Correctional System - Report Example

Correctional System Part A: Community-based Corrections The Goals of Community-based Corrections According to the present day context, the increased reliance upon community-based correctional programs has been influenced by the augmenting offenders’ population, as well as the need for states to reduce crowds within the prisons or in any rehabilitation institutions. The principal goal of the community-based corrections is to follow the judicial frameworks during the various practices of the institutions. In order to meet the requirements of the judicial guidelines, the community-based programs must be concerned with defending the people, addressing sufferers’ needs and requirements, as well as developing the offenders’ behaviors and attitudes through effective treatment and prevention programs (Alarid & Carmen, 2012). Protecting Public by Effective Offender Supervision Protecting and supervising the population can be considered as one of the major goals of the community-based programs. The key responsibility of the community corrections programs is to help offenders to develop their behavioral potentials as well as to monitor the progresses of the offenders towards the community-based program goals. The protection of people can be carried out in different ways. Firstly, by identifying and assessing risks posed by the other participants within the community programs. Secondly, the supervisors of the community based programs must acknowledge the roles and responsibilities as per the court orders and conditions of release in terms of monitoring offenders. Finally, in case of any violation during the monitoring process, the court and the paroling authorities of the program must be keen to repeal parole or probation for the individuals who commit new offenses during the supervision process (Alarid & Carmen, 2012). 2. Types of Community-based Corrections In order to identify the community based corrections programs, there are various types of vital correctional activities that are conducted by the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDC) which are significantly focused to enhance the level of public safety. The community correction programs of Virginia consist of an effective probation and parole program in order to ensure safety and efficient guidelines for the public in the community-based corrections program (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Probation and Parole Programs of Virginia Department of Corrections According to the probation and parole guidelines of VDC, it can be observed that the eligibility criterion of the probationer and the parolee is significantly indisputable in terms of selecting or acquiring new staff for the community. The department is significantly focused on enhancing public safety through certainly increasing the supervision divisions for the offenders within the community. The corrections procedures of VDC considerably focus on its primary objective that is to maintain a balanced approach in terms of supervising the offenders. Therefore, the practice of the corrections division significantly involves investigating and effectively assessing the risks and the needs of the offenders. Moreover, implementing cautious and focused strategies on supervising processes, employing a wide range of resources as well as providing efficient treatment services to each individual within the corrections community are among the other major practices of the corrections divisions (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). The probation and parole service of the Virginia Department of Corrections can be considered as one of the major initiatives in order to facilitate an effective service to the offenders. The probation and parole service consists of principle guidelines that include the convicted offender whose sentence of imprisonment is deferred and conditioned upon efficient community supervision. Moreover, the eligibility standard of the probation and parole within Virginia corrections department also entails the individuals who have served a minimum of one-quarter of his/her overall sentence to imprisonment and are released according to their services of successful community supervision (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). The probation and parole service of Virginia Department of Corrections recently allocated its new policies with regard to preventing violation of the supervision guidelines. The main objective of the new principles is to significantly encourage effective supervision service within the community (Burke, 1997). Re-entry Program The re-entry initiatives of Virginia Department of Corrections can be further recognized as a crucial practice in order to provide a long-term viability within the corrections community. The re-entry evolution services of the department of corrections involve a cooperative relation amongst the community organizations, state agencies as well as local correction agencies. In the context of re-entry initiatives of Virginia Department of Corrections, eligible offenders are repositioned from prison to any local jail within the corrections community in order to obtain transition services including life skills seminars and support within the housing and employment programs (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). 3. Analyzing Effectiveness of Community-based Corrections The effectiveness of the community-based corrections programs can be observed from lessening recidivism, reduction in different exposures to uninvited consequences as well as promotion of efficient incorporation of the offenders within the corrections community. According to various studies, the community based corrections programs are more useful than custody in order to prevent re-offences, offer treatment initiatives as well as deliver effective facilities within the corrections community (John Howard Society of Alberta, 1998). Community-based corrections programs further facilitate many of the aspects related with an efficient re-integration of the offenders within the community. In the context of community-based corrections programs, the process is considerably beneficial for the offenders in terms of pursuing educational and employment opportunities. In addition, the community-based corrections programs effectively enable the offenders to maintain a close-association with their families when they are residing within the community-based facilities (John Howard Society of Alberta, 1998). B. Correctional Institutions 1. Types of Correctional Institutions for Adults in Virginia Department of Corrections The Virginia Department of Corrections comprises 38 correctional institutions that are significantly designed to provide effective correctional programs for different categories of offenders. The correctional department involves different units based on various aspects including men’s and women’s facilities, security levels as well as public and private correctional institutions. From the perspective of correctional institutions, the Virginia Department of Corrections provides a range of facilities for different types of offenders including adult facilities, men and women facilities, Juvenile facilities as well as publicly and privately owned juvenile facilities (Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2006). A few of the correctional services that exist within the Virginia Department of Corrections correctional institutions are discussed below: Male Correctional Institutions Augusta Correctional Center: This correctional center possesses security level 3 and it was designed for single, multiple as well as life + sentences offenders who must have successfully 20 years on sentence (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Bland Correctional Center: Bland Correctional Center is considered under security level 2 and is structured for the offenders who do not have any escape record since last five years of their sentence. In case of single life sentences, the offenders must have attained their Parole Eligibility Date (PED) (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Buckingham Correctional Center: Buckingham Correctional Center is a security level 3 institution which is designed for the offenders having single, multiple and life + sentences who must have spent uninterruptedly 20 years of their sentence (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Women Correctional Institutions Brunswick Work Center: Brunswick Work Center is a security level 1 correctional institution that involves the offenders who are engaged in sex offense, kidnap or any abduction activities (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Fluvanna Correctional Center: Fluvanna Correctional Center is a security level 3 type correctional institution which is structured for those women who have been imprisoned for 20 years on sentences such as single, multiple or life + sentences (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012). Public and Private Level Correctional Institutions The Virginia Department of Corrections has various types of facilitates for both privately and publicly operated institutions. The department significantly involves various services such as ‘publicly or privately operated secure juvenile detention facility’; ‘publicly owned and operated juvenile residential facility or group foster home’; ‘privately operated juvenile residential facility or group home’; ‘juvenile foster home’ and ‘publicly or privately operated juvenile temporary holdover facility’ (Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2006). 2. Name of Federal Prison Facilities in Virginia The Federal Bureau of Prisons has classified facilities into a variety of security levels including high, low, medium and minimum to community correction institutions. The federal prison facilities in Virginia are located at the Mid-Atlantic region of the state. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, there are four facilities located in the Virginia state such as Lee, Petersburg, Petersburg Low and Petersburg Medium. The following chart of Federal Prison Facilities shows the types and security levels of the federal prisons that are situated in Virginia. Source: (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.) 3. Facility Names and Security Levels of Virginia Department of Corrections Facility Name Security Levels Augusta Correctional Center 3 Baskerville Correctional Center Multi Security Level (Level 1 & 2) Bland Correctional Center 2 Buckingham Correctional Center 3 Brunswick Work Center 1 Caroline Correctional Unit #2 1 Central Virginia Correctional Unit #13 2 Coffeewood Correctional Center 2 Cold Springs Correctional Unit #10 1 Deerfield Correctional Center 2 Deep Meadow Correctional Center 2 Dillwyn Correctional Center 2 Fluvanna Correctional Center 3 Green Rock Correctional Center 3 Greensville Correctional Center 3 Halifax Correctional Unit #23 1 Haynesville Correctional Center 2 Haynesville Correctional Unit #17 1 Indian Creek Correctional Center 2 James River Work Center 1 Keen Mountain Correctional Center 4 Lawrenceville Correctional Center 3 Lunenburg Correctional Center 2 Marion Treatment Center Special Purpose Institution Medical College of Virginia – MCV MCV Security Ward Nottoway Correctional Center 4 Patrick Henry Correctional Unit #28 1 High Pocahontas State Correctional Center 3 Powhatan Correctional Center 3 Red Onion State Prison S Rustburg Correctional Unit #9 1 High Southampton Memorial Hospital St. Brides Correctional Center 2 Sussex I State Prison 5 Sussex II State Prison 4 Virginia Correctional Center for Women 2 Wallens Ridge State Prison 5 Wise Correctional Unit 1 High Source: (Virginia Department of Corrections, 2012) References Alarid, L. F., & Carmen, R. V. D. (2012). Community-based corrections. United States: Cengage Learning. Burke, B. (1997). Policy-driven responses to probation and parole violations. Retrieved from http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&sqi=2&ved=0CEwQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fciteseerx.ist.psu.edu%2Fviewdoc%2Fdownload%3Fdoi%3D10.1.1.26.2734%26rep%3Drep1%26type%3Dpdf&ei=oMCpUM_QGMKNrge8lIHIAg&usg=AFQjCNESr0_1l1MrQR0LSxLT4SEx2BzJMQ&sig2=fkQmBDthHFC31tfqmOr9Gw&cad=rja Federal Bureau of Prisons. (n.d.). Federal Prison Facilities. Retrieved from http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityLoc John Howard Society of Alberta. (1998). Community corrections. Retrieved from http://www.johnhoward.ab.ca/pub/C29.htm#effec Minnesota Department of Human Services. (2006). Correctional facilities. Retrieved from http://hcopub.dhs.state.mn.us/14_10_20.htm Virginia Department of Corrections. (2012). Community corrections. Retrieved from http://www.vadoc.state.va.us/community/ Virginia Department of Corrections. (2012). Re-entry program. Retrieved from http://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/institutions/programs/re-entry.shtm Virginia Department of Corrections. (2012). Facilities (major institutions and correctional units). Retrieved from http://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/facilities/ Read More