medium security
offenders: more serious and longer term, some violent offenses
facilities; single buildings with wings, locked doors, gates, guarded perimeters, gun towers, shared cells, communal gathering spaces
more limited participation in programs
minimum security
offenders: shorter sentences, nonviolent offenses, low escape and other risk
facilities: smaller, sprawling buildings like college campus, dorm-style housing, generally no locked cells
perimeter: unarmed correctional officer patrols, often no outer fences
inmates encourages to participate in treatment and development programs and interact with one another
inmates may be permitted to leave for work assignments
maximum security
serious offenders with violent crimes and long sentences, pose significant risk to themselves and others
facilities: many physical barriers, cell blocks separated by security perimeters, toilets in cells
perimeters: laser and video tech, auto locking doors, gun towers, multiple fence lines, constant surveillance
inmates allowed few it any freedoms, may be shackled or handcuffed
limited visitors and little interacting
may contain death row blocks
supermax security
20000 inmates
highest level of supervision possible
may be an entire prison or a wing of a maximum security facility
offenders are most dangerous, often political connections to terrorism (ADMAX - Federal)
correctional officers
tasks: inmate health care, food, supervision of inmates, treatment/rehabilitative programming
high stress job
paid similar amount to police
must do not carry guns and other weapons that can be taken and used against them
hands-off doctrine
pre 1960s
courts did not interfere with the mgmt of prisons
1964 Cooper v Pate
inmates the right to pursue legal action for violation of civil rights
Muslims have the right to pursue legal action for religious discrimination by religious officials
1974 Wolff v McDonnell
guarantees inmates due process rights
access to the court system for disciplinary violations and new charges while incarcerated
1976 Estelle v Gamble
requires “deliberate indifference” to conditions by prison officials in order for an inmate to argue that his incarceration violates 8th amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. officials must know about the situation and deliberately allow it to occur
2005 Cutter v Wilkinson
upholds religious land use and institutionalized persons act of 2000 protecting the religious freedom of inmates
prison rape elimination act 2003
formal review of rape cases
1932 substantiated sexual assaults most involving other inmates
ab 4% of prison inmates and 3% of jail inmates report being sexually assaulted while incarcerated during the past year
why so much violence?
subculture of violence
prison hierarchies
power
gendered isolation
prison “importation” vs “socialization”
probation
sentencing alternative to prison as decided by local judges
parole
supervised release from prison administered by the state
intensive-supervision probation (ISP)
probation programs with smaller caseloads, stricter conditions, and closer surveillance
standard probation/parole conditions
meeting with probation officer, address notification, job, restricted travel, firearms restrictions
punitive probation/parole conditions
fines, community service, restitution, drug testing, house arrest
treatment probation/parole conditions
counseling, job training, substance abuse aid
release decision
parole
how long offense should be confined
determining conditions of release
investigation
probation
pre-sentence report PSI/PSR
bail or recognizance recommendation