11.6: Types of Correctional Facilities
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- 48443
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Types of Correctional Facilities
There are a number of types of correctional facilities which are also known as incarceration facilities. Some of the common types of correctional facilities includes jail, prison, community facilities, and private institutions. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, an estimated 1,561,500 prisoners were in state and federal custody at the end of 2014. Roughly 37% of the inmates were black males, 32% were white males, 22% were Hispanic males, and 7% were females. The United States has the highest incarcerated population in the world. In fact, the United States has more jails and prisons than degree granting colleges and universities.
Jail
There are about 3,400 jails in the United States which currently hold approximately 744,600 individuals. Over the course of the year, there are nearly 12 million jail admissions. Approximately, 47% of the jail inmates are white, about 35% are black, and 15% are Hispanic. There are about 4,200 juvenile age 17 or younger being held in local jail which is less than 1% of the jail population. Jails are typically meant to be short-term facilities and they are typically administered by a local law enforcement agency. Jail inmates typically have a sentence of less than one year, or are being held before the trial, are awaiting sentencing, or are awaiting transfer to another facility after their conviction.
Many of the nation’s jails are overcrowded and we are over 100% capacity nationwide. These institutions hold youth, and the innocent, as well as those sentenced to jail or those spending time in jail because the state prisons are full. Since this is typically a transient population with only short-term stays, little if any treatment, recreation, or educational efforts are made. These institutions are often understaffed and the officers serving as guards often have little or no formal training in correctional procedures.
Prison
There are 4,575 prisons in operation in the United States. Approximately, 1,508,600 individuals are housed in state and federal correctional facilities. The US prison population decreased by 1% in 2014 compared to 2013. This 1% decline was the second largest decline in more than 35 years. The federal prison system is the nation’s largest followed by Texas and California respectively. In 2014, 19 jurisdictions were operating their prison facilities at more than 100% maximum capacity. Prisons are typically classified by three different security levels.
Maximum/Super Max
Maximum-security institutions are the most strict. They seem fortress like in appearance with armed guards towers, coiled razor wire, tall walls, and a series of gates with the entire facility carefully controlled throughout the day and night. Many of these facilities house 1,000 inmates or more together.
Image 11.3
Medium
Medium security facilities may be similar in appearance to maximum facilities from the outside but there are a few differences both inside and outside. On the outside the guard towers may not be staffed at all times and often the guards are not armed, the security on the outside of the facility may be a little less as well. On the inside of the facility and atmosphere are a bit more relaxed and typically there are greater treatment efforts at these institutions as well.
Minimum
It may be difficult to spot a minimum security facility as often they look more like a compound or university setting than a typical prison. There may be a fence but typically there are not walls or armed guards towers. The inmates may live in dormitory style arrangements or have private cells.
Community Facilities
Many communities have halfway houses or other types of facilities within their midst. By housing inmates in community facilities there tends to be less need for reintegration once they are released since their ties may be a little more intact in terms of visitation with family members that are nearby and so on. These facilities may also serve as a way for inmates to become reintegrated into the society after serving a term in prison. While there is still typically strict rules and a regimen to follow inmates may be allowed to search for employment in community, attend treatment, have visitation, and so on.
Private Institution
A private institution is a prison facility run by a business for a profit rather than by the government. These businesses are usually paid by the state based on the number of beds used by the inmates housed there. In 2014, 131,300 inmates were held in private prison facilities under the jurisdiction of 30 states and the Bureau of prisons.