Ashford Courses

Week 1

Goals of Sentencing. Discuss the pros and cons of four of the six correctional aims or goals of sentencing.

History of Corrections. Compare and contrast the differences between the corrections system today versus what you learned about the history of corrections in the United States. Identify at least one similarity and one difference between the philosophies of today’s corrections and that of the past.

Week 2

Constitutional Rights of Prisoners. The Supreme Court has held that prisons may restrict the constitutional rights of prisoners where the restriction is connected to a legitimate penological interest. Provide an example of this idea when prisoners’ constitutional rights may be restricted in the interest of a legitimate jail function. Is it fair that prisoners’ rights may be restricted by prison administrators? Why or why not?

Rabble Management. Define the difference between jail and prison. In addition, define the term rabble as it relates to the concept of American jails being a form of “rabble management.” Provide your opinion on the value and effectiveness of jails as forms of rabble management for society.

Rights of Prisoners. Prepare a paper detailing the differences exhibited between balancing the constitutional rights of prisoners and the functions of the jail or prison. As an example, discuss the mandatory rights that prison administrators must provide prisoners and discuss how those rights are balanced with the security, safety, court requirements, visits, and other functions of the facility. Provide an example of where a corrections officer must balance the rights of the inmates with his own daily functions.

Week 3

Models of Institutional Control. Evaluate the three different models of institutional control presented in your text: the control model, the responsibility model, and the consensual model. Briefly describe each model and explain which one you think makes the most sense, or argue how each of the models could be used as an effective form of institutionalization.

Prison Administration. Considering the institutional impediments for the administration of correctional facilities presented in your text (politics, budgets, consent decrees, size of the departments, bureaucracy, etc.), identify the most important goals of prison administrators and describe what factors most impact those administrators in meeting their goals.

Roles of Corrections Officers. Prepare a paper detailing the role of corrections officials. At a minimum, your paper should focus upon the corrections officers’ place within the social roles of inmates as detailed in your text, and the role of corrections officers within jail administration.

Week 4

Reintegration. The textbook provides several examples of community corrections as a means of “reintegration” of inmates into the community. Explain what reintegration is and give an example of a community correction effort that’s aim is to assist in the process of reintegration.

Probation. Probation is often not thought of as a function of correction. Identify ways in which probation meets or fails to meet the goals of sentencing.

Week 5

Release From Prison. Define the terms mandatory release and supervised release. Describe what institutional goals these terms meet by releasing prisoners early to serve the last portion of their sentences within the general population.

Privatization. It has been argued that privatizing prisons would save the government money by paying private companies to efficiently run our prisons and jails. Discuss the pros and cons of the privatization of jails by providing an example of both a positive and negative effect of privatization.

Focus of the Final Paper

The purpose of the Final Paper is for you to examine the issues related to corrections as well as the best strategies and options designed to meet the goals of corrections. At a minimum, your paper should include the following:

1.A history of the corrections system and varying approaches to corrections by era.

2.A complete description of the participants of the corrections system and their roles.

3.A detailed analysis of the impediments, or issues, faced by corrections administrations when running a prison.

4.A complete description of the rights of prisoners, and the administration of required services by prison officials.

5.A detailed description of alternative forms of corrections, including methods of rehabilitation and reintroduction to society.

6.A comprehensive list and weighing of alternatives, both pro and con, to incarceration and alternative strategies to incarceration.

You must incorporate at least five resources, other than the text, in your Final Paper. You can supplement some of these resources you use with interviews of people involved in the field of corrections. Provide scientific data and analyses justifying the positions taken in the paper, and any other scholarly or practical references that lend credibility to the project and the findings presented. If you chose to incorporate an interview, or interviews, prepare your interview throughout the four weeks. Use this schedule when incorporating an interview into your Final Paper:

a.Week One: Create a list of potential corrections jobs and the location of those jobs.

b.Week Two: Contact the potential person to hold an interview.

c.Weeks Three and Four: Allow two weeks to find a good time to hold the interview and process the information