Some guiding questions for Sheridan tour and readings

The Sheridan tour will be used as an example of the complexity of correctional processes. Those not going on the tour can easily obtain sufficient background by going over the readings. THOSE NOT GOING ON THE TOUR MIGHT COME UP WITH TWO QUESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO GO CAN ASK. Whether you go on the Sheridan tour or not, the Sheridan readings provide a peek into one type of incarceration: A treatment model. Some questions in general (some googling might supplement the answers): I. DOES "IDEOLOGY" CREEP IN? 1) Are drug treatment programs worth the cost? 2) As a prison administrator (warden, deparment director), how would you respond to public or legislative criticism that you're "soft on crime" and not really keeping the public safe? II. SHERIDAN AS "CORRECTIONAL PROCESS" 1) Sheridan was previously a "custodial," not a "program" prison. What was required when it changed over to a program prison to motivate former staff to buy into the no programming model? 2) What are the current problems the Sheridan administrators face (Staffing? Change in mission? Budget? Politics?) 3) In what ways can you identify "loose coupling" (a reading for today) occuring in Sheridan?

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