Ineffectiveness of Therapeutic Communities in Prisons Essay

Prisons release 650,000 offenders to the public annually and 70% of those exoffenders will commit new offenses within three years (Fields, 2005, p. A4). According to the JFA Institute (2007), â€Å"two-thirds of the 650,000 prison admissions are people who have failed probation or parole—approximately half of these people have been sent to prison for technical violations† (p. 1). As prison crowding occurs, prison officials are challenged to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks and incorporate therapeutic programs (Center for Justice & Reconciliation, 2007). If criminal justice professionals fail to keep up with programming expectations, program shortages may influence inmate idleness resulting in disruptions, prison violations, and mental-health issues related to stress and depression (Fields). During 2003 and 2004, approximately 900 criminals entered the nation’s jails and prisons each week based on a report issued in April 2006 by the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (p. 1). Jails and prisons in the U. S. house more people with mental illnesses than many of the inpatient psychiatric facilities, and virtually all correctional facilities experience the impact of this population that is increasing at an unprecedented rate (McCuan, Prini, & Wasarhaley, 2007). During 2006, 41% of inmate assailants were listed under the mental health caseload (Collins, 2006). In 2006, the U. S. Department of Justice released statistics revealing that 23% of state prisoners reported symptoms of major depression. An estimated 61% of state prisoners and 44% of jail inmates who had a mental health problem also had a history of past violent behavior. In a 1999 report (Dawn, 2007), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill reported that there are three times as many seriously mentally ill individuals in prison and jails than there are being treated in hospitals. Equally disturbing is that the criminal justice system will have some type of experience with 25 to 40% of the mentally ill in the U. S. population. Inmates with mental illness present additional expenditure problems for prison systems already overburdened by population demands. The influx has challenged criminal justice professionals to extend their budgets to cover the costs of appropriate programming for every offender in an effort to minimize potential inmate unrest, a situation that leads to assaults and other infractions associated with idleness (Wilkinson, 1998). In 2007, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) reached a population milestone with a count of 50,000 offenders. As the inmate population rises in Ohio prisons, the possibility of inmate assaults may also go up â€Å"because overcrowding exacerbates the chronic pains of imprisonment† (Haney, 2006, p. 2). One way to manage a potential increase in assaults is to keep offenders engaged in some type of community activity and participating in therapeutic programs. Some officials reported that therapeutic programs and community service theoretically should be one of the most effective ways to engage an inmate’s time and energy and keep infractions at a manageable level. DRC views the involvement of inmates in community service and therapy as vital to their release. Ohio prison Director Terry Collins stated that ex-offenders who served as program participants during their incarceration help close the gap between themselves and their communities. As a result, these inmates are better prepared to function as lawabiding citizens â€Å"†¦because they have stayed in touch with the community and have given something of value back† (Collins, 2007, p. 1). â€Å"Very crowded prison systems are difficult to manage† (Wilkinson, 1998, p. 76). As prison crowding occurs, prison officials are challenged to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks. â€Å"Good prison management is engaging prisoners in meaningful activities such as educational programs and work assignments† (Wilkinson, p. 76). â€Å"The most important single factor (among many) that helps to explain the current crisis in American corrections—the lack of effective programming and treatment† (Haney, 2007, p. 76). Although prison jobs such as mopping floors, kitchen duty, and making prison garments occupy inmates’ time, more meaningful community service as a restorative justice measure may be an effective way to address the challenge of prison crowding (Center for Justice & Reconciliation, 2007). â€Å"The meaningful aspect is critical because it may help to instill responsibility and a changed attitude about criminal activity† (Wilkinson, p. 76). Prisons in the United States are facing the challenges of crowding including inmate idleness as it relates to programming expectations. Lack of programming in prison is a serious safety and security threat to the staff, the public, and the offenders. As inmate populations increase, once stable prison systems can become volatile environments and endanger prison staff and the systems they are charged with protecting (Gaes, 1994). When criminal justice professionals fail to keep up with programming expectations, program shortages may influence inmate idleness. Inmate idleness can lead to disruptions, prison violations, gang-related activities, and mental-health issues related to stress and depression (Wilkinson, p. 76). Another issue confronting the criminal justice system is the increasing number ofyouth being sentenced to adult prisons (Fields, 2005). Every state within the U. S. has at least one statutory component that addresses the procedure of processing juveniles as adults in criminal court (Wilkinson, 1998). Prison officials also have other challenges. One challenge officials face includes accommodating the needs of state prisoners with symptoms of mania (43%) and major depression (23%) according to the U. S. Department of Justice (2006, p. 1). A major problem is that inmates with mental health problems are unable to defend their situation so they remain in prison. Although prison officials face the issue of crowding, they are also seeking ways for inmates to become engaged in some type of activity that will keep them busy for the majority of their waking hours. When offenders engage in some type of prison program or activity that helps with their transition from prison to society successful reintegration is possible. The theoretical framework of community service in the prison setting is the restorative justice model (Zehr, 2002). The restorative justice model advocates that offenders must demonstrate a desire or a goodwill gesture to pay back the public for the misdeed they committed in order to reconnect to their community. Restorative justice is a philosophical framework for responding to crime that focuses on the injury resulting from crime and the actions needed to mend this harm. It focuses on crime as an act against another individual or the community rather than the state. It is a future-focused model that emphasizes problem solving instead of â€Å"just deserts. † (Carey, 1996, pp. 152-153) Although several justice models exist, the restorative justice model combines the best features of the traditional, liberal, and conservative theories. â€Å"Restorative justice has brought an awareness of the limits and negative by-products of punishment. Beyond that, however, it has argued that punishment is not real accountability† (Zehr, 2002, p. 16). By participating as community service volunteers, inmates choose to serve the community. The inmates’ actions demonstrate a desire to give back and a desire to assume responsibility for their actions. Community service programs have a restorative justice component that considers an offender’s successful transition from incarceration to community integration (U. S. Department of Justice, 2006). When considering the large number of offenders in jails and prisons nationally, the problem demands the public’s immediate attention (U. S. Department of Justice, 2006). Providing offenders with productive activities through programs like community service sends a message to the public that its safety and security is vital. It is also important to assist inmates in their transition back into the community by engaging them in an activity that keeps them connected to a society that has been offended by crime. Wilkinson (1998) reported that a significant percent of exoffenders that participated in community service while in prison did not recidivate compared to those offenders that did not participate (p. 91). Although community service may have a positive impact on an inmate’s community re-entry, the type of community service program inmates do during their incarceration may also improve their quality of prison life. Barak, Savorai, Mavashev, and Beni (2001) reported that dogs are becoming a valued therapeutic tool among health-care providers in clinical and non-traditional settings because of the calming affect dogs have on the physical and mental conditions of patients. Community service programs serve a useful role in managing inmate behavior and controlling the frequency and severity of inmate infractions within adult prisons. However, as prison crowding occurs, prison officials struggle to keep inmates busy by assigning them to productive tasks. Inmate idleness is something that most states are confronted with and while prison jobs such as mopping floors, kitchen duty, and making prison garments keep inmates occupied, these jobs are not enough to satisfy programming requirements to address the needs of rising populations. As inmate populations increase, stable prison systems could become volatile environments endangering prison staff as well as the inmates the systems are charged with protecting. When there are a limited number of prison jobs to address the population challenges, offenders find inappropriate ways to address their own idleness. The choices offenders make may lead to fights, staff assaults, riots, and other forms of aggression. References Barak, Y. , Savorai, O. , Mavashev, S. , & Beni, A (2001). Animal assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: A one year controlled trial. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(4), 439-432. Fields, G. (2005, January). Congress prepares to tackle prisoner recidivism: Lawmakers plan for bipartisan measures after report offers advice for overhaul. Wall Street Journal, p. A4. JFA Institute. (2007, November). Unlocking America: Why and how to reduce America’s prison population. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from www. jfa-associates. com U. S. Department of Justice. (2006, September 6). Study finds more than half of all prison and jail inmates have mental health problems. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. ojp. usdoj. gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2006/BJS06064. htm McCuan, R. , Prins, S. , & Wasarhaley, N. (2007). Resources and challenges: Corrections and mental health collaborations. August 2007, Corrections Today: Female Offenders Collins, T. (2006). Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction: Pieces of the puzzle. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. drc. ohio. gov/ Dawn, B. (2007). Managing the â€Å"other† inmate. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://www. corrections. com Wilkinson, R. A. (1998). The impact of community service work on adult state prisons using a restorative justice framework. Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati, College of Education. Haney, C. (2007). Testimony of Professor Craig Haney. Prison overcrowding: Harmful consequences and dysfunctional reactions. University of California, Santa Cruz.

Leadership Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership Plan - Essay Example Being 27 years old and a soon mother-to-be, I believe my priorities are set in the right direction – I want to be a good mother first and then finish school and yearn for a successful career. This career will fulfill my intrinsic desires to reach the top, to show my mettle to one and all that I can make a serious difference. However one thing is for certain and that is the fact that I need to work my way through difficult times and understand how life offers chances to people every now and then. I need to grab the chances that come my way with both hands and be thankful to God for giving me a chance to do something constructive. Being in a leadership role would be one feeling that will elevate my status within the society as well as offer me a chance to understand that my hard work has paid the right dividends. (Chemers, 1997) I believe no work goes unnoticed and if a person applies herself whole-heartedly towards a task, success is sure to touch her feet sooner rather than la ter. Same is my case, where I see myself working towards attaining a task, a goal and an objective – all of which lead towards eventual success in the said field. However there are three different questions which I need to answer and this I will do during the length of this essay. At the present, I believe I am being too hard on myself. But then again this is a requirement for me since my Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership is one rigorous program which will eventually prepare me into a professional on all counts. I am vying to pursue my Master’s so that I could give a practical shape to my thinking ideologies and see myself as a successful individual in the coming times. Presently I am working my heart out to attend the night school as well as working full-time as an administrative assistant in the marketing department of an organization. It has become hard on me but I know it will bring the rich dividends which I richly deserve, say 5

Assignment 9 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

9 - Assignment Example This promotes wholesome growth physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially which is essential for the child. â€Å"It ought therefore to enter into the domestic policy of every parent, to make her children feel that the home is the happiest place in the world† I agree with the scholars who call Mrs. Beeton a feminist because her thought process portrays a woman who seeks to clearly define and defend the equal social, cultural and economic rights of a woman. We see this when she likens the mistress of the house to the Commander in Chief of an army by saying that the woman is the leader of the house who should perform her household duties now that the man is off looking for work. She ranks household duties by the woman and work by the man as equal, thereby making the both of them of the same stature in the chain of command hierarchy in the house. â€Å"as with the commander of an army or the leader of an enterprise, so is it with the mistress of a household. Her spirit will be seen through the whole establishment: and just in proportion as she performs her duties intelligently and thoroughly, so will her domestics follow in her path.† She believes that it is equally as important for the woman to show leadership in the house, both to her children and her servants, who will then follow the good example she sets for them and become better from it. She goes on to state that good leadership which was previously provided by the husband is now being provided by the woman because the man is not at home most of the time. The tone of Fichte’s address is one of revival and renewal. He is directing his sentiments to the German public whom he wants to reaffirm their status as belonging to a unique and special identity that should not be cowed by any forces, political or otherwise. He seeks to remind them of their rich history, in the hope that it will

Rogers Chocolate Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rogers Chocolate - Case Study Example Rogers’ sold chocolates, related specialty products and premium ice cream items. As Zietsma (2007) notes, firstly, competition was a point of concern since traditional players in the chocolate business were moving into the premium sector where Rogers’ had a presence (p 20). Secondly, there was a shift in consumer preferences towards organic chocolates. Moreover, consumers were becoming more environment conscious. There were significant costs involved in set up and cleaning involved in the production process. The disruption in schedules influenced by various factors was the cause for frequent out-of- stock situations faced by Rogers’. An ageing consumer base was also pertinent since there was no potential replacement for the eventual loss of customers. A traditional mindset of the employees meant that Rogers’ was not ready to reinvent itself in the present context. 2. PESTEL Analysis The political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal is sues pertaining to Rogers’ are described in this section. 2.1 Political Change in governments affect the formulation and implementation of policies related to the chocolate industry. Rogers being in the premium chocolate segment, its products could be considered as elitist. A populist government could be at logger heads with Rogers’. Moreover, there could be pressure from political parties to unionise Rogers’ since the company would attract the attention of trade unions. Lobbying by competitors was also one of the threats that loomed over Rogers. Any decision which was the result of such bargaining could prove detrimental to the business interests of Rogers. The sales of Rogers’ outside Canada was also affected by the policies of foreign countries especially those of the US and Europe. Diplomatic stand offs between Canada and other nations would have a bearing on the bottom line of Rogers’. Every trade related treaty signed between Canada and other nations provided an opportunity to Rogers’. Likewise, when such treaties are abrogated, it is a threat to the activities at Rogers’. 2.2 Economic The changes in the economy also have a bearing on the fortunes of Rogers’. In times of recession, the sales of luxury goods are hit the most, which brings a drop in sales of premium chocolate. Further, cost cutting measures are required at every step in business. This could adversely affect the quality and hence the brand name of Rogers’. There could be a threat of layoffs in such cases. This would lead to change in employment patterns in the organisation as permanent staff is replaced by part-timers. The prices of raw materials could also increase leading to a hike in the prices of chocolates. This would make Rogers’ products unattractive in foreign markets. Economic sanctions against the countries providing raw materials to Rogers’ could hit production. Damage to crops, diversion of raw material s to competitors on account of better prices etc. are some of the other issues that can hamper production. This would make Rogers’ products unattractive in foreign markets. 2.3 Social Rogers’ had not packaged itself differently based on current trends. Hence, an ageing baby boomer generation remained its target audience. Though this group of consumers had an inclination for quality goods, eventually there would be no customers left if the younger generation does not replace them. Rogers’ marketing would have to change to reflect this reality. Similarly, the employees at Rogers’ were caught in a time warp as they had been in the same organisation for two to three generations. While there was cohesion among employees

Theater History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Theater History - Essay Example Entertainment in these early times involved travelling productions. With the rise however of very popular stars and the clamor of audiences to see their performances as often as they possibly could, the stage theaters started to be strongly patronized. This also marked the beginning of the single play with long-running stage productions. Significantly thereafter, the theater started to become one of the oldest forms of entertainment, and this, even long before the televisions and the cinemas were born. This paper will particularly focus on the following key points: realism, the resurgence of new melodrama and that of political censorship, with the end in view of not only discovering the correlations between the aforementioned key points and the rise of the stars, but that of their linkage as well, to the future growth of theater itself. (Germany) and Konstantin Stranislavsky (Moscow) advocated realism, the true depictions of life. Eventually, this soon became the dominant mode in most of the theatrical productions not only in Europe but also in the West (www.wsu.edu/brians/hum_303/naturalism.html). Most of the playwrights and production directors centered on the lives of shining stars like French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844 -1923) and Italian stage player Eleonora Duse (1858 -1924). The renowned Sarah with the reputation of being a very serious dramatic actress then was referred to as "the most famous actress in the history of the world". She would later in this artistic profession earn the nickname of "The Divine Sarah" (Wikipedia). Injuring her right leg in 1905, an amputation was done in 1915, but this did not stop the ambivalent Sarah from continuing to tour and perform. She succumbed to a lingering ailment and made her final goodbye in 1923 while filming La Voyante (www.who2.com/sarahbernhardt.html). E leonora Duse, on the other hand, was considered as the greatest Italian player of her age, marking her American debut in 1893. With nineteen years hiatus, she made her farewell tour in 1923 (Fuse). Both Sarah and Eleonora had beautiful golden voices and each shared their respective abilities to breathe their emotional lives into the classic roles that they performed. Consequently, in their own respective rights, they would each further the movement toward the bringing about of remarkable realistic acting. Their professional careers became major successes despite of the fact that both their real lives were wrought and harrowed by the characters that they played. This fusion of realism and drama that are seen in turn in both these dramatic performers ushered in many changes in scenic and costume design, acting styles and staging. Similarly, in real life, both of them from frequent bouts of physical ailments, most of the time some financial difficulties, and the common problem of havin g countless love affairs. In any event, together, the two great stage actresses were most instrumental to making the concept of realism, the most dominant mode in the history of playwriting and theatrical productions during the 19th century. RESURGENCE OF NEW MELODRAMA "Melodrama was the primary form of

Baroque music and Baroque art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Baroque music and Baroque art - Essay Example The art here produces unusual diversity during the Baroque period. This was because of current classicism and naturalism events which intermingled and coexisted with the Baroque style. The beginning of the Baroque painting is traced during the 16th century which ended with the painting of church ceilings. Most of the painting work was done in Western Europe with limited paintings being seen in Germany. Most of the paintings were in Austria and Holland where the architects broke from the Italian buildings in 1720s in an ornate monarchies, churches and palaces which were designed by the Asam brothers, J.B. Fischer von Erlach among others. The dramatic turn in music was witnessed during the 17th century with Italy leading the way. Despite the fact that Stile Antico was known polyphonic style, it was mainly reserved for the music. Besides, Stile moderno which mainly focused on solo music, base line and polarity of the melody and outstanding harmony developed for the secular music which w as between the instrumental and the vocal idioms. Just like the periods in art, the music period also presented a lot of diversity. Some of the frequent and common new vocals included oratorio, opera and cantala while the concerto, sonata and overture were the known created instruments for the instrumental music. Claudio Monteverdi was one of the greatest composers and was followed by Giovanni Pergolesi and Allesandro Scarlati; later, a myriad of other composers such as Frederic Handel, Sebastian Bach, etc.

Christopher Columbus a Villain Essay Example for Free

Christopher Columbus a Villain Essay Should a man whose actions created a wave of genocide and killed thousands of innocent natives be considered a hero? In today’s time, Christopher Columbus is known through the United States as the one who found the country we currently live in. But is that actually true? Over many years, his history has sparked a day that is a remembrance of his â€Å"discovery†. I believe that he is the mastermind behind the genocide of over 250,000 Native Americans, while others believe that he was only a man with a passion for exploring. I personally believe that Christopher Columbus had not a single good intention when he first stepped foot on the Americas back in his time and showed negative glory for his nation, discovery and personal glory. Christopher Columbus found the Americas, but today he takes credit for discovering a new world. Native Americans had been living in civilizations across North and South America long before Columbus had discovered it. This journey has now ruined many of those enslaved, and impacted as well as his precious reputation. With his expedition, he exposed countries to new disease, violence, and slavery. His â€Å"discovery† led him to ruin the America’s of its natives and its resources. These horrible actions should be added to Columbuss reputation, which shows him to be a villain in American history. Christopher Columbus had evil intentions from the start of his voyage when he promised to repay, Spanish monarch and founder of Columbuss travels, with gold, spice, and other servants. When he first arrived in what he thought was Asia, he quickly gathered the natives and introduced them to slavery. He also returned to Europe with the Native Americans possessions. In a resource I studied clearly and bias freely I read the following:† †¦, a sailor called Rodrigo saw the moon shining on white sands, and cried out. It was an island in the Bahamas, in the Caribbean Sea. The first man to sight land was supposed to get a large reward, but Rodrigo never got it. Columbus claimed that he had seen a light the evening before. He got the reward. We humans today know that when something new comes into the picture, something old must come out. No matter which side people choose, they all agree that Columbus made a major impact on the Americas.