Defining the Problem
Goals of Imprisonment
I think prison should not be a place where people simply “do time” for their sentences; it should be more focused on rehabilitation. If prisoners just serve the appointed time, most likely, they will commit the crime again (Clear et al., 2016). I think the most effective prison rehabilitation programs are related to prisoners receiving education and mastering a new profession in a correctional institution. This is due to the fact that vocational training will act as a factor of re-socialization. When providing a profession in demand on the labor market after release, the likelihood of relapse associated with lack of livelihood decreases.
Issues Involved in Prison Administration
The main problems in prison administration are related to the daily routine of prisoners and the prevention of violence. Prison life typically operates as a combination of occupational therapy, time for sports, education, nutrition and sleep. The tasks of the administration include drawing up a balanced daily routine, as well as preventing violence at any of its stages. Violence typically occurs in prisons because of punishment or prevention of discipline violations, personal hostility, or obtaining confessions and information about offenses inside the prison.
There is a correlation between the types of programs offered and violence in prison. This is due to the fact that in the presence of cultural, educational and creative programs, the level of violence decreases, and in the absence of them, it increases. By avoiding gaps in the daily schedule, it is possible to constantly keep prisoners under the supervision and not leave them the opportunity to use violence against each other. In the absence of special programs, prisoners are forced to spend more time together, communicating with each other, which leads to conflicts. Prison models affect prison life because their implementation prepares prisoners for a future life of freedom. Their presence allows getting an education and new professional skills (Clear et al., 2016). Prisons with educational prison models have a more comfortable psychological environment. When using models that do not include art and occupational therapy, prisoners are more likely to show violence to each other.
Gathering Evidence
At the moment the prison population in my state is currently on the decline. The introduction of new rehabilitation programs in California may be contributing to the trends I see. Most likely, the introduction of new initiatives on the diversity of prison life has acted as a prevention of recidivism. It is for this reason that there are fewer prisoners –having passed rehabilitation programs, they no longer have the need to seek funds illegally.
There are different types of rehabilitation programs offered. Among them is psychological rehabilitation, which is considered psychological support for the restructuring of the convict’s personality during the execution of punishment. It includes psycho correction, psychological support and psychotherapy in crisis and critical situations (Clear et al., 2016). Social rehabilitation is also provided, which is associated with the restoration of former convicts in status and legal capacity; it employs their restoration as social subjects.
It is also possible to record a decrease in violence in the colonies associated with various programs for prisoners. Due to the busy program of the day, which includes occupational therapy, work with a psychologist, sports and additional education, the level of aggression among prisoners decreased. They are not only constantly under supervision but also less in conditions of psychological stress, which usually causes violence.
Moral Considerations & Consequences
The potential consequences of a steadily increasing prison population are quite serious both for the state and for prisoners. This problem is complex, as it affects some important issues and problems. Among them is a reduction in the standards of accommodation of prisoners and the provision of appropriate medical care and rehabilitation services to them. In addition, the growing need to increase the funding of correctional institutions is becoming a problem. The consequences of having a model that is more punitive in nature are a large number of recidivists and regular outbreaks of violence among prisoners. Correcting persons in custody should be to maintain their health and self-esteem (Clear et al., 2016). With the punitive model, this rule is violated, which leads to a small chance of leading an independent life respecting the law after release.
The advantages of having a more rehabilitative prison model are to facilitate the social adaptation of the prisoner after release. When applying a rehabilitation-based model, a prison inmate has the skills to maintain minimal financial well-being outside of a correctional facility. If the punitive model is not applied to them, and, on the contrary, they are integrated into society, the probability of re-committing a crime decreases. The best solution for prison is the use of a rehabilitation model based on the resocialization of the individual. Illegality and criminality arise largely due to the resolution of social ties and criminal relationships. The resolution of social ties in isolation makes it possible to reintegrate the convict into society and avoid relapses, which explains the effectiveness of this model.
Reference
Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., Petrosino, C., & Cole, G. F. (2016). American corrections in brief. Chicago, IL: Cengage Learning.