Current Issues and Trends in Corrections from Corrections Professionals - Essay Example

Current Issues and Trends in Corrections from Corrections Professionals The crime rate of entire United s of America is increasing rapidly due to growing tensions states as well as countries. Correctional facilities play an important role in the maintenance of peace and safety in the society. However, a survey questionnaire process has been conducted in Attica Correctional facility in order to determine the correctional trend of this particular facility. Five different professionals have been selected as the respondents for this questionnaire survey process. The type of facility and information about work environment of the facility has been asked to the professionals in order to determine the nature and types of inmates. It has been determined that the facility generally faces racial issues due to lack of workplace diversity. However, the professionals generally take care of the peace and safety of the facility by every possible way. Finally, a rate chart process has been implemented for the professionals in order to determine the critical issues that are facing by the facility. However, the professionals have shared some critical issues and possible solutions to those issues in order to maintain peace and safety in the workplace. Discussion It is true that State correctional department is responsible for the welfare and security of entire state. This part of the research project will discuss about the answers and views of five correction professionals regarding the asked questionnaire’s questions. These officers are employed in Attica Correctional Facility situated in the New York State. Five questions have been asked. This part of the report will discuss their answers. Facility that Describes Work Environment First question that has been asked to them was about the type of work environment of Attica Correctional facility. Each and every respondent or officer replied that the correctional facility is the maximum security state prison in the New York State. All the correction professionals or officers replied that the Attica correctional facility has been operated by the state correctional services department of New York States. Apart from these basic points, three out of five professionals have replied that Attica correctional facility has been installed by tear gas system. This system cannot be found in many correctional facilities (Roberts, 2003). As a whole, they all have agreed and stated that, Attica correctional facility is one of the most important and renowned correctional facilities in the United States of America. Information regarding work environment All the five correctional officers have stated and agreed that work environment of Attica correctional facility is quite different comparing to other contemporary correctional facilities in the United States of America. However, the officers or professional denied giving sound response towards the asked questions due to some privacy issues. Despite the denial, the professionals or officers somehow indicated the environment inside the facility. They frequently gave answer to the first question i.e. the location of this facility. Each of them answered frequently that Attica facility has been situated in New York State. The second question was asked about the number of offenders or inmates held in the Attica correctional facility. All the five respondents replied that it is important for each and every correctional facility to maintain effective relationship between correctional officers, staffs and inmates. According to the professionals, it is quite known to all about the occurred riots in the prison in the year 1971. First respondent replied that the particular riot took away the lives of 43 individuals. Out of these 43 individuals, ten individuals were civilian employees and correctional officers. And rest of the 33 individuals was inmates of that particular facility. However, regarding the number, they have officially responded that Attica Correctional Facility has the capacity of to hold 2,253 inmates. And the facility has held 2,152 inmates (CANY 2011). The five corrections professional or the officers were asked about the types of inmates. All the respondents have replied that the prison of this Attica Correctional Facility holds several inmates who are serving different types of sentences, such as short-term in-prison sentence to life. It depends upon the characteristics of verdicts. But, all the respondents have replied that the facility officially held each and every type of inmate. Most importantly, it is clear from the answers of all the respondents that the racial demographics of Attica were little bit different comparing to other prisons in New York State (Belenko, 2010). While majority of the prisons of New York has the presence of White inmates, this particular Attica Correctional facility has maximum presence of African-American inmates. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each and every correctional officers, professionals and staffs to maintain good and friendly relationship with them in order to maintain peace within the facility. As the respondents have replied that, already the facility has experienced riot in the year 1971 based on racial issues (Serin, 2012). Therefore, according to the five respondents, it is the responsibility of entire facility to keep the workplace environment clean, safe, healthy and friendly. Information regarding correctional professional history It was clarified to every student by the university that this question of the prepared questionnaire will be vital as the correctional professional’s response will be considered as important element in this research project. Therefore, the information of these professionals is vital to record. When the respondents or the officials were questioned about their basic professional information, they became uncomfortable as they were bound to keep these things secret according to the organizational policy. However, these five professionals or officers were ensured that no data or information will be shared with external authorities. Finally, they agreed to give some response about their professional information. In reply to the first question i.e. years of service, three out of five professionals have completed six years in the Attica Correctional facility. One professional out of these five have completed four years of employment agreement. And the rest of the professional has completed just one year in the organization. Three professionals who have completed six years in the organization are ranked in the GS4 level. Other professional who have completed four years employment in the organization, is ranked in GS 6 level (Correctional Officer EDU, 2014). On the other hand, the last respondent who have completed just one year in the organization, is ranked in GS8 level. The three senior and higher level professionals know several facts, histories and information about the Attica Correctional facility comparing to other two correctional professional, which is quite natural to understand. In terms of three professionals of GS4 level have completed master degree in political science and they have experience of five years in emergency response field. On the other hand, the professional ranked in GS6 level has received bachelor’s degree in philosophy and he has experience of three years as a high-school teacher. The last professional ranked in GS8 level has experience in mental health care and received a bachelor’s degree in history of Western civilization. However, according to each and every respondent, they all are bound to learn new things on emergency basis due to the demand of the job role and job responsibility (Taxman, 2011). Question 4: Responses (Appendix) Trends for Corrections It is clear from the responses of the five professionals that each and every professional out of the five correctional professionals believe that the critical issues are similar. In terms of correctional issues, it is clear that safety and standard & Accreditation is considered as the major critical correctional issues for all the respondents. In terms of safety, each and every respondent has respondent that it has become one of the major correctional issues for the facility. All of them replied that the facility has experienced a racial riot in the year 1971, which took away the priceless lives of 43 individuals. Racial issues can be considered as the major problem of this facility. Moreover, it is clear from the responses of the respondents that the facility has faced huge problem due to the presence of serious racial problem (Lala, 2010). All the professionals have admitted that this particular aspect is hampering the fame of the facility and workplace environment of the facility. However, according to the views of these professionals, it is highly important for the board of directors and government officials to take serious initiatives in order to overcome the issues (Scott, 2009). They all have replied that they need to implement evidence-based practices during decision making process in order to overcome future issues. Target intervention can be considered as another important solution to minimize the possibility of the future issues (DCJS, 2006). Each and every respondent has replied that the organization needs to control their inmates. All of the respondents are aware about the fact that the majority of the inmates of this facility are of African-American background. Due to this, racial aspect, several sensitive scenarios may rise in near future (Schoenly, 2012). The respondents have replied that, there are several prisons in the New York State. It is the responsibility of the federal as well as state correctional officers to motivate all the inmates and offenders to stay collaboratively. Moreover, according to the professionals, the inmates need to be motivated to change their mentality and stay with peace within the prison or facility. This aspect will only help to keep the work environment friendly, but also it will limit the tendency of inmates with short-term sentence to do criminal activities in near future (Lavton, 2010). Each and every respondent has agreed that female issues and physical disability are other issues that are becoming correctional trend. However, all of the professionals have replied that the state and federal government should increase positive reinforcement in these facilities based on evidence based practices in order to increase the effectiveness of facility workplace environment (Rolfe, 2004). Conclusion It is clear from the above discussion and evaluation of the gained facts that being one of the renowned and large state correctional facilities. Attica Correctional facility is facing several critical issues. It is clear from the response of the correctional facility of the New York State Attica Correctional Facility that the organization faced serious and critical racial riot in the year 1971. Therefore, it is highly important for the organizational members and other important stakeholders to think about the issues. It is true that rate of crime is increasing day-by-day due to growing tensions in states and countries. However, it is true that the correctional professional officers or staffs are trying to maintain good work place environment by maintaining health relationship between offenders and officials. However, it is important to maintain peace in the organization by ensuring effective racial diversity in the correctional facility. Otherwise, it may create another critical scenario in near future that can hamper the entire workplace environment of Attica Correctional facility. It is highly important for the officials and stakeholders to implement evidence based practices during decision making process in order to maintain peace in the facility. References Belenko, S. (2010). The Evidence-based internship. Stamford: Cengage Learning. CANY. (2011). Attica Correctional Facility. Retrieved from: . Correctional Officer EDU. (2014). New York State Corrections Officer Job Description. Retrieved from: < http://www.correctionalofficeredu.org/new-york/>. DCJS. (2006). Evidence based correctional practices. Retrieved from: . Lala, A. (2010). Evidence based practice and criminology. New York: Springer. Lavton, D. (2010). Different crimes, different criminals. New York: McGraw-Hill. Roberts, A. (2003). Evidence based practice manual. New Jersey: Pearson. Rolfe, G. (2004). Deconstructing Evidence-based practice. London: Sage. Schoenly, L. (2012). Essentials of Correctional practicing. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Scott, C. (2009). Handbook of correctional mental health. London: sage. Serin, R. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice. New Jersey: Pearson. Taxman, F. (2011). Implementing evidence based practice in community. New York: Springer. Appendix Respondent 1 C = Critical Issue I = Important, but not critical P = Possible Issue N = Not an Issue Correctional Issues C I P N 1 Overcrowding/High Caseload x 2 Building design x 3 Safety x 4 Impact of Technology x 5 Privatization x 6 Standards & Accreditation x Offender Issues: Type of Inmate/Offender 7 Sex offender x 8 Youthful offender x 9 Elderly offender x 10 Mental Health x 11 Physical Handicap x 12 Violent x 13 Female x 14 Male x 15 Juvenile x 16 Race Issues x 17 Drug offender x Employment Issues 18 Training x 19 Pay x 20 Working hours x 21 Employee retention x 22 Resources to deal with offender x 23 Agency leadership x 24 Suicide x 25 Personal/family support (EAP) x 26 Politics x 27 Promotion opportunity x 28 Other: x Respondent 2 C = Critical Issue I = Important, but not critical P = Possible Issue N = Not an Issue Correctional Issues C I P N 1 Overcrowding/High Caseload x 2 Building design x 3 Safety x 4 Impact of Technology x 5 Privatization x 6 Standards & Accreditation x Offender Issues: Type of Inmate/Offender 7 Sex offender x 8 Youthful offender x 9 Elderly offender x 10 Mental Health x 11 Physical Handicap x 12 Violent x 13 Female x 14 Male x 15 Juvenile x 16 Race Issues x 17 Drug offender x Employment Issues 18 Training x 19 Pay x 20 Working hours x 21 Employee retention x 22 Resources to deal with offender x 23 Agency leadership x 24 Suicide x 25 Personal/family support (EAP) x 26 Politics x 27 Promotion opportunity x 28 Other: x Respondent 3 C = Critical Issue I = Important, but not critical P = Possible Issue N = Not an Issue Correctional Issues C I P N 1 Overcrowding/High Caseload x 2 Building design x 3 Safety x 4 Impact of Technology x 5 Privatization x 6 Standards & Accreditation x Offender Issues: Type of Inmate/Offender 7 Sex offender x 8 Youthful offender x 9 Elderly offender x 10 Mental Health X 11 Physical Handicap x 12 Violent x 13 Female x 14 Male x 15 Juvenile x 16 Race Issues x 17 Drug offender x Employment Issues 18 Training x 19 Pay x 20 Working hours x 21 Employee retention x 22 Resources to deal with offender x 23 Agency leadership x 24 Suicide x 25 Personal/family support (EAP) x 26 Politics x 27 Promotion opportunity x 28 Other: x Respondent 4 C = Critical Issue I = Important, but not critical P = Possible Issue N = Not an Issue Correctional Issues C I P N 1 Overcrowding/High Caseload x 2 Building design x 3 Safety x 4 Impact of Technology x 5 Privatization x 6 Standards & Accreditation x Offender Issues: Type of Inmate/Offender 7 Sex offender x 8 Youthful offender x 9 Elderly offender x 10 Mental Health x 11 Physical Handicap x 12 Violent x 13 Female x 14 Male x 15 Juvenile x 16 Race Issues x 17 Drug offender x Employment Issues 18 Training x 19 Pay x 20 Working hours x 21 Employee retention x 22 Resources to deal with offender x 23 Agency leadership x 24 Suicide x 25 Personal/family support (EAP) x 26 Politics x 27 Promotion opportunity x 28 Other: x Respondent 5 C = Critical Issue I = Important, but not critical P = Possible Issue N = Not an Issue Correctional Issues C I P N 1 Overcrowding/High Caseload x 2 Building design x 3 Safety x 4 Impact of Technology x 5 Privatization x 6 Standards & Accreditation x Offender Issues: Type of Inmate/Offender 7 Sex offender x 8 Youthful offender x 9 Elderly offender x 10 Mental Health x 11 Physical Handicap x 12 Violent x 13 Female x 14 Male x 15 Juvenile x 16 Race Issues x 17 Drug offender x Employment Issues 18 Training x 19 Pay x 20 Working hours x 21 Employee retention x 22 Resources to deal with offender x 23 Agency leadership x 24 Suicide x 25 Personal/family support (EAP) x 26 Politics x 27 Promotion opportunity x 28 Other: x Read More