide?
- youth corrections
- offenders in remand
- probation
- temporary lock up
What are the two types of security in prisons? Describe each
- static: physical characteristics and technology (e.g. fences, heavy doors, surveillance cameras, bars)
- dynamic: more fluid; relationships and personal elements (e.g. relationships between officers and offenders can allow the offender to bring up their concerns)
Describe how prison architecture has changed in Canada along with the values
Auburn model (allows inmates to interact but not talk to each other; value on penance and reflecting) –> emphasis on privacy (e.g. individual cells to allow reflection) –> attempt to normalize the institutional setting and increase interaction (gyms, classrooms, faith areas; value of rehab and penance so you’re prepared for the outside world) –> split in models of corrections (rehab vs warehousing - emphasis on punishment and retribution)
Describe some characteristics of the modern prison?
- prisons are asked to pursue conflicting goals (e.g. rehab vs punishment)
- prisons are political and public institutions (removed from mainstream society, but ultimately tied to public perception and political decisions, such as funding)
- prisons are total institutions
What are total institutions?
- all aspects of life conducted in the same place, under the same single authority
- routines, treated alike, same regimen
- tightly scheduled and controlled by an administrative hierarchy
