Programs and Activities of Inmates in a Prison - Essay Example

   The number of prisoners currently is six times more than they were during the 1980s. The rate of imprisonment is currently increasing along with the number of prisoners. The chart below shows the increase in the number of incarcerated citizens from 1920-to 2006. Prison overcrowding is an issue that needs to be addressed by the General Assembly, to authorize the expansion of the correctional institutions.

This study will focus also on programs and or activities that address the needs of inmates in a crowded prison. Inmate program or activities that keep them productive provide a powerful incentive for positive behavior maintenance, and has proved to be an effective management plan in prisons. This means that programs bring something constructive that inmates can do and learn; thus, creating less time for negative behaviors, meeting inmates' basic needs,  assigning inmates to thousands redefining conveying expectations of inmate behavior, supervising inmates. This makes the staff work environment safer with reduced violence and hostility threats. Effective jail program planning assimilates an assessment of jail and inmate needs with evidence-based programs. These programs are aimed to assess the needs of inmates in an overcrowded prison. These programs are divided into three types mainly: activity-focused, reformative, and reintegration. Activity-focused programs aim at keeping inmates busy while they are still in custody. Reformative programs offer inmates with knowledge and skills; this is vital as it addresses their personal needs. Reintegration programs concoct inmates for their reappearance to the community as productive citizens. Assessment of these programs will be done to demonstrate that even in situations where correctional facilities have minimal resources; the correctional professionals can plan, implement, and evaluate effective inmate programs while realizing the benefits of improved inmate behavior. A survey of several prisons will be conducted to gather information about programs and activities and their contributions to managing inmate behavior in overcrowded prisons.

Statement of the problem

The increase of custodial sentencing and length of the sentencing raft on the fact that cases presented before the courts are given a tough approach. In addition, magistrates are not issuing community sentences more frequently as expected. Prison overcrowding can be seen to arise from a lack of suitable facilities to accommodate prisoners. In addition, successive governments have failed to produce accurate estimates of the impact of legislative changes.

Research questions

The questions examined in this study are significant to social workers, families, law enforcement, and the public. To achieve the purpose of the research, the following guiding questions or lines of inquiry are devised:

1. Are the programs made well implemented? Do they address inmates’ needs well?