Tag: Prison
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Imprisonment
Purposes of ImprisonmentIntroduction to ImprisonmentImprisonment serves several universal functions, including the protection of society, the prevention of crime, retribution (revenge) against criminals, and the rehabilitation of inmates. Additional goals of imprisonment may includ…
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Reintegration
Purposes of Imprisonment Rehabilitation and ReintegrationIntroduction to ReintegrationPrisons attempt to rehabilitate inmates so they will avoid future criminal behavior. Most prisons have vocational and educational programs, psychological counselors, and an array of services avail…
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Retribution
Purposes of Imprisonment RetributionIntroduction to RetributionPunishing those who violate society's rules satisfies a desire for vengeance or retribution. Conventional punishment for criminal conduct includes confining inmates in cells, restricting their freedom, and obligatin…
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Prison History
Introduction to Prison HistoryHistorians note the existence of prisons in ancient Greece and Rome. For example, the Mamertine Prison, constructed in Rome in the 7th century bc, consisted of a vast network of dungeons under the city's main sewer. These subterranean cells held political d…
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Prison Life
Introduction to Prison LifeFor inmates, one of the fundamental consequences of their imprisonment is the lack of control over decisions about their activities. This lack of autonomy is evident in nearly all aspects of prison life. Prisoners have virtually no privacy and are observab…
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Prison Overcrowding
Prison Current Issues in the United States OvercrowdingIntroduction to Prison OvercrowdingOvercrowded conditions exist in every U.S. prison system. Officials determine whether a prison is overcrowded by comparing the inmate population to various criteria that indicate the capacity …
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Prison Personnel
Introduction to Prison PersonnelLike other institutions, prisons contain a leadership and authority structure responsible for governing and operating the prison. At the top of this hierarchy is the warden, also known as the superintendent or chief administrator. Deputy wardens typically ass…
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Prison Reform
Prison History Prison ReformIntroduction to Prison ReformIn the 1770s British social reformer John Howard criticized prison conditions and the exploitation of prisoners in England. Howard visited several countries to inspect their prison systems and reported his experiences and obs…
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Prison Regulations
Prison Life Rules and RegulationsIntroduction to Prison RegulationsA set of rigid rules and regulations governs all inmate activity, including recreation and meals. Many of these rules attempt to prevent or reduce violence. Because of the diversity of races, ethnicities, and ages o…
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Prison Systems
Introduction to Prison SystemsPrisons throughout the world have many similarities. The prison site consists of buildings of various sizes surrounded by high walls topped with razor wire. The buildings are staffed by armed guards or correctional officers who maintain inmates under close supe…
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Prison Administrators
Prison Personnel AdministratorsIntroduction to Prison AdministratorsThe responsibilities of prison wardens include hiring and firing personnel, implementing new correctional policies, insuring the safety of prisoners and staff, and establishing regulations to deal effectively with …
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Jails
Prisons and JailsIntroduction to JailsPrisons differ from jails. Jails are facilities operated by local authorities and used to confine adult criminal offenders who receive short-term sentences (in the United States, sentences of less than one year). In addition, jails are used to …
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Crime Deterrence
Purposes of Imprisonment Societal Protection and Crime DeterrenceIntroduction to Crime DeterrenceLocking up dangerous criminals or persistent nonviolent offenders means that society will be protected from them for the duration of their sentences. Thus, imprisoning criminals tempora…
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Confinement as Punishment
Prison History Confinement as PunishmentIntroduction to Confinement as PunishmentDuring the 15th century, particularly in Scotland and England, the first prisons that housed large numbers of offenders for long periods began to appear. Local governments established numerous debtors&…