Some guiding questions for the "good time scandal" eadings

Some questions to think about: 1) You will read an article on "loose coupling" for today. In what ways, and at how many levels, does the GTS ("good time scandal") reflect "loose coupling? 2) Some would argue that one of the worst problems that prison staff and prison administrators face is the politicization of prisons, prison policies, and prison management. Assuming that the GTS illustrates politicization, in how many ways, and at what levels, do politics intrude on prisons? What other examples can you find by Googling? 3) On a scale of one to 10, how much of the GTS was driven by ideology, and how much based in empirical evidence? Even without knowing anything about prisons, can you spot methodological or logical flaws in the criticism? 4) How are prison closings and good-time release connected? 5) We think of prisons as a "thing." This class is focuses on "PROCESS!" What social, cultural, or political factors OUTSIDE the prison walls shape the "prison process?"

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