Comparison of Management Systems of New York and California Departments of Corrections - Research Paper Example

Management System: New York vs. California Corrections Introduction: The administration and management of prison and corrections have been found to modify considerably over a period of last twenty five years. Earlier, the management would focus more on the custodians and try to determine how they could correct themselves and change their attitudes towards criminal activities. Contrary to this, in the present times, the concern of the management can be found more towards managing the different issues regarding the increasing level of prisoners, leading to complexity in the systems of the management. The history of the prison management in America can be traced back to the 1600s when prisoners were transferred from England to Virginia. Gradually with time, and America becoming larger, several responsibilities were transferred to individual states. In the 1970s, the manner and state of confinement became a concern for the prison management. Issues regarding the power, the requirements of funds were evolved for the administrators. During the 1980s, several correctional systems were involved in law cases with increase in rates of crimes, and the management systems becoming more complex (Riveland, 1999, pp. 163-171). Thus over the periods of time, there has been several changes in the entire outlook of the prison management system with increasing number of prisoners and greater complexity. The present study focuses on two correction departments in America, one being the New York Department of Correction and the California Department of Correction. The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision are managed by the Departmental Mission and have the responsibility of confining the individuals charged of performing any criminal act. Around 57,000 delinquents are under the confinement of the department and the operations of the department are spread across around 61 states (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, n.d.). CDCR or the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are department in California responsible for the confinement, or punishments of criminals as well as rehabilitation measures (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2010). The ultimate purpose of the department is focused towards lessening the impacts of crime over the common people and thus trying to prevent criminal activities (About CDCR, 2010). The present research makes a comparative study on the above mentioned departments reflecting on their policies, and procedures of prison management, and the different problems associated with their functions. New York and California Departments of Corrections: A Detailed View over the Years: The System of Correction: The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has always been focused on initiating policies that are capable of creating safety for the common people, as well as undertake measures to transform the individuals committing crime in a manner such that they can re-enter the society and live normal lives (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, n.d.). For this purpose the department follows different programs that include training on education and employment related training, lessening of abusive behavior, training on living and maintaining normal family lives looking after the members of the family, control of anger, health education and other related measures (Program Services, n.d.). The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation have around 66,000 employees working, following the strategic plan of the department. The department has its focus both on the internal as well as the external modifications of system that they follow towards their mission of changing the criminals’ attitude towards life and thus protect the safety of the common people. The objectives of the department are planned and worked out through Work Action Plans for every year (About CDCR-Strategic Plan, 2010). There are around 316, 229 criminals who are charged under the department with the yearly cost of an inmate being $49,000. Around 30 state prisons are available for the functioning of the department and 12 correctional facilities assist the department in their correction measures (Fourth Quarter 2008 Facts and Figures, 2010). Problems Encountered: As it has been already studied that both the correction departments tend to lessen the rates of crimes by training and preparing the individuals to lead normal lives after the period of incarceration, yet, there are certain problems as well detected in the appropriate functioning of the departments in this regard. In case of the New York Department, news reflect that the prisons of the department are not proving to be successful in providing the prisoners with the required programs that might treat them towards normality of their lives. The drug treatment programs are lacking as per the actual requirements. Moreover, the department has shown failure in judging the individuals who actually need the treatments. Many times the department registers such people who are not motivated at all and create an atmosphere of ineffectiveness. The situation reveals that the staff of the department might not be utilized properly which could otherwise lead the department towards successful implementation of their objectives (New York’s Prisons Fall Short, Again, 2011). CDCR has also been known to encounter problems particularly associated with the accommodation of the increasing number of inmates. Thus the concerns for the security of these people have also increased in the prisons under the department. The different training programs of the department have been impacted owing to the over population of the prisoners creating anxiety in the functioning of the department as a whole. Moreover, the department has also been realizing shortages in the staff members whereas greater numbers are actually required for the rising demand. The department is experiencing formulation of plans that are not budgeted properly, as well as absence of the staff members, leading to more vacancies. While the department encounters such issues, alternative measures are also lacking for the department to overcome the problems with ease (Tilton, 2006, pp.1-2). Management Styles of the Two Departments of Corrections: Considering the case of the New York Department of Corrections, as the primary purpose of the department is based on the improvement of the mental status of the criminals, the management policies and procedures of the department are also associated with the above mentioned focus of the department. The regulations and rules of the department are thus planned and formulated for all the members of the department that include the staff, the inmates as well as the common people since their safety is a primary concern of the department. Mail service plays a major role in the management system of the New York Department. Individuals are considered as sincerely responsible for the mails and their corresponding activities, violations of which are punishable as per the rules of the department. Restrictions are also put in the mail sending and receiving facilities of the inmates. The Superintendant has a significant role in the entire process of administration (Inmate Correspondence Program, 2011). Thus in the management process of the New York Department, a greater emphasis can be found to have been placed on the improvement of the lives of the inmates, focusing on the use of mail service under strict restrictions. As part of the management system in the California Department of Corrections, the department focuses on the different issues and problems and tries to determine ways such that the problems may be lessened. In the process, the department has plans to increase the capacity to address the issue of increasing number of prisoners. Thus the department’s plan tends to make enhanced arrangements towards the training and development measures of the inmates. Also, the management system has focus in the infrastructure policies thus formulating plans to improve the state of the infrastructure. This includes expansion of their existing systems of infrastructure and undertakes measures to re-build and develop improved systems. The department has plans to make suitable arrangements for rehabilitation and availability of beds for the treatment of the inmates. Such measures are reflected based on the department’s planning on budget, costs, rehabilitation procedures that are included in their future proposals (Tilton, 2006, pp.4-16). The two departments: A comparison and contrast: Considering the measures adopted as of yet by the two correction departments, and the future planning of the two departments, it can be realized that the department in California is focused more towards determining solutions to the different problems that these departments are known to encounter. As far as the primary aim and objectives of the departments are concerned, they are similar since both the departments have the objective to lessen the impact of different criminal activities on the common citizens and treat the inmates in a manner such that they are capable of re-entering the society and lead normal lives. However the management systems of the two departments differ from each other. It can be discussed in this context that the security of the inmates is a significant issue for the correctional departments. In this respect both the departments in the New York and in California are found to encounter difficulties in the environment where the number of inmates is increasingly rising over the years. Thus both the departments have reasons to be under the apprehension of not being able to treat the inmates as they aim to do. The California department has been found to propose for plans that also focus on the increase in capacity and improvement of the infrastructure. These plans are found to be more effectively formulated in the correction department in California more in comparison to the New York Department. Also, the number of offenders in case of California is much higher in comparison to that of New York. This would imply that California Corrections encounter greater challenges in making the required arrangements for bed as well as treatment for the huge number of inmates it receives. Thus the problem associated with the increasing number of prisoners can be understood to affect the operations of the California department more, reflecting its greater needs for suitable measures of overcoming such problems. Thus in an overall respect, it can be said that although the primary goal of both the departments is identical, the challenges for successful implementation of objectives were more in case of the department in California, and the measures or future plans are also found to be more enhanced in case of the California Department of Corrections, in comparison to the New York department. The Current Scenario of Success: If the current scenario is considered with respect to the correction departments in New York and California, it can be realized that the management systems of the two departments have not been able to successfully implement their policies and procedures. This can be reflected from the fact that even in the present times, the departments have been found to encounter problems as a result of the increasing number of inmates over the years that have affected the entire management systems of the departments. Although the departments can be found to be trying to overcome such problems, the severity of the problems is getting reflected even in the recent news (New York’s Prisons Fall Short, Again, 2011). Such news can be realized to represent the critical situation of these departments in controlling their activities and maintaining their policies of treating the inmates. As it has been studied, the California department has future proposals to increase its capacity as well as improve the infrastructure. These measures are more in the plans owing to the increasing number of prisoners that is creating huge problems for such correctional departments. The challenges to manage such huge number of inmates are posing problems for both these departments whose usual and normal policies are incapable to provide enough support. In order to be effective in their measures, these departments might require further enhanced strategies that they would be able to obtain after making detailed research on the activities of legal communities as well as researches on social sciences. Such researches might provide the departments with measures adaptable for the betterment of the current situation and maintain the objectives of the correctional activities. Conclusion: From the study, it can be realized that over the years, the scenario of the prison management has altered. While in the earlier times, the focus could remain on the treatment measures of the inmates, in the present times, the actual focus lies in arrangements for increasing number of prisoners. The increasing number is creating huge problems for the correctional departments like the New York’s and California’s correctional departments in the United States. Although these departments are trying out advanced measures and incorporating improvements in their management systems, yet they are incapable of being successful in their aims. This scenario is getting reflected through the news and the various articles published in this context. The increasing rates of crimes, and the tendencies of these departments to treat the inmates such that they can re-enter the societies and lead normal lives, have posed greater challenges for the correctional departments. Thus as a recommendation in this respect, it can be said that to tackle the present scenario, the correctional departments need to make enhanced researches on legal communities and social sciences that can be expected to provide them with certain improved solutions and thus resolve their problems and fulfill their objectives successfully. References 1) About CDCR (2010), cdcr, Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/vision-mission-values.html 2) About CDCR-Strategic Plan (2010), cdcr, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/StrategicPlan.html 3) California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (2010), cdcr, Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/ 4) Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (n.d.), docs, Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from: http://www.docs.state.ny.us/ 5) Fourth Quarter 2008 Facts and Figures (2010), cdcr, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Operations/docs/Fourth_Quarter_2009_Facts_and_Figures.pdf 6) Inmate Correspondence Program (2011), docs, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.docs.state.ny.us/Directives/4422.pdf 7) New York’s Prisons Fall Short, Again (March 21, 2011), The New York Times, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/opinion/22tue4.html?_r=1 8) Program Services (n.d.), docs, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.docs.state.ny.us/ProgramServices/index.html 9) Riveland, C. (1999). Prison Management Trends, 1975-2025, Crime and Justice, 26, pp.163-203, Retrieved on December 13, 2011 from: http://jthomasniu.org/class/589/Assigs/Pdf/Riveland1999.pdf 10) Tilton, J.E. (2006), Inmate Population, Rehabilitation, and Housing Management Plan, cdcr, Retrieved on December 14, 2011 from: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/News/docs/inmatePopRehabHMP.pdf Read More