Department Of Corrections Essay, Research Paper

Department of Corrections is an bureau of the province that is responsible for the

supervising and direction of convicted criminals. The Department of Corrections allows

the protection of the community by runing safe, secure installations that keep wrongdoers

under house, just patterns. There is a broad scope of intervention including educational and

vocational plans that help the wrongdoers become rehabilitated citizens. Correctionss has

been around for centuries. The corrections history of New York and of Utah are merely a

few pieces of a immense mystifier of corrections. & # 8220 ; That human establishments require periodic

redesign, if merely because of their inclination to disintegrate is non a minor fact about them, nor

easy understood. Take the span of history, there is no more of import lesson to be

learned. & # 8221 ;

The history of New York & # 8217 ; s Correctionss starts with the Fort Amsterdam Era. Garrison

Amsterdam was erected in 1625. Its installations were dungeon-like. Its captives included

boisterous soldiers, native people that were uncompliant, and debitors. Following came States

Huys. It was built in 1642. This Corrections installation besides served as a tap house, a tribunal, and

a metropolis hall. In 1699 Stats Huys was condemned as unfit and could no longer be used as a

gaol and judicial centre.

Next the New York City Hall was constructed. Many unsafe captives were

kept in the cellar until they had their tribunal proceedings. But in 1700 the cellar & # 8217 ; s

security was proved to be unequal, so guard & # 8217 ; s were hired to watch the captives. In

1759 the first installation was built specifically for usage as a gaol. It was named New Goal.

Most of the gaol housed civilian violators except for a few debitors and paupers. 1775

brought about the building of a workhouse known as Bridewell. It was to be placed

in New York City Hall Park but its building was interrupted by the War for

Independence. In 1788 the New York State Legislature enacted a jurisprudence that named 12

Commissioners to Bridewell and Almshouse, another Corrections installation. This panel of

commissioners is about decidedly the administrative beginning of the New York

Department of Corrections.

New York opened its first province prison in 1788. It opened on November 28th. It

was named the Greenwich State Prison. The construction included Doric columns, immense

environing walls and four estates of evidences. 1816 brought about New York & # 8217 ; s foremost

penitentiary, named Bellevue City Penitentiary. This penitentiary is the place of a big

figure of female criminals. Following came Auburn prison which was opened in 1817. In 1821

Auburn prison opened a new wing to their installation. It was built in a cell system to replace

the old residence hall lodging. Inmates in the sell system are allowed to go forth their cells

during the twenty-four hours to work in the prison stores. This new system was so deemed the

& # 8220 ; Auburn system & # 8221 ; and shortly after became the criterion for American prisons. In 1824

the New York State Legislature incorporates the society for the Reformation of

Juvenile Delinquents as a subordinate of the New York Society for the Prevention of

Indigence. Mandate was so given to construct a house of safety for delinquent

kids. An old War of 1812 armory was used for the safety. It was rebuilt as a secure

residential establishment and was named the New York City House of Refuge.

Ossining prison was opened in 1825 to counterbalance for the overcrowding at

Auburn and the Greenwich State Prison. Greenwich State Prison was so destroyed and

a prison at Mt. Pleasant that became known as Singing Sing was reconstructed to keep the

inmates that were transferred from Greenwich. Besides in 1828, the New York City

Commissioners of Bridewell and Almshouse bought The Blackwell Island so that they

could hold installations under their legal power. This included the New York City

Penitentiary.

In 1830 the Provost, a gaol that was used when the British were in control, was

closed down and was turned into the metropolis Register & # 8217 ; s office. 1832 brought about the

gap of the New York City Penitentiary on Blackwells Island. The Almshouse

Department is besides created to run the Almshouse, Bridewell, and the NYC

Penitentiary. Five commissioners are besides named to run the Department. The first province

prison matron is besides hired at Auburn in 1832. In 1836 the Kings County Jail was started.

This was before Brooklyn was portion of New York City and hence allowed the gaol to be

operated under the legal power of the Kings County Sheriff.

In 1838 the Halls of Justice were finished after four old ages of building. It was

designed as an Egyptian mausoleum, so the construction was really moist and dark. Many

other gaols were besides named after Egyptian influence. Following came the gap of New

York & # 8217 ; s Singing Sing prison for adult females in 1839. Eight old ages subsequently, in 1847, instruction

plans were started at Singing Singing. In 1848 a three-member & # 8220 ; Board of Inspectors & # 8221 ; was

started to be in charge of province prisons.

In 1851 the Child Savers, a group of reformists that believed metropolis kids would be

saved if they were sent to populate with farm households, opened the New York Juvenile Asylum.

New York so established the state & # 8217 ; s first establishment for insane felons. It was built

on the evidences of the Auburn prison. In 1860 the new York City Department of Public

Charities and Correction replaced the Almshouse Department. This section now had

control over the metropolis & # 8217 ; s public public assistance and correctional establishments. In June of 1862 the

New York County gaol was opened. It was besides known as the Ludlow Street Jail. It was

the replacing for the Eldridge Street Jail.

In 1863 New York City & # 8217 ; s Fourth District Prison was built in Manhattan. It

became known as the 57th Street gaol which was besides portion of a tribunal composite. In 1865

New York City & # 8217 ; s Seventh District Prison was built on the metropolis & # 8217 ; s west side. Bodily

penalty was outlawed by the province legislative assembly. In March of 1869 on of Sing Sing & # 8217 ; s

prison keepers was killed. He was said to be the first New York correctional officer to be

killed on the occupation. In 1871 the Queens County gaol was built in Long Island City.

In 1873 the State Legislature mandated New York City to divide the

Department of Public Charities and Correction. Now Public Charities was one division

and Correction was one division. 1875 brought about the first Society for the Prevention

of Cruelty to Children which so prohibited the parturiency of kids at Almshouse. In

1876 the Elmira Reformatory was opened. This installation based its patterns on the theory

of reform instead than penalty. Then in 1878 Louis D. Pilsbury became the first

& # 8220 ; Superintendent of Prison. & # 8221 ; He had complete duty and control of province prisons.

In 1881 the House of Refuge for Women was established. The Penal Code was besides

enacted. This Code amends kids & # 8217 ; s jurisprudence. In 1885 New York City & # 8217 ; s Fifth District

Prison was opened in East Harlem. This was a multi-tiered construction. It included 40

double-occupancy and a residence hall that could keep 50 felons.

Next in New York & # 8217 ; s corrections history was in 1884 when the Department of

Public Charities and Correction acquired Rikers Island. A adult females & # 8217 ; s reform school was so

opened at Hudson. It was influenced by the Elmira Reformatory for males. In 1890

Auburn prison electrocuted the first province inmate. In 1892 a legislative act was enacted leting

juvenile instance segregation and specialisation.

In 1893 the State Use System was started to extinguish profiteering from inmate

labour. In 1895 a new Queens County Jail was built. It subsequently becomes known as the City

Prison of Queens. It has a chief edifice and a extension. The chief edifice consisted of five

grades of cells looking down a cardinal corridor. The extension was used as a adult females & # 8217 ; s prison

for a long period of clip. In 1895 and 1896 the Department of Charities became the

Welfare Department.

In 1900 Eastern prison opened. Its existent building began in 1894. In 1921

Eastern became the Institute for Defective Delinquents Then some old ages later it went back

to its original map as a reform school for immature inmates. In more modern yearss it turned

into a maximum-security prison for male criminals and besides a medium-security prison that

housed 180 inmates.

There is besides much history of corrections all over the state dating back to the

1700 & # 8217 ; s. It seems that until the late 1700 & # 8217 ; s prisons were atrocious topographic points. They were

dirty and insecure. Prisoners received improper nutrient and attention, bodily penalty and

physical anguish were used on a regular footing. The nineteenth century brought approximately many new

developments in America. America was the first state to keep convicted felons countries

off from those expecting test. America besides outlawed anguish and bodily penalty,

which was mentioned earlier in New York & # 8217 ; s history.

Americans brought approximately two chief developments. The first was the Pennsylvania

System. This included the Walnut street Jail which housed one inmate per call. It was

besides based on the program for lodging monastics in a monastery. The Pennsylvania system besides

started the thought of changeless lone parturiency. This thought was non really popular. The

prisons took up excessively much infinite and did non house adequate captives. They besides did non

allow for group work or life.

Next was the Auburn system, started by the Auburn prison in New York. This

system is known for its grade or congregate system. The captives were all in the same

countries for repasts, exercising, and work. The doctrine of this system was based on fright of

penalty and soundless parturiency. Silence was ever required and penalty was the

consequence if the regulation was broken. This system was preferred over the Pennsylvania system

because it allowed for prison labour. The Auburn system was cheaper because more

captives could be held in less infinite. One edifice could keep ten to fifteen times the

figure of captives than was of all time possible under the Pennsylvania system.

The twentieth century held a portion in the changing universe of corrections. Reformers

idea that it would be helpful to convey the good parts of society into the gaols and

prisons. They believed that instruction, faith, work, and self-governance would assist

alter how felons were rehabilitated. Integrating these thoughts led to prison

industries, instruction plans, and vocational plans. They besides helped convey the usage

of bodily penalty to an terminal.

Specialized prisons were besides another thought that came from the twentieth century. Many

prisons were based on the degree of security needed and the types of inmates each topographic point

held. One prison might hold housed inmates that could be rehabilitated and another

housed inmates that were to far gone to be rehabilitated.

Prisons stopped doing money from prison labour in the twentieth century. Prisons

could non utilize their merchandises for interstate commercialism of goods made for private usage. This

led to inmates making & # 8220 ; busywork & # 8221 ; occupations like pressing licence home bases. By 1940 prisons had

besides gotten rid of utilizing lone parturiency as a signifier of penalty. They code of

silence was broken so captives were really allowed to speak to

other captives during

exercising clip.

Many correctional alterations have besides happened over the past few old ages. There was

the Prisoner & # 8217 ; s Rights Motion of the 1960 & # 8217 ; s and 1980 & # 8217 ; s. These motions gave

captives certain right that they have ne’er had before. The received the right to hold

freedom of address and faith. They could have medical attention. They got the right to

procedural due procedure and they were allowed to populate in proper life conditions.

Not all the reforms have resulted in positive effects. Many of the reforms that have

happened over the 175 old ages have decreased the control and power that decision makers

hold over inmates. Prisons have become much more violent because the control of the

prisons has changed from the staff to inmate packs. Riots have broken out in some

prisons including New York and New Mexico.

It besides seems that many methods to rehabilitation hold failed. The thought that

captives are seen as & # 8220 ; ill people & # 8221 ; that need to be treated has non been proved.

Treatment does non & # 8220 ; remedy & # 8221 ; these people. The thought of reintegration have non been extremely

successful either. Rehabilitation centres thought that leting felons to take part in

work release would assist them reintegrate themselves back into the community. But

offenses committed by those felons that were on work release made this theory really

unpopular. One method has been the chief stay though. The Bifurcated Correctional

Policy has those felons that are unsafe and violent put in prisons for long periods of

clip. Supporters believe that prison are topographic points for control, captivity, and

incapacitation. On the other manus, those that are non violent are kept out of the

correctional system every bit long as possible. They go through community based plans

alternatively of captivity.

Now what is the difference between gaols and prisons. Jails are used for keeping a

condemnable before their test and/or condemning. Jails hold those that violate their word or

probation demands. Not merely that they hold captives that come signifier overcrowded

prisons. About half of a gaol & # 8217 ; s population is people expecting their tests. Some are waiting

to be transferred to a prison. About 20 million felons go through gaol in a one twelvemonth

period. Most gaol inmates are immature, individual males. They tend to be undereducated and

earn low income. Fifty-seven per centum of gaol inmates are minorities. Many come from

individual parent families and are drug or intoxicant users. A bulk of them are besides

arrested for belongings offenses.

The status of US gaols are by and large really hapless. They lack basic plans and

services. The nutrient is of hapless quality. Medical and recreational installations are besides in hapless

status. The staff of a gaol is normally underpaid and there are non adequate staff members

to cover all the inmates. Overcrowding is besides decidedly a job with gaols. This is

cause because there is now compulsory condemning for DUI & # 8217 ; s, drug usage, and spousal

assaults.

Now on the other side are prisons. Unlike gaols, prisons are classified by the degree

of security they use. There are three degrees of prison security. The first are minimal

security prisons. There are no armed guards or walls. The inmates live in residence halls or

little private suites. The inmates in these minimal security prison are the most

trustworthy and have committed the least violent offenses.

Following are average security prisons. There are fencings and armed guards unlike the

minimal security prisons. Treatment attempts are used to rehabilitate the inmates. Inmates

receive visitant privileges. Inmates are those that are violent but have some opportunity of

being rehabilitated and returned to society.

The 3rd type of prison is a maximal security prison. These prisons are built with

high walls, multiple fencings with cyclone wire, and there are decidedly armed guards with

guard towers. Security is the chief accent here because they house the most violent and

unsafe felons. These prisons offer small rehabilitation or instruction ; it must be

earned by the captives. There are small in any visitants allowed in maximal security

prisons. Some of these prisons lock their inmates in individual inmate cells for 23

and a half hours a twenty-four hours. The other half of an hr is used for lavishing and exercising.

The similarity between gaols and prisons is that the inmates profiles are instead

similar. They are immature, individual, and ill educated males. Most are minorities. They

are normally hapless and do non hold occupations. Most of their offenses dealt with arm or drug

usage. There are a million people in Federal and State prisons. This figure has tripled

since 1980.

The US has the highest prison population in the universe. These high Numberss seem

to be caused by the usage of compulsory condemning Torahs and from holding high

unemployment rates. Over the past 15 old ages, the prison population has grown 250

per centum. Probation and parole populations are besides turning about seven per centum every

twelvemonth. It besides seems that these felons have more jobs than those from the yesteryear.

Today & # 8217 ; s felons are less educated and have more mental disablements.

With all of the alteration with today & # 8217 ; s households, faiths, schools, and economic systems, it is

hard for the correctional system to maintain up. The correctional system has to go on to

regenerate its plans and installations so that they can successfully assist return wrongdoers to their

households and society. The correctional system must be antiphonal to all of today & # 8217 ; s

jobs. The correctional system chief intent is to guarantee public safety and increase

the success rates of wrongdoers in the most cost-efficient manner.

Correctionss has been a enormous aid to our society. The history of corrections

helps us see where we are traveling with the thought of rehabilitating felons. The corrections

industry can mensurate its failures and successes by merely looking to the yesteryear. The corrections

system has come a long manner but there is still a long manner to travel. By understanding how are

society alterations and how that influences offense the corrections system will be able to

increase the rate at which felons can turn themselves about. Our tribunal systems have,

in recent old ages, been said to be inefficient, sometimes uneffective, and even backlogged to

the point where instances have to be dismissed because of how long it takes for them to acquire to

tribunal. After my trip to tribunal, these are my sentiments and observations on the & # 8220 ; Efficiency

and Effectiveness of our Criminal Court System & # 8221 ; .

The tribunal processs of provincial tribunal are really systematic and are carried out really

fleetly. It is much like a tennis lucifer, the ball, or control in the tribunal, is volleyed back and

Forth between the justice ( and tribunal clerk ) and the attorneies. The tribunal clerk arraigns the

accused, the defense mechanism attorney responses with how the accused supplications, if it is & # 8220 ; non guilty & # 8221 ; , the

tribunal clerk asks how the Crown attorney wants to continue and so forth. However, this is

non so in the Ontario Supreme Court ( Trial Division ) , though similar in methodical

processs, the tribunal instances are longer and much more clip is spent on each single portion

of the instance, from showing the grounds to cross- scrutiny of the informant, this is

because of the sum of information involved.

The general ambiance and behavior in the Provincial Courtrooms were general loose

and composure. The people, attorneies, justice, clerk and recording equipment seem to cognize each other really

good. They joked openly, even while the tribunal was in session, the defense mechanism attorney asked if

he could carry the justice into a lighter sentence after the justice had already made a

determination in a really easy and friendly tone of voice, something becoming unprofessional that

caused chortles throughout the courtroom. Where in the Ontario Supreme Court the

atmosphere was much more serious, professional, rigorous and at times high in tenseness. Our

current bond system, in either pecuniary footings or personal recognisance, seemed reasonably

successful in Provincial Court, though non observed in the Ontario Supreme Court, all the

people did demo up for their test, which included two people on bond for ownership of

marihuana coffin nails. As a concluding note, no bench warrant was every called for by the justice

for people whom failed to go to their test.

The necessity of the responsibility council is for those who don & # 8217 ; Ts have a attorney and is for their

benefit that they discuss legal options that the accused might hold before proceeding,

nevertheless this portion of the system is non really efficient as the tribunal must recess for this and

therefore waste valuable clip that could be otherwise used for treating other tribunal instances.

The Crown Attorney in provincial tribunal was, on the whole, reasonably good prepared, expeditiously

bring relevant facts to attending, friendly and good acquainted to the defense mechanism attorneies as

good as the justice, and quick to acquire to the point that he was seeking to turn out. There was

small clip wasted, between the arraignment and the sentencing, on the portion of the Crown

Attorney. In Ontario Supreme Court, the Crown Attorney there seemed good prepared,

efficient, and quick, nevertheless at that place seemed to be a deficiency of personal evolvement in the instance,

instead he seemed passionless, merely making his occupation, non being familiar with the justice or other

people in the tribunal room. By the manner he presented and dressed, he appeared far more

strict and serious in behavior and visual aspect than his Provincial Court opposite number.

Naming a remand can be helpful in that it allows informants, particularly cardinal informants, to be

nowadays at a ulterior day of the month when it is possible for them to go to the test, as responsibility may name them

to make otherwise. The disadvantages, nevertheless, are largely on the accused & # 8217 ; s portion, as s/he

must stay in detention longer in order to be brought back to test.

The necessity for a attorney for minor offenses can sometimes outweigh the cost the

accused must pay for them because the attorney understands the jurisprudence and how the system

plants, he might be able to indicate out some little disagreements or may propose what type

and how much penalty is suited for the accused & # 8217 ; s offense. The attorney may besides indicate

out that if the individual has a record, how old it truly is, as records older than 5 old ages old

that are non cleared are disregarded by the justice. They besides help the instances progress faster

as an accused legal options will be already made clear to him by his/her attorney.

Lawyers are perfectly necessary for major instances, as the accused may non understand his

legal rights clearly or may non cognize how to support himself right in the correct the

mode during test in tribunal.

Court Judgess in Provincial Court were by and large looser than those in Ontario Supreme

Court as that the one we saw in Supreme Court seemed more serious, lacked in emotional

looks, but besides easy bored. However in Provincial Court, they were serious but

there was room for temper and apprehension of the accused & # 8217 ; s state of affairs. Over all they

looked like they enjoyed their occupations.

All in all, the system we presently have can non be any better as it is efficient as humanly

possible without go againsting any persons rights as in the Charter.