Corrections
The component of the criminal justice system responsible for carrying out sentences imposed by the criminal courts. May include prisons, jail, probation, parole, and other alternatives
incarceration
the use of sentences to correctional institutions (prisons and jails) as a form of punishment
recidivism
a measure if how often former offenders commit new crimes
disproportionate minority confinement
the overrepresentation of minorities in correctional institutions, not attributable to differences in offending patterns.
essential tension
a concept described by Thomas Kuhn that reflects a conflict between ideals of what should be and the observable world as it actually is
Conflict theory
Argue that decisions are made to benefit (financially or otherwise) those who hold power in society
Prison-industrial complex
A conflict theory perspective of corrections, suggesting that increased spending on incarceration is not driven by beed but rather by political and economic interests.
Correctional boot camps
a punishment alternative in which offenders live in military style environment, subject to drills with confrontational strategies and physical labor designed to build discipline
correctional institution
a secure facility designed to house persons accused or convicted of a crime. Jails and prisons are the two primary types of correctional institutions
Jail
a correctional institution holding persons accused of a crime who are awaiting trial and offenders who are sentenced to less than one year. They are short-term facilities usually operated by a county sheriff
Prison
a correctional institution holding persons who are sentenced to more than a year. They are long-term facilities operated by the state or federal government
Solitary system
an early method of incarceration in which inmates remained in individual cells with little to no human contact for the duration of their sentence. The goal was to promote offender rehabilitation through self-introspection
congregate system
an early method of incarceration in which inmates lived in individual cells during the night but worked in factories and had meals in dinning halls during the day. Absolute silence was required of inmates, even when outside their cells
Reformatory system
an early method of incarceration designed for young offenders, with an emphasis on education, vocational instruction, and rehabilitation.
farm system
a historical method on incarceration used primarily in the American South in which inmates lived and worked on large prison farms. The prison farms were operated primarily by the inmates themselves, some of whom served as guards over the other inmates. Se
security level
In corrections, the differences between minimum, medium, and maximum security prisons centering on issues such as how much freedom inmates have within the institution, what types of programming are available, and how many security features are incorporate
Classification
the process by which correctional officials determine the prison and security level to which an inmate should be assigned.
total institution
A concept described by Erving Goffman in which an institution controls all aspect of a person's life. Correctional institutions are one example of this, as the institution controls all aspects of an inmate's life.
Mortification
the loss of personal identity that comes with admissions to a total institution such as a prison or jail
Pains of imprisonment
As described by Gresham Sykes, five deprivations, or things that are withheld from inmates: liberty, goods and services, heterosexual relationships, autonomy, and security. Taken together, these deprivations partially define the prison experience.
Contraband
Any item that prison or jail inmates are not permitted to possess.
prisonization
an inmate's acceptance of the unique culture of the prison environment, including its norms, jargon, lifestyle, and conditions. Has been explained by the importation hypothesis and deprivation hypothesis
Importation hypothesis
an explanation for prisonization suggesting that inmates bring their attitudes and life experiences from the outside into prison, and these shape their behavior in the prison environment
Deprivation hypothesis
an explanation for prisonization suggesting that the nature of the prison environment and its deprivations shape inmate behavior
Panacea phenomenon
The cycle in which a new criminal justice intervention is proposed but with unrealistic expectations; the intervention is implemented but does not meet the unrealistic goals set for it; frustration builds and the program is labeled a failure; and policy m
Transportation
a practice used through the 1800a in England in which offenders were sent to live in overseas colonies and prohibited from returning to England
Mark system
Used by Alexander Maconochie at the Norfolk Island prison colony; inmates accumulated marks or points for positive behaviors and, upon collecting a sufficient number of marks, could receive special privileges and eventual release.
Parole
a process allowing the early release of an offender after serving part of his or her sentence. Release may be granted by a parole board if the inmate has demonstrated that he or she is rehabilitated and poses a low risk to society.
probation
A punishment given by a judge that allows the offender to remain in the community instead of being sent to jail or prison. Often part of a suspended sentence.
Supended sentence
A type of sentence in which a judge gives an offender a prison sentence but sets the prison sentence aside to allow the offender to serve his or her time on probation instead.
split sentence
A sentence in which offenders first spend some time in jail (0r prison) after which they are released to serve probation sentence in the community
truth sentencing
Stipulates that offenders sentenced to prison must serve a certain portion of their time, usually 85%, and no early release (on parole or otherwise) may occur prior to that time. The federal government and many states have adopted truth in sentencing
intermediate sanctions
a range of correctional alternatives that lie on a continuum between probation and prison
Halfway house
a type of correctional facility that provides educational and counseling programs in a homelike setting and offers offenders greater freedoms that a prison or jail. they are intermediate sanction
Day reporting center
A facility offering programs for offenders, but rather than living at the facility, offenders are only required to check in daily. These centers are an intermediate sanction
Electronic monitoring
A program in which offenders must wear a device, usually an ankle bracelet, that monitors their location. Often used in combination with house arrest.
House arrest
An intermediate sanction in which offenders may live at home but are not permitted to leave their home. Electronic monitoring is generally used to enforce house arrest
Intensive supervision probation
A highly structured form of probation designed for high-risk offenders or offenders who have not been successful on regular probation. Also known as ISP, it requires more frequent meetings and closer supervision than traditional probation