Corruptions in the Corrections Systems - Research Paper Example

Corruptions in the Corrections Systems Insert Insert A correctional system is a connection between different agencies with the prime role of providing a jurisdiction’s prison as well as other community-based initiatives such as parole and probation boards. In this research paper, I have looked at the various ways through which corruption takes place within his system. In collecting the data, used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection; observation, administering questionnaires, interviews and reporting. Some of my findings included bribed judges, fake and phony trials, extortion by lawyers and political affiliations and reasons. In my study, I came up with the best solutions to minimize corruption in these units and include punishing the vote brokers and vote sellers during the judicial voting and annual assessment of the public officials. Others include; conducting regular surprise examination for all the correction system officers, a timely governmental audit by COA or an independent audit firm, strict regulations of the entire correctional system and demolishment of private prisons. Introduction A correctional system, sometimes referred to as panel system, is a connection between different agencies with the prime role of providing a jurisdiction’s prison as well as other community-based initiatives such as parole and probation boards. A correctional system forms a major crucial and important part of the macro criminal justice system, which to extent includes other processes of policing, making prosecutions and the general court system. There are some forms as well as types of this system including; Power Factor Correction Systems, Community Correction Information Systems, AccuSine Power Correction System and the Trajectory Correction System, among others. All these different types of correctional system have the same objectives, goals, and aims, which make them, stay focused towards the achievement of the best standards of providing jurisdiction’s prison to the public. However, corruption has diminished the quality of service provision by these systems, leading to partial failure on some of them towards the realization of their mission statements. In this research paper, I am going to identify some of the corruptions of this system and discuss the possible tactics that can get used to solving some of these problems. Corruptions within the Correctional Systems Corruption refers to all the activities leading to abuse of power by the public officers with the prime purpose of private and individual gain. It may also be an organized, independent processes and mechanisms. This is whereby a portion of the system fails to perform its roles that it got formerly assigned to or either undertaking them in a undesired way, as per the detriment of the system’s original purpose. Among the correction systems, corruption illustrates any organized, interdependent processes whereby a section of the system fails to deliver its expected duties. They include the following: Bribed Judges Most of the judges get bribed, so as to make court rulings that will favor the law breakers or offenders. This arises from the fact that after the confirmation hearing, the offender can either get released on bond or cash bail since they get given this right by the law or the constitution. Their lawyers will always bargain for their release on considerable small bonds, to go home and prepare for the case. It is in this process or rather the duration of the next hearing when they approach the particular magistrate or magistrates handling the case and bribe them. The judges will later make arrangements with the court prosecutor, either to misplace the file of the particular case or reduce the magnitude of the field situation. Therefore, they will make a soft ruling that is manageable by the accused. Rigged Courts The case of rigged courts is nearly the same to the bribery cases committed by offender’s family to the magistrates handling the particular case. In some instances, the court may proceed to advanced levels of case hearing, where the ruling cannot get made by a single judge or magistrate. In this case, the court has to go through a voting process that gets conducted by the selected high bench judges. It’s obvious that the cases heading up to this levels are sensitive ones and, more crucial, especially for matters to do with the amendment of the constitution or solemn state offenses. During the voting process and release of the voting results, some rigging methods usually emerges, in the favor of the desired outcomes by some senior state officers in the nation. These will later result into corrupt correction systems. Extortion by Lawyers In the processes of judicial systems, most of the individuals, law breakers, seek legal assistance from the lawyers. There are state lawyers and private lawyers. The state lawyers are those employed by the government to offer legal support for the public towards the judicial proceedings. Private lawyers on the hand are private institutions made up of advocates who provide support for legal services to the public and other individuals under some agreed levels of payments. For the state lawyers, they get expected to provide legal services to the public servants, in those cases where judicial matters arise in the process of their service provision. Therefore, they get paid by the state. To some extent, the state lawyers obtain additional money the public servant by use of threats and at times force. By threatening the employees that they may lose their jobs during the case, they end up paying them from their own pockets. Similar cases get evidenced for the event of private lawyers, which demand excessive payments by the offenders, through the use of threats and force. Political Reasons Some of the outcomes from the courts, detentions, arrests, and other faked proceedings arise from political reasons. For example, most of the constitutions demand that for one to go for an elective post, he must get a clearance certificate from the court, to show that he or she meets all the legal requirements to vie. Other strong opposing politicians make their ways to the court, use their powerful positions to make their competitors either get delayed or detained by the court so that they minimize competition levels. This triggers as well as heightening the levels of corruption in the entire correctional systems. Information Leakage Some state officers, especially the police take part in the process of leaking sensitive information to the family members of the law breakers. This information may get meant for judicial purposes or the entire operations of the correctional system, and may be of sensitive nature, only said to the officials of the correctional system (Stanko, Gillespie & Crews, 2004). The leakage of this delicate and crucial information to the family members of friends, under some payments, may fault the whole process leading to failure in the mission achievement by the entire system. Fake and Phony Trials Some of the judges tend to come up with dishonest and insincere judicial proceedings for the purpose of blindfolding the public, the state or other complainants. This may happen in these cases where they are handling matters that may relate them either directly or indirectly, therefore, to prove their honesty in legal matters, they come up with phony trials. Solutions Punish the Vote Brokers and Vote Seller As discussed above, some of the corruption cases experienced in the correction system, especially in the courts, are rigged courts. Among the selected judges to vote, some may come out and state their willing to sell their votes while others may also emerge and declare their interests of buying the votes. This is a result of getting paid by some influential members of the particular court case. The best solution is, therefore, to identify those involved in this corrupt practice and punish them accordingly to the constitution. When punished and brought to the public, then the mitigation of this evil event will have gotten taken place. Annual Assessment of the Public Officials Most of the members of the correctional systems are rich, and their wealthy doesn’t correlate with their monthly salaries, despite the duration spent in the public service. The government needs to concentrate on examining and investigating these officers, as well as other companies that they wholly or partially own. The government has to demand submission of their financial statement, statements of assets and liabilities, as well as assessing and conducting an annual audit on them and availing their statements to the public. This will inform the public about how they get salaried and expanding their net worth, be it from their salary or other business. This particular examination will reduce the levels of bribery undertaken by the correctional officers (Hickey & Scharf, 1980). . Regular Surprise Examination for all the Correction System Officers The majority of these agents, as discussed above, get involved in corruption. Due to this, they end up providing poor services to the public, and it is the mandate of the government to step in and ensure that all these personnel are performing their duties in the desired manner as well as having compliance with the Anti-red tape law. The government can make a better step of installing CCTV camera in all the offices of the correctional system, basically to monitor all the activities going on in these offices (Martinez-Vazquez, Arze del Granado & Boex, 2007). These may deter the officers from involving some corrupt deals when at work. Timely Governmental Audit by COA or an Independent Audit Firm The Commission on Audit has the mandate of examining, preventing and reporting all the frauds taking place within the government activities. This particular agency needs to come out more efficiently and undertake auditing of the correctional system unit officers. They also need to report the identified frauds as earlier as possible so that immediate actions can get taken, and other fresh matters tabled. Again this will scare these officers from engaging in corrupt deals within their system during service provision (Hickey & Scharf, 1980). Strict Regulations of the Entire Correctional System The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has the responsibility of regulating all the corporations and partnerships including the correctional systems. This commission has to come in and control all the processes that get undertaken in this particular system. Right from the time of reporting a case at the police custody, the arrest of the offender and all the judicial proceedings taking place and their outcomes (Martinez-Vazquez, Arze del Granado & Boex, 2007). This will help to do away with some of the corrupt activities taking place in the different stages of the processes meant for observing and correcting the legal affairs. Demolishment of Private Prisons The private prisons get owned d and managed by private individuals with the primary agenda of making profits. Their profit motives drive them out for the real definition and purpose of a prison establishment. They end up involving in all the activities that can successfully lead them to high levels of profit realization as well as expanding their business. In this processes, they end up engaging in corrupt activities that eventually give a wrong picture of the correctional system towards the public (Stanko, Gillespie & Crews, 2004). Effects to the New Officers Fresh and new officers from colleges and other training school join different departments of the correctional unit such as police, the judiciary, and other criminal investigation departments. Some join with an already predetermined mind of joining hands in corruption with other corrupt officials since they get the information of how the other officers get rich through corruption. Others join this system with a patriarchal determination, of serving his or her nation to the level of his/her best, without necessarily getting involved in corrupt deals. Some those who tend to follow the law to the later, end up engaging in continuous fights and disharmony with their heads. This creates a weak environment for them to work, forcing others to ask continuously for transfers to other regions. Other new officers are obliged to leave the job, and perhaps change their career. Despite the knowledge of all the corruption deals in this system, and other government systems, it is hilarious to realize that nations have not institutionalized corruption. Conclusion It is the mandate of all the correctional system officers to ensure that this particular entity realizes its mission, as well as the set goals, objectives, and aims. The majority of the bureaux in this system indulge themselves in corruptions and these involve; rigged courts, bribed judges, fake and phony trials as well as extortion by lawyers and political affiliations and reasons. The best solutions to minimize corruption in these units include punishing the vote brokers and vote sellers during the judicial voting and annual assessment of the public officials. Others include; conducting regular surprise examination for all the correction system officers, the timely governmental audit by COA or an independent audit firm, strict regulations of the entire correctional system and demolishment of private prisons. These solutions if implemented with various states, they will realize a change in the corruption levels within their correctional systems. References Hickey, J., & Scharf, P. (1980). Toward a just correctional system. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Martinez-Vazquez, J., Arze del Granado, J., & Boex, J. (2007). Fighting corruption in the public sector. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Stanko, S., Gillespie, W., & Crews, G. (2004). Living in prison. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. Read More