CORRECTIONS TRENDS

Corrections Trends

Correction Trends

Introduction

In the eyes of a number of experts, corrections are most challenging and frustrating component; no matter, if they are community or institutional corrections. In order to manage the mismanagement and inmates on daily bases, the state government plays a significant role, by developing such corrections, which will benefit the society on the whole, making it a safer place for its citizens.

Although the development of community corrections started only 30 years back, they have now become an important part of the country's correctional system. As the result, of a growing number of prison populations in the United States, the driving force between community corrections is the development of alternative incarceration. On the other hand, institutional corrections hold such a significance, which is different from community corrections; the prime reason behind this is that prisons are important to keep the even people away from the society. Moreover, operating the correctional system in the United States is very costly.

The U.S government pays approximately $32 billion each year for operating prisons, and according to an estimate, an American taxpayer pays around $21,000 annually for a prisoner, with the amount two or three times higher, if the prisoner is elderly or sick. This, maintaining a proper correctional system for communities and institutions is very necessary because any mistake or mismanagement will undoubtedly cost the government as well as the citizens a huge amount of money and concerns for social security simultaneously. This paper aims to identify the past, present and future trends of community and institutional currents. It also aims to identify the role of alternative correctional system in solving the issues which the prison and prison administrators face.

Discussion

The Past, Present and Future Trend of Institutional Corrections

The period in between 1930s to 1940s, in the history of corrections made in America, is the Big House era. This era marks the construction of a large number of prisons was constructed around the country during this period, some holding even more than 1000 inmates simultaneously. The courts-correctional relationship developed, as a measure, to maintain an efficient system for criminal justice because what happens in court has a strong impact on corrections and vice versa. Two legal bases were developed in 1970s through which prisoners were allowed to bring their cases to court. Medical care was allowed for prisoners of both genders. Recent trends in institutional corrections include corrections made for juvenile ...