What Have I Learned Question Paper
What Have I Learned Question
CJA/324
July 15, 2011
What Have I Learned Questions 1. Would you rather spend 1 year in prison or receive 5 years of probation with very severe restrictions? Could you envision a probationary sentence that was more severe than a custodial sentence? Explain your answer. I would never want to be confined in a jail or prison at all. If I had to choose I would take the 5 year probation sentence and stay out of trouble, however many criminals look at the situation differently. Some people think that receiving probation means that you have gotten away with the crime and thus they ignore all directives given by the probation officers. Probation officers have a hard time tracking these individuals and eventually they end up back in jail. I cannot envision a probationary sentence more severe than a custodial sentence but if there is one, the government needs to utilize it. 2. What length of jail time might deter a bank robber: 1 year or 5 years? Does it depend on the amount of money an individual might receive from stolen items? Why? I believe a bank robbery is a bank robbery, no matter how much money the robber receives. All bank robbers want the maximum amount of …show more content…
money possible when robbing a bank. I feel as though the minimum sentence for this crime should be a mandatory 5 years and that the robber is made to do the entire sentence. To give a robber 5 years and have them only do 2 years of the sentence is not a deterrence, to give them 5 years and make them serve 5 years should help. 3.
If you knew for certain that prison did not deter, might you still be in favor of its use? Explain why? I would not be in favor of prison if I thought it did not deter, however I do believe that prison is a deterrence for many individuals. People in the world today see so much going on around them every day in their communities, especially children and adolescent teens. Many people get caught up in their surroundings and thus lose sight of what is right and what is wrong. Some people need a place to get away and have time to think of their consequences and being detained will give one plenty of time to think. Once a person is in his or her right mind and realizes jail or prison is no place they want to be, it will deter them from committing other
crimes. 4. If you could accurately predict future criminals, would you be willing to incapacitate them before they commit a crime to protect society? Explain your answer. If I could accurately predict future criminals, I would suggest that they seek the appropriate help before committing a crime. I do not feel as though it would be fair to incapacitate a person that has not done anything wrong. I believe in fair treatment for all individuals. 5. What if you were told that you would commit a crime unless incapacitated? Would you surrender willingly to be confined? Explain your answer. At this point I don’t believe that I would ever surrender willingly to be confined at all. Confinement is not for all individuals and I personally do not think it is for me. I would be open to receiving some type of observation and maybe assigned to some treatment program, but never confinement. 6. Do you agree with the trickledown theory of ethical management in corrections that finds that guards treat inmates in relatively the same capacity as management treats the guards? Why or why not? I do believe in the trickledown theory of ethical management because employees often follow the lead of management. If the management is doing a good job in representing their position then so will the employees, however if management does not engage with the guards or take concern in how they do their job then the entire facility is in trouble. Management should always be clear, concise, fair and firm when dealing with employees and the job will get done more effectively.
CJA/324
July 15, 2011
What Have I Learned Questions 1. Would you rather spend 1 year in prison or receive 5 years of probation with very severe restrictions? Could you envision a probationary sentence that was more severe than a custodial sentence? Explain your answer. I would never want to be confined in a jail or prison at all. If I had to choose I would take the 5 year probation sentence and stay out of trouble, however many criminals look at the situation differently. Some people think that receiving probation means that you have gotten away with the crime and thus they ignore all directives given by the probation officers. Probation officers have a hard time tracking these individuals and eventually they end up back in jail. I cannot envision a probationary sentence more severe than a custodial sentence but if there is one, the government needs to utilize it. 2. What length of jail time might deter a bank robber: 1 year or 5 years? Does it depend on the amount of money an individual might receive from stolen items? Why? I believe a bank robbery is a bank robbery, no matter how much money the robber receives. All bank robbers want the maximum amount of …show more content…
money possible when robbing a bank. I feel as though the minimum sentence for this crime should be a mandatory 5 years and that the robber is made to do the entire sentence. To give a robber 5 years and have them only do 2 years of the sentence is not a deterrence, to give them 5 years and make them serve 5 years should help. 3.
If you knew for certain that prison did not deter, might you still be in favor of its use? Explain why? I would not be in favor of prison if I thought it did not deter, however I do believe that prison is a deterrence for many individuals. People in the world today see so much going on around them every day in their communities, especially children and adolescent teens. Many people get caught up in their surroundings and thus lose sight of what is right and what is wrong. Some people need a place to get away and have time to think of their consequences and being detained will give one plenty of time to think. Once a person is in his or her right mind and realizes jail or prison is no place they want to be, it will deter them from committing other
crimes. 4. If you could accurately predict future criminals, would you be willing to incapacitate them before they commit a crime to protect society? Explain your answer. If I could accurately predict future criminals, I would suggest that they seek the appropriate help before committing a crime. I do not feel as though it would be fair to incapacitate a person that has not done anything wrong. I believe in fair treatment for all individuals. 5. What if you were told that you would commit a crime unless incapacitated? Would you surrender willingly to be confined? Explain your answer. At this point I don’t believe that I would ever surrender willingly to be confined at all. Confinement is not for all individuals and I personally do not think it is for me. I would be open to receiving some type of observation and maybe assigned to some treatment program, but never confinement. 6. Do you agree with the trickledown theory of ethical management in corrections that finds that guards treat inmates in relatively the same capacity as management treats the guards? Why or why not? I do believe in the trickledown theory of ethical management because employees often follow the lead of management. If the management is doing a good job in representing their position then so will the employees, however if management does not engage with the guards or take concern in how they do their job then the entire facility is in trouble. Management should always be clear, concise, fair and firm when dealing with employees and the job will get done more effectively.