M-A-D Prison Ministry

What Is A Correctional Facility?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-correctional-facility.htm

 

A correctional facility is the building that many criminal justice systems use to detain offenders. These facilities may hold accused people prior to trial, convicted criminals, juvenile offenders, and other types of individuals. Some correctional facilities are intended to reform or otherwise prepare offenders for a successful reintegration into society, while others simply detain criminals until they can be released. Types of correctional facilities include jails, prisons, and juvenile detentioncenters. Each country has its own approach to the criminal justice system and uses correctional facilities differently.

 

The modern concept of the correctional facility did not appear until the 19th century in Britain. Prior to this time, detention facilities were typically only temporary. Instead of detaining criminals for extended periods of time, corporal or capital punishments were often administered instead. Individuals were sometimes used as galley slaves or sent to penal colonies as well. Long termincarceration was typically limited to debtor's prison, where people were sent when they could not pay their bills.

 

In the United States, a correctional facility that is operated by a county or local jurisdiction is typically referred to as a jail. These facilities can house people as they await trial, and typically also contain criminals that are serving sentences that are less than a year long. Prison usually refers to a type of correctional facility that is state or federally operated. These facilities can also contain people that are awaiting trial at state or federal levels, in addition to convicted criminals that are serving sentences longer than a year.

 

The federal prison system in the US has a more complex system of facilities. Under this system, a low security facility is often called a prison camp. Other types include correctional institutions and penitentiaries, which offer higher security. Some of these facilities have a focus on rehabilitation, though others lack the necessary staff or resources. It is sometimes possible to voluntarily study for and gain a general education development (GED) certificate or college degree while incarcerated at a correctional facility.

 

In addition to traditional correction facilities, a number of specialized systems also exist in many places. Militaries often maintain their own codes of justice and may imprison offenders in special military prisons. Juvenile detention facilities are often used as well to separate incarcerated minors from adults. The cutoff between juvenile detention and a traditional correctional facility is typically the age of majority, though many violent crimes allow younger teenagers to be convicted as adults. Some countries also have special psychiatric hospitals to avoid grouping mentally ill offenders in with general prison populations.

 

 

• Prison ministry is America 's largest spiritual harvest field. There are more than a million inmates, many of whom are genuinely seeking change, stability, and love in their lives. Many inmates acknowledge that coming to prison was "the best thing that ever happened to me" because they encountered Christ. 

 

A Practical Guide to Understanding and Evaluating Prison Systems 

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/210347.pdf

 

What To Do Before You Go—Being Prepared

 

But this is no ordinary mission. You are going to visit an unusual place: you are heading to a prison. When possible prior to your visit, you should speak with knowledgeable and credible people and organizations that are independent of the prison administration. The International Committee of the Red Cross has extensive experience in prison monitoring. However, ICRC reports are confidential and provided solely to host government authorities: ICRC officials are scrupulous on this issue. Nevertheless, speaking in general terms with ICRC officials can be beneficial. The most important part of getting ready is to be mentally prepared for what you are about to encounter. You should be well-rested, alert, and attuned to verbal and non-verbal communications. What you may see might shock you or make you feel uncomfortable. Getting prepared before you go is a necessity: you will need to rely on your senses – especially your common sense. Consular officers are encouraged to visit prisons early in their tours, even if no U.S. citizens are incarcerated, and then maintain contacts with prison officials and administrators for the duration of their tour. These visits and contacts are valuable links to the host nation, and can be passed along to future consular officers when they arrive in country, or shared with INL and DRL officers if they are tasked with evaluating the host nation prisons and jails. 

 

Safety First  Prisons can be dangerous: do not take security lightly.  Prisons are environments where personal privacy is scarce.  Trust your instincts.  Give your agenda and contact information to the RSO and others in the office. Include the precise location of the prison, contact numbers for the director or warden, and the expected duration of visit.  Be respectful and polite.  Do not take unnecessary risks: if conditions do not feel or look safe then end the visit, thank your hosts, and depart for a safe area. 

 

Clothing and Equipment  Dress conservatively and professionally; avoid insignia and flag pins.  Avoid wearing too much or expensive jewelry – none is better.  Wear comfortable walking shoes (no heels, flip flops, or sneakers).  Bring head cover (caps, scarves, etc.).  Leave your cell phone and/or BlackBerry in the car or in the director’s office—do not take it around the prisoners.  Do not carry large amounts of cash.  Do not carry cigarettes, lighters or pocket knives.  Take a camera only if it is allowed by the authorities.  Take business cards, but do not give them to prisoners.

 

Conduct – be a good visitor:  Stay with the group: wandering frustrates staff and puts you at risk.  Do not take pictures of the prison or prisoners without permission.  Do not ask prisoners about their crimes in front of staff or other prisoners.  Ask permission to enter a cell or dormitory.  Be polite, acknowledge the prisoners and staff, and ask permission to move around the living area.  Avoid commentaries about conditions during the visit.  Ask if any colors or dress codes are preferred or prohibited. Expect to be searched and do not be offended if you are denied access without a search. Searches, which might be thorough, should be professional and appropriate.  Do not offer to do anything for a prisoner (unless you are visiting a U.S. citizen prisoner, or intend to alert a foreign consul to the detention of one of his/her nationals).  Do not give prisoners money, food, or other items.  If you are entering a living area of the opposite sex, announce your presence before you enter.  If the visit ends unexpectedly, do not argue with the staff. Obey their orders and exit the facility calmly and quickly. 

 

Reading the Environment:  Is the staff friendly, open, and receptive to your visit?  Is the staff uneasy and/or indifferent to your visit?  Does the staff appear comfortable or uncomfortable entering the prisoner living areas?  Do the prisoners seem at ease with staff present, or do they seem agitated by the presence of staff?  Do the prisoners look down, avoid eye contact, or take a submissive pose in the presence of staff?  Do the prisoners glare at staff or stare at you (with more than idle curiosity), and do you feel intimidated?  Are the prisoners cooking in their cells/dorms?  Are the prisoners working, or are they idle?  Are there large numbers of staff milling about aimlessly or not paying attention to their duties?  Do the prisoners have knives, tools, or other instruments that might be used for escape or weapons?  Do the prisoners appear to be divided into distinct groups and identified by age, ethnicity, tattoos, et cetera? 

 

The Corrections World

 

Throughout the world, there are approximately nine million people under some form of incarceration or supervision, with one-quarter of them in the United States. The circumstances of prisoners and the nature of prison facilities are as varied as the cultures and the resources available to each nation. However, no matter where they are being held, prisoners are a vulnerable population, and they rely upon the government to ensure provision of their needs and welfare. Therefore, it is incumbent upon a government to adhere to standards and obligations that create environments that are safe, secure, humane, and transparent.

 

While adult males constitute, and are likely to continue to constitute, the largest group of prisoners, there are several other important groups, including women, juveniles, and those with mental and physical disabilities. These three groups are sometimes referred to as “vulnerable populations” because they are particularly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, or neglect within the prisons.

 

Crimes committed by individuals with mental disabilities are sometimes driven by the illness itself, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. In some countries, incarceration for such cases takes place in mental health hospitals, private homes, or other community-based facilities, and any forced commitment is done through a civil, rather than criminal, process. However, in a growing number of countries and for a variety of reasons, forced commitment and incarceration of these individuals takes place within the criminal justice system. This ‘criminalization’ of people with mental disabilities is a worldwide phenomenon; understanding the systems at work in a given country can be especially challenging for political or consular officers charged with reporting on, or visiting, these institutions.

 

The fastest growing segment of the world’s prisoner population is female. These offenders have unique needs, particularly when it comes to family considerations (including care of children), causes for criminality, health care (including childbirth), and psychology.  Juveniles represent another vulnerable population. Some of the issues that must be addressed are the minimum age of criminal responsibility, age of adulthood, education, mental, and physical development, as well as whether juvenile offenders are kept segregated from adult offenders.

 

International Corrections At A Glance

 

The diversity among international corrections and prisons systems is astounding. The availability of human and financial resources, existence of laws, cultural values, crime rates and types, and other factors all influence the criminal justice equation. In many nations, the corrections system or prison system is a national agency. However, sometimes responsibility for the prison system is assigned to the provinces or states, while other systems rely upon informal mechanisms. Sometimes it is law-enforcement focused, sometimes it is social-reformation focused, but often it fulfills a dual role.

 

In some developing countries, the prisons and jails are operated by the police (through the Ministry of Interior). However, this is not a recommended practice. The preferred structure is to have the corrections system independent of the police, because it provides a counterbalance to police misconduct, arbitrary arrest, and detention.

 

In many countries the corrections system is part of the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Social Affairs.

 

U.S. Corrections At A Glance

 

Corrections in the United States are a conglomeration of various local, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is responsible for incarcerating persons charged and convicted under federal law (see: Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code).

 

There is no national prison service in the United States. A national prison system is one charged with operating all the prisons in a country, while a federal prison system is responsible for operating prisons holding criminals charged or convicted of federal crimes.

 

In early 2011, there were approximately 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States. Of these, just over 210,000 were serving in FBOP faciliU.S. prison cell block - 2010 ties. The remaining 90 percent were incarcerated in non-federal systems. Each U.S. state has its own correctional system. A few state systems operate jails, prisons, probation, and parole. Most state systems, however, are not combined operations and only manage prisons. Jails in the United States are usually operated by municipal and county governments, and most probation departments are attached to the courts. Parole operations are often independent and report to a parole board or commission. In 2010, nationwide expenditures for U.S. corrections systems were approximately $52 billion.

 

With very few exceptions, all personnel working in U.S. corrections have attended certified training academies of varying lengths and curricula. Correctional officers make up the bulk of these personnel. However, the sector also employs professionals in probation and parole, facilities, administration, medical services, education and vocational training, mental health, social services, procurement, employee training, transportation, information technology, and human resources. Depending on the system and the duties assigned, training programs can last from just a few weeks to more than three months.

 

While correctional systems in the United States often struggle with issues of overcrowding, insufficient human and financial resources, and incidents of violence and other abuse, there are oversight and enforcement mechanisms in the United States, including the Department of Justice, which help ensure that U.S. correctional systems are operated in conformity with the U. S. Constitution, statutes, and regulations.