Chapter 11 Of Corrections In America

In chapter 11 of Corrections in America, the author explains the organization and basic functions of state prisons. This chapter outlines the state prison system. The author also explains the classification and assignment process in state prisons, the impact that politics and government policy have on corrections, and the impact that budgets have on correctional facility. Most institutions are short on money and personnel, and their environments are isolated both physically and philosophically from the mainstream of life. The modern prison system is proceeding on an uncertain course because of its administration. Prisons are expected to punish people, but it is also supposed to reform. These institutions are expected to discipline rigorously at the same time that they teach self-reliance. In addition, they refuse a prisoner a voice in self-government, but they expect him or her to
become a thinking citizen. This is why correctional institutions are seen as both a blessing and a curse. However, most prisons have failed to keep prisoners away from the criminal life once they are out of prison. The correctional system in most states is not really systematized at all. Each type of state correctional system has actually developed as a matter of a historical accident.
The industrial prisons of the Northeastern United States were built early in the prison movement and were designed to take advantage of cheap labor. Then agricultural prisons were built in the southern states and prisoners were beginning to replace the pre- Civil War slaves. Other states set up work camps and lumber camps, whatever they considered more beneficial for offenders to do time. Corrections at the state level is generally organized into a separate department of corrections or a division within a larger state department. Most correctional administrators consider the separate department to be more effective, due to its flexibility and prestige to the correctional operation. The corrections process must include a system of multilevel programs and facilities in order to provide the spectrum of services required. The major correctional institutions contained in the state systems are super-maximum prisons, maximum/close prisons, medium security prisons, and minimum-security
prisons. Most state codes provide for the separation of prisoners. They must classified into different grades with promotion or demotion based on behavior, escape attempts, harm to self or others, their employment, and participation in education or other programs. In most systems, there is always the initial classification, which determines the institution to which an inmate will be assigned. Then the classification process continues. Individuals are assigned according to their needs or the institutional needs. State prisoners have very high needs. They are more physically and mentally ill and they have medical treatment. Politics impact the composition and the complexities of prison systems. The War on Drugs was one of the reasons on why there was a determination to isolate such criminals in prison. Throughout time, prison populations have significantly increase, which has changed the sentencing practices and it made their exiting slower. State funding of imprisonment facilities was actually insufficient to control. This led to the realization of state governments that if they constructed more facilities, it would be highly inappropriate. Even though there has been an increase in facilities, prison overcrowding has continued to be an issue. In fact, incarcerating offenders is an expensive process. Most state correctional systems are extremely underfunded. Budgets must sometimes be distributed to custody functions. Running a prison system where the budget is limited, stresses the custody functions which may lead to unacceptable recidivism rates.