chapter 7 prison populations size and nature of prison populations severity of legal sanctions...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 7
Prison Populations
Size and Nature ofPrison Populations
• Severity of legal sanctions
• General social-demographic trends– Aging of population– Racism, violence
• Poverty– Disease– Mental health
Current U.S. Prison Population
• 2.1 million people in jails/prisons
• 139 imprisoned per 100,000 in 1980
• 470 inmates per 100,000 in 2000– 686 if jails are included
• Highest rate of imprisonment for any industrialized nation
• Impacts unemployment, economy
Prison Inmates
• Male, young, poor
• Minority, urban
• Alcohol and/or drug abusers
• Alcohol more closely linked to violence than ANY other DRUG
• Psychopharmacology and easy access
Offenses of State Prisoners2000
Federal and State Systems
• Federal Prisons – About 10% of U.S. prisoners– Primarily drug offenders, white collar
• State Prisons– More typical “street criminals” – Violent offenses, minor property, drug and
public order offenses
Offenses of Federal Prisoners2000
Race and Imprisonment
• Economic power structure critical to patterns of imprisonment
• Blacks imprisoned eight times as often as whites
• Drug arrests, especially crack, drives up disproportionate minority confinement
• Neglect vs. differential severity of law
HIV-AIDS
• 5 time more HIV-AIDS among inmates
• Southern and northeastern states
• 3.5% of women, 2.2 % of males
• 26% AIDS– most HIV+’s have no symptoms
• Screening for high-risk groups and on request
• Segregation avoided in most cases
Addressing AIDS inCorrectional Populations
• Determine each inmate’s risk behaviors• Inform inmates about testing procedures• Educate ALL inmates especially about
transmission of disease• Educate and counsel to reduce risk
behaviors before and after release• Segregation rarely needed until
symptoms are severe
Causes of Death AmongState Prison Inmates
Tuberculosis
• Affects lungs, other organs
• Spread by coughing in close quarters
• Prisons encourage spread
• Entire course of medication needed to discourage drug-resistant strains
• Often complicated by HIV
Special Needs Offenders
Need more time and/or scrutiny
• Substance abusers
• Sex offenders
• Mentally ill and mentally retarded
• Physically Disabled
• Elderly (over 55)
Aging Inmates
• Long sentences, low tolerance for crime are increasing percent of inmates over 50
• Health care a major financial issue
• Two groups of older inmates:1. Long sentence imposed when young
2. Convicted latter in life (drugs, DWI,sex offenses)
Growth of theAged Prisoner Population
Correctional Classification
• Escape and assault risk critical, time to be served also important– Risk-oriented
• System–wide: Assignment to unit and specific security level
• Institutional: housing, job and program placements with unit
• Past behavior, psychological tests used
Security Levels
• Minimum: most common type of unit– Small units with many jobs, many use barracks
• Medium: most inmates held – Constant observation, cell blocks
• Maximum: often very old units– Inmates cuffed before movement
• Ultra-max or “Super Seg” Units– Complete isolation