Download Part 10 - Grays Harbor College

The Line Officer
Function
CJUS 104
Part 10: Correctional Services
1.
The American Correctional System
- federal / state / local institutions
- prisons / jails / detention centers
A. Incarceration
- one of the main forms of punishment
- both felony / misdemeanor crimes
(1) Largest prison population
- 2012: 700 adults per 100,000 pop.
- 2,266,800 incarcerated
- 4,814,200 = parole / probation
(2) Juveniles
- 70,792 = juvenile detention
(3) Human Rights Watch – 2014
- tough on crime laws
- filled with non-violent offenders
B. State system
- prisons / jails
- bulk of corrections
- over 700 facilities to house adults
- some states only one state prison
- California / Texas / Illinois = ten or more
(1) Prisons
- maximum to minimum security
(a) Washington State
- 8 prisons = maximum / medium
- minimum security
- honor farms / half-way houses
(2) Jails
- city / county
- city jails = misdemeanor
- county jails = misdemeanor / felony
(a) Grays Harbor County
- Aberdeen / Hoquiam
- county jail = Montesano
(b) City contracts with other city / county
- hold prisoners for daily fee
C. Federal system
- five regions (CA / MO / TX / GA / PA
- 41 prisons / 12 community facilities
(1) Prison directors = regional directors
- report to director = Federal Bureau of
(2) Large prisons
- Atlanta / Leavenworth
- IMU = Marion, Illinois
(3) Metropolitan centers
- high rise prisons
- Burien, Washington
(4) Main problem with correctional centers
- become more antisocial
- exposure = more hardened criminals
- problem inmates = segregated
D. Levels of institutions
- maximum / medium / minimum
(1) Maximum
- reflect revenge / incapacitation
- high walls / armed guards / floodlights
- dangerous / long-term offenders
(a) 150 facilities = 44% adult offenders
- emphasis = custody
- rehabilitation = name only
(b) Washington = Walla Walla
(2) Medium
- more popular
(a) 250 facilities = 44% adult offenders
- replace maximum
- Washington = Shelton / Stafford Ck
(b) Can resemble maximum
- younger inmates / less dangerous
- more emphasis on rehabilitation
- more freedom of movement
(3) Minimum
- nonviolent / non-traditional offender
- dormitory style / private rooms
- 12% of adult population
(a) No armed guards
- counselors
(b) Allow work / education
- home furlough / visitation trailor
(c) Community based
- honor camp / work camp
- half-way house
E. Jails
- most important part
- sheet number of inmates
- 3,300 in USA = 275,000 inmates
- 50% = awaiting trial
(1) First contact = justice system
- difficult = reform measures
- treatment / rehabilitation
(2) Difficult = reform measures
- money = local level
- local politics
- avoid state / federal reform laws
- 40 to 1 ratio
F. Rehabilitation programs
- qualified staff = sufficient numbers
(1) Reoffending
- 50% to 75%
- depending on area
(2) Society
- want crooks locked-up
- no rehabilitation programs
- limited money
(3) Effective programs
- qualified staff
- sufficient numbers
(4) Prison atmosphere
- conducive for rehabilitation
- officers must understand concepts
- security comes first
(5) Staff makes decisions
- to eat / sleep / work
(6) Staff conflicts
- rehab = more freedom for inmates
- corrections = more control
- middle ground
G. Recent trends
- privatization
(1) Private companies operate
- jails / prisons
- several states already employ
(2) Concerns
- legal questions
- quality of care = profit
- how to monitor
- show no abuse / favortism
H. Employment
- testing / academy / training / assignment
(1) Testing process
- standards established
- age / education / background
(a) Application
- 21 years = time of hire
- meet requirements
- fill out application truthfully
- meet requirements
(b) Written exam
- general knowledge
- ability to become officer
(c) Physical agility
- running / sit-ups / pushups / etc.
- not all agencies
(d) Oral interview
- panel of officers
- specific questions
- poise / answers
(e) Psychological exam
- MMPI / ink blot
- interview
(f) Background investigation
- contact family / friends / employers
- check driving / criminal history
- drug use = legal / illegal
(2) Academy
- varies from state to state
- Washington State = CORE Academy
(a) Academy training
- proper use of physical force
- security management
- professionalism
- interpersonal communication
- supervision, discipline, manipulation
- inmate mental problems
- booking and intake / fingerprinting
- gangs / hostage survival
- critical incident survival
- practical law for corrections
- report writing
(3) On-the-job training
- assigned to training officer
- set period of time
- learn how to apply
- various positions
(4) Assignment
- assigned to a living unit
- working with other officers
2. Probation / Parole Officers
- local = city county probation = misdemeanors
- state = probation / parole = felonies
- alternatives to incarceration
A. Probation officers (local)
- monitor = city courts / district courts
- supervised, conditional, revocable release
(1) Requirements = vary among jurisdictions
- four-year degree
- pass testing process
- primary = oral interview
(2) Certification
- attend academy training courses
- train with certified probation officer
- 2000 hours = King County (varies)
(3) Supervision
- work programs / school programs
- employment / housing / family
- monitor behavior / treatment programs
- intensive contact = limited contact
B. Community Corrections Officers
- state probation / parole officers
- felony convictions
(1) State probation
- felony conviction
- state prison time / sentence stayed
- local time / placed on probation
(2) Conditions set
- parole board
- depending on conviction
(3) Monitored by PO
- at home
- at work
- report to office
C. Juvenile Probation / Parole
(1) Local = county
- juvenile probation / detention center
- probation officers = monitor offenders
- detention officers = oversee detainees
- comes under superior court
(2) State probation / parole
- monitors felons
- contacts / office visits
(3) Custodial facilities
- Green Hill / Echo Glenn / etc.
- detention officers