CHAPTER 10: INCARCERATION


Links to the past:
Prisons have undergone lots of changes.
We have already looked at various models (see history discussion).
John Irwin has identified three (3) basic models in this century:

THE BIG HOUSE:  convicts lived and constructed a world with social
divisions, lots of stratification and special informal rules and
meanings, and their own set of enterprises.

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS:  ESPECIALLY AFTER WW II: BASIC PREMISE WAS
"RE-HAB," AND THAT "HUMAN NATURE" CAN BE "TREATED."

CONTEMPORARY PRISONS:  CHARACTERIZED BY "DRIFT," WAREHOUSING, "LOCK-EM
UP," NO REHAB, BUT MANY PROGRAMS STILL IN PLACE.


THE POINT: WE MUST UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH BY
IMPRISONMENT AND WHAT HAPPENS IN PRISON, AND WE MUST STOP DOING ALL
THE UNNECESSARY THINGS THAT DEGRADE, EMBITTER, CRIPPLE AND DEHUMANIZE
PRISONERS.

GOALS OF INCARCERATION:

CUSTODIAL MODEL:  (TODAY'S): EMPHASIZES SECURITY, DISCIPLINE AND
ORDER.

REHABILIATION MODEL:  EMPHASIZES TREATMENT AND REFORM

REINTEGRATION MODEL:  EMPHASIZES OFFENDER'S TIES TO FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY AS METHOD OF REFORM, AND ATTEMPTS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO
FACILITE RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY.


NOTE:  EACH OF THESE "MODELS" (OR GOALS) MAY NOT ALWAYS CORRESPOND TO
MODELS OF PRISON OR PRISON MANAGEMENT. (DISCUSS
TENSIONS/CONTRADICTIONS)

The text reminds us that there are two gov't divisions of prisons in the
US:

   1. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (created in 1930 by Congress).
In Illinois, we have three: Pekin (central); Greenville (south/central)
and Marion (South)

   2. State prisons: Disparate

NOTE: FOR FUN (a good essay for the midterm): Compare federal and
state prisons (use homepages)

CURRENTLY, IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THAT THE ARCHITECTURE OF PRISONS MAY
ALSO CORRESPOND TO EITHER OUR GOALS OF ADMINISTRATION OR OUR
PHILOSOPHIES OF PUNISHMENT.

   A) RADIAL DESIGN
   B) AUBURN PRISON
   C) TELEPHONE POLE DESIGN
   D) COURTYARD STYLE
   E) CAMPUS STYLE (MINIMUM/DWIGHT)
   F) PANOPTICON (STATEVILLE, BUT CHANGING)

PRIVATE PRISONS ARE A NEW CONCEPT: (DISCUSS)

KNOW THE TRENDS AND THE VARIOUS INCARCERATION STRATEGIES:
(These are scattered, so we'll combine now):

   1. NULL STRATEGY:  "NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE, PRISONS ALLOWED TO BECOME
CONGESTED.  "SERVES THEM RIGHT," IS THE ETHOS. POLITICALLY POPULAR
BECAUSE IT COSTS LITTLE.

   2. SELECTIVE INCAPACITATION STRATEGY:  MAKE OPTIMUM USE OF EXPENSIVE
AND LIMITD PRISON SPACE BY TARGETTING FOR INCARCERATION THOSE WHOSE
INCAPACITATION WILL DO THE MOST TO REDUCE CRIME.

   3. POPULATION REDUCTION STRATEGY:  REDUCE NEW ADMISSIONS BY DEVELOPING
ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON.

   4. POPULATION-SENSITIVE FLOW-CONTROL STRATEGY:  LINKING SENTENCING TO
AVAILABLITY OF PRISON SPACE, RELEASE PRISONERS WHEN PRISONS ARE
CROWDED, ETC.

   5. CONSTRUCTION STRATEGY:  MORE PRISONS TO CONTAIN CROOKS.

WHO IS IN PRISON? (p. 240-41)

    Elderly = over 10 pct
    Violent = 46.6 pct; property about 1/4; drugs, 21.3;
    Race: White= 35 pct; Hispanic=17 pct; black=46 pct
    HIV positive= 2.3 pct

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