Unit 6: Corrections

Question 1

Sentencing

Answer 1

• Legislators passing criminal codes determine sentencing options
• within codes, judges sentence convicted
• sentences vary from fines to death penalty
• using info compiled in presentence investigation judge makes final decision on:
  
  • Severity of crime
  • Mitigating or aggravating circumstances: aggravating : leader of group, person vulnerability, hate crime

Question 2

Deterrence (purpose of punishment)

Answer 2

should prevent the criminal from reoffending

• assumes crim. Weighs costs v benefits
  specific: deterred from committing in future

General: ppl witness pain by those who committed will desire to avoid that pain and will refrain from criminal activity

Question 3

Incapacitation (purpose of punish. )

Answer 3

Prevent from reoffending= remove permanently from society

• banishment
• imprisonment

-hurts long term, most likely to reoffend

Question 4

Retribution

Answer 4

-punished because deserve it

Just desserts
Get tough era of sentencing

• eye for eye
• revenge: satisfying needs of victim or family, retribution is society healing

Question 5

Rehabilitation

Answer 5

-crim. Can be cured of their probs and can be returned to society

• criminality as a disease to be cured
• not working given high recidivism rates
• focuses on juveniles

-effective in getting people on there feet

Question 6

Probation and parole

Answer 6

Probabtion: conditional release of a convicted offender into the community where he/she is allowed to remain as long as certain cond. are followed (judge)

Parole: early conditional release of a prisoner into community based on good behavior or progress towards rehab (made by parole board)

Question 7

Jails

Answer 7

• short term holding
• 12 months or less
• hold def. awaiting trial, indiv. Convicted of misdeamenors , people waiting for transfer to federal or state prisons

Question 8

Prisons

Answer 8

-trypically for convicted felons sentenced to a year+

Question 9

State and federal prisons

Answer 9

• federal prisons: correctional facilities housing inmates convicted of violating federal statutes or federal property
• run by BOP (federal beureau of prisons)
• lower recidivism rate than state
• San Quentin, Supermax

Question 10

Contemporary jails and prisons

Answer 10

• American prisons highest incarceration rate
• 5% world pop and 25% world prisoners
• 2.3 mil ppl held in crim justice system

Question 11

Why so high?

Answer 11

• heightened popularity of philosophies of incapitance and retribution
• emphasis on mandatory sentencing and longer prison terms, esp. for non violent and drug offenders
• prosecutors more likely to charge arrestees with a felony

Question 12

Rising cost of incarceration

Answer 12

• building prisons
• educations nd rehab programs
• restrictions on epsilon made goods and services
• recognition of constitutional rights of prisoners (lawsuits)

Question 13

Sex in prisons

Answer 13

• conjugal visits not allowed in federal prisons

- but allowed in some state prisons

Question 14

Sex assault in prisons and jails

Answer 14

• 4% prison inmates, 3% jail inmates experience 1 or more sex victimization by another inmate or staff
• measuring frequency of assault is difficult to do

Question 15

Health care in prisons

Answer 15

• 8th amendment are provided adequate medical care
• adequate = same level they would receive if not incarcerated
• important given aging prison population

Question 16

Women in prison

Answer 16

• most for nonviolent drug of property crime
• history of physical or sexual abuse is distinguishing factor from male inmates
• estimated 7/10 females have at least 1 minor child