CHAPTER 6<\/p>\n
This chapter looks at issues of classification within correctional settings. Classification systems are defined as \u2013 specific sets of objective criteria, such as offense history, previous criminal justice experiences, and patterns of behavior that may apply to assist correctional staff in determining appropriate designation and possible separation of offender groups. There are three general criteria utilized by correctional staff to establish initial classification: (1) offense criteria \u2013 based on the seriousness of the current offense of incarceration, (2) risk criteria \u2013 based on the probability of future criminal conduct on the part of the offender, and (3) program criteria \u2013 based on identification of offender needs and conditions that may require assistance while they are incarcerated.<\/p>\n
I emphasize that the above criteria are useful primarily for initial classification because once an individual offender has settled into the prison environment his outside labels are diminished and his behavior in prison greatly influences his classification from that point on. Before you ask – Yes there are certain programs that are off limits for some offenders based on their crime of conviction, but other than those limitations, the offender is generally judged based on his accomplishments and behavior since he has been incarcerated.<\/p>\n
The following classification categories that we will review should only be considered generalizations. These categories are an attempt to group inmates based on common elements and are artificial at best and in some cases cause individual characteristics of inmates to be lost in favor of the larger group classification. Think of the correctional population as the universe; these are eleven subgroups therein:<\/p>\n
Situational offenders \u2013 defined as a person who in a particular set of circumstances has violated the law. This type of offender is generally a one-time offender and has extremely pro-social values and ethical structures. Their involvement in criminal activity is an aberration; they are unlikely to violate the law again unless confronted with the same or similar circumstances. This type of offender is usually convicted of serious crimes (many times violent) and there is very little that correctional systems can do to rehabilitate them. Situational offenders usually form the stable inmate workforce within the<\/p>\n
correctional environment; they have skills; are generally educated; have strong work ethics; and represent very little risk to the system or staff.<\/p>\n
Repetitive offenders \u2013 defined as offenders who commit numerous crimes and who may have served multiple correctional sentences. There are two distinct types of repetitive offenders:<\/p>\n
Career offenders \u2013 individuals for whom crime is a way of earning a living and incarceration is a risk of the trade. This type of offender views his criminal activity as a career and it serves as his primary source of income. These offenders tend to specialize in a small category of crime and develop skill in their criminal trade as they age. This type of offender is usually non- violent, psychologically normal, sometimes extremely intelligent, and views himself as a professional in his area of expertise. As an offender group, the number of offenders encompassed in this category is small, but their impact on crimes rates and monetary losses attached is potentially huge. These offenders are rarely caught and when caught usually plea bargain with information for reduced sentences. When in the correctional population, this offender group is generally no problem and prefers to do their time in peace and quiet.<\/p>\n
Habitual offenders \u2013 individuals who are involved in multiple acts of crime and who have been subject to correctional supervision on numerous occasions. This type of offender engages in a variety of criminal activity and does not develop special skills in support of his crime. His criminal gains are not his primary source of income and he either has a job or depends on public assistance to support him on a daily basis. He is a known figure in the criminal justice system and probably has been in and out of jail and prison on a regular basis for most of his life. Of the two types of repetitive offenders, habitual offenders are more likely to engage in crimes of violence and are more likely to be caught, convicted, and sentenced to long periods of time for their cumulative body of crime. When in the correctional population, this offender group will continue to commit crime and will be generally disruptive on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
They are not likely to engage in random acts of high violence but they tend to show up where the action is.<\/p>\n
Sexual offenders \u2013 defined as a person who has committed a sexual act prohibited by law. The definition is extremely broad to encompass the variety of offender types who may fall into the category of sexual offenders. There are two specific types that generally show up in correctional populations:<\/p>\n
Rapists \u2013 Rape is considered a non-gender sexual offense and is now universally accepted as a crime of violence. Rapists used to be considered the dredges of the prison population, but now if you are a \u201cnormal\u201d rapist (the victim group is within the normal age and comprehension range) you are not labeled as deviant. However, if you are an \u201cabnormal\u201d rapist \u2013 you rape the very young, the very old, or those with mental or physical conditions that would be considered not the norm for the general population you may be subject to retaliation in prison. This offender group is difficult to treat and is likely to continue to rape once in prison. The dynamics may change from power to control (or maybe not depending on the offender) but the behavior will continue.<\/p>\n
Child Molesters \u2013 Child molestation is considered by inmates as a bottom of the barrel crime. Anyone who enters prison with the label of a child molester will be subject to victimization while in prison. In fact some child molesters will plead to the more serious crime of rape to avoid the label altogether. This offender group is considered a high recidivism group and there is very little treatment available (either in or out of prison) for child molesters. Many of these offenders end up doing their entire sentence in protective custody because they are unable to \u201cmake it\u201d in the general population.<\/p>\n
Drug Abusers \u2013 an individual whose use of a chemical substance disrupts normal social patterns, often resulting in criminal behavior. This type of offender is usually convicted and incarcerated for crimes related to their drug addiction, such as possession with intent to deliver, burglary, robbery, theft, etc. They are rarely, if ever,<\/p>\n
incarcerated for their addiction, since such incarceration would be unconstitutional incarceration based on a condition. The drug dependency is usually the root cause of their other criminal activity. With the exception of methamphetamine users, the addiction issues are easily dealt with while these offenders are incarcerated due to the decreased flow of drugs into the prison system and because most of the immediate detoxification issues are dealt with in jail, before conviction. Meth users are different because, at least theoretically, they could manufacture meth while in prison using commonly used institutional cleaners, the addiction to meth is much stronger than other drugs of choice and meth addicts are highly resistant to treatment. We are in the midst of a K2 crisis in prison \u2013 we are finding more and more K2 in inmates\u2019 systems which means it is getting into the prison. The erratic\/irrational behavior associated with K2 use is extremely dangerous to the inmate using the K2 and to and other inmates who interact with him. K2 deaths in prison are increasing as an astronomical rate across the country. The news media has not picked up on this epidemic yet but they will \u2013 watch for it!<\/p>\n
Alcohol Abusers \u2013 an individual, whose use of alcohol is difficult to control and may disrupt normal living patterns, resulting in law violations while under the influence of alcohol. This type of substance abuser is different from the drug abuser, in that the possession of alcohol is legal for adults over the age of 21, and alcohol is readily available to all citizens to purchase legally. The dynamics of crime that surround the alcohol abuser are usually marred by violence. While under the influence of alcohol the individual\u2019s ability to think and reason are affected and what, while sober, may be a minor affront becomes a fighting offense when drunk. The crimes these individuals engage in are often aimed at family and friends and in many cases result in the death of the victim. The other dynamic that relates to alcohol abusers as an offender group involves those who drive while they are drunk. The mere act of driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, but many times alcohol abusers are involved in motor vehicle accidents that result in injury and death to other innocent citizens. Alcohol use is not a mitigating factor in such accidents and, in fact, may result in vehicular manslaughter charges. For correctional administrators, alcohol abusers are a volatile offender group because they can make crude but highly alcoholic beverages while in prison. All they need to make alcohol is a fermentable food group (bread, potatoes, strawberries, grapes, Kool-Aid, etc.) some sugar, water, and a heat source. If allowed to stand for a period of time the liquid will produce alcohol. It will taste nasty, but it will get you drunk (in prison it is called hooch). However this is only part of the problem, once under the influence of alcohol, the offender may revert to his previous unpredictable behavior and engage in fights with both inmates and<\/p>\n
staff. Treatment for alcohol abusers is available in prison and in some cases is highly successful, but unless the offender wants to change his behavior for the long term, he will revert to alcohol in times of stress or uncertainty.<\/p>\n
F. Mentally disturbed offenders \u2013 defined as a person whose criminal behavior can be traced or related to diminished or otherwise abnormal capacity to think or reason as a result of a psychological or neurological disturbance. Offenders within this group are commonly called \u201csociopaths\u201d or \u201cpsychopaths\u201d, although few actually fit the clinical definition of either. Some offenders in this group may be prone to high violence and are unpredictable in their behavior patterns. Many mentally disturbed offenders are highly manipulative, asocial and prone to impulsive behavior with no concept of social conscience.<\/p>\n
The clinical diagnoses within the offender group are numerous, but the treatment options in a prison setting are few. Most prisons engage in group therapy of a sociological nature which does not assist mentally disturbed offenders greatly, so the system uses medication to assist these offenders and to control their behavior. With the deinstitutionalization of the mentally disturbed and the closing of many large mental hospitals, an increasing number of these offenders are entering the criminal justice system (approaching 20% of the total<\/p>\n
U.S. prison population) and are eventually entering correctional systems. As this number increases, the problems associated with this group of offenders will also increase, and the demand for a psychiatric ward or unit within most prison systems will be required. For correctional staff the mentally disturbed inmate is particularly dangerous, due to his unpredictability, mood swings, and potential for high violence.<\/p>\n
G. Mentally handicapped offenders \u2013 (otherwise known as developmentally disabled offenders) are defined as individuals whose limited mental development prevents appropriate adjustment to societal rules, resulting in criminal behavior. The commonly used standard for determining a mental handicap is an IQ of 70 or below. The percentage of the U.S. prison population that is mentally handicapped is increasing and stands at about 18% of the total population today. These offenders are usually convicted of lower level crimes although some are convicted of extremely violent and brutal crimes. Many mentally handicapped <\/p>\n
offenders do not understand the concept of law and unknowingly commit crimes with no realistic idea of the consequences attached. The criminal justice system tries to find non-prison alternatives for these types of offenders, but many group homes and sheltered living centers will not accept individuals who have been charged with and\/or convicted of a crime, so these offenders end up in prison, where they are victimized by the rest of the inmate population. For correctional staff, mentally handicapped inmates are difficult to handle because they often do not understand the rules so they violate them and seem to be constantly in some kind of trouble \u2013 not big stuff but constant small rule violation \u2013 which causes them to do a lot of disciplinary time. Even though staff know that time in solitary confinement is not good for this offender group, many times they cannot avoid giving them disciplinaries due to rule violations.<\/p>\n
H. Physically handicapped offenders \u2013 this offender group is diverse with one thing in common, they have a compelling physical handicap that must be accommodated within a correctional setting. Many of these offenders are missing limbs, wheelchair bound, deaf, blind, mute, etc. Their physical handicap has not prevented them from committing the crime for which they are incarcerated, but their physical limitations pose particular problems for correctional systems and staff. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) directly applies to this offender group and prisons are not exempt from the requirements for accommodation included therein. For deaf inmates interpreters must be on staff; for blind inmates a trained leader must be on staff, etc. This group of offenders is particularly prone to victimization within a correctional setting and in some cases are particularly aggressive (staff must be on guard to both dynamics). This population is generally in poor health and must be housed close to comprehensive medical care. They, as a group, are a high cost population and also are a constant worry should a disaster occur and evacuation of the prison becomes necessary.<\/p>\n
I. Elderly Offenders \u2013 this offender group is defined as anyone who is 55 years or older and incarcerated. Elderly inmates, as a group, are a rapidly growing part of the total prison population. They are a constant victimization problem and are usually medically compromised and need constant medical care. Prisons are also not well designed for the elderly; the halls are concrete, the facilities are<\/p>\n
spread out, and there are few amenities that are conducive to aging bones and bodies. Programming for the elderly is difficult at best, because they do not fit any current programming models. They do not generally need a trade. They are generally exempt from all mandatory educational rules and regulations due to their age. They do not generally engage in the active sports that are popular with the younger inmates and they do not adapt to treatment programming well due to their age and disposition. This offender group is made up of three distinct subgroups:<\/p>\n
Those inmates who entered prison as a young person sentenced to a long term in prison and thus age in prison. This group generally will have a shortened life span due to the prolonged stress of incarceration, but they will also have engaged in the mainstream activities of the prison up until they are no longer able and may have a strong support group of younger and peer inmates within the prison.<\/p>\n
Those inmates who commit their crime of commitment as an older man or woman and are incarcerated for the first time as an elderly offender. This group\u2019s crimes are generally crimes of violence or sexual crimes (particularly child molestation) which make them vulnerable to attack by other inmates.<\/p>\n
Those inmates who are recidivists \u2013 they have been in and out of prison their whole lives and are not categorized as typical elderly offenders. Many of these type offenders are more comfortable in prison than in the free world and prefer to spend their last years in a structured setting that provides some measure of safety and security.<\/p>\n
J. Juvenile offenders \u2013 this offender group consists of those individuals, who are under the age of 18 at the time of conviction and sentence, who have been processed through adult court and are subject to incarceration in an adult correctional environment. If convicted as an adult, juveniles under the age of 18 will be housed separately from the general adult population but at the age of 18 they move into the general adult population. Juveniles entering the adult criminal justice system are increasing from two directions: (1) many states are defining younger and younger offenders as subject to adult jurisdiction for certain serious offenses, (2) many states are increasing the number of crimes<\/p>\n
for which a juvenile can be charged as an adult. In Arkansas, as a result of the Jonesboro school shootings a few years ago, both of these things occurred \u2013 the age for possible adult jurisdiction was lowered and the number of crimes for which a juvenile could be tried as an adult was increased. These youthful offenders pose particular problems for correctional staff, both in treatment and in security.<\/p>\n
With regard to treatment, many of these young offenders never completed high school and therefore must be educated while in prison (in Arkansas GED acquisition is mandatory for all inmates with the exception of elderly offenders who the federal courts ruled have the right to remain ignorant), they are also likely to need extensive and long term treatment and they are not interested in either. Problems for security staff generally come in the form of aggressive behavior among young offenders with gang or group affiliation, which promotes group violence and predatory behavior patterns which may transfer from the free world into the prison setting. <\/p>\n
K. Terminally Ill and Medically Contagious inmates \u2013 prison populations are considered high risk populations for anything that can be spread by IV needle use, indiscriminate sexual contact, and generally poor medical conditions and care. Inmates come to prison with chronic illnesses and conditions that must be treated and from which some inmates eventually die (heart conditions, cancer, kidney failure, lung disease, etc.). The U.S. Constitution requires that all medical conditions, either brought to prison or acquired while in prison, must be treated to a level of \u201cadequacy\u201d (think of it as in line with the services provided by a charity hospital in the free world). In addition to the chronic conditions of inmates, anything contagious runs rampant in correctional settings (COVID, the flu, stomach virus, etc.), especially any airborne disease like TB which is making a comeback in prison settings. (remember the news story about the Atlanta man who flew on international flights while being infected with a highly drug resistant strain of the tuberculosis virus \u2013 those same issues are relevant to prison) Add on top of all of the illnesses mentioned above the viral diseases like HIV and Hepatitis A, B, and particularly C, and you can see the potential medical complications associated with medical conditions in a prison setting. The issues that surround these diseases and conditions include:<\/p>\n
Housing \u2013 when do we segregate? Segregation based on a condition is unconstitutional, unless all services and privileges provided to the general population are duplicated for the segregated population. Therefore, most prison systems cannot segregate all the HIV or Hep C inmates as a matter of course. The only Constitutional segregation, without duplication of services, is based on the behavior of the inmate \u2013 if he is a danger to other inmates and staff he may be segregated based on the behavior as it relates to the medical condition, but not on the medical condition alone. Chronically ill inmates are generally housed in close proximity to medical care so that their conditions can be carefully monitored and appropriate medical care can be provided. Large scale contagious disease spread (like chicken pox or measles) can close down a prison and may require emergency response actions to deal with a large scale spread of disease.<\/p>\n
Medical care \u2013 how far do we go? In general, correctional systems must provide reasonable care for medically infirmed inmates. However, correctional systems do not do transplants; they do not complete sex change operations yet (the courts are considering whether sexual orientation is a true medical issue that might require states to \u201cadequately\u201d deal with the issue medically), and they do not engage in experimental treatment of inmates for such things as drug trials. Again the courts have set the Constitutional standard at \u201cadequate\u201d which is lower than what you and I expect, but which is higher than what the most disadvantaged portion of society can expect (those who are homeless or without insurance).<\/p>\n
Safety \u2013 where do we put them? In general, chronically ill inmates are kept close to medical care, although they are not segregated from the general population. Contagious inmates may be quarantined during the course of the contagious disease, but cannot be segregated for long periods of time based on their ongoing condition. In many states, chronically ill and terminally ill inmates may be released from prison if they have two independent doctors certify that they are either permanently incapacitated or will die within 12 months to 2 years of release. The parole board must approve the release and they may be subject to return to prison for a condition violation of their parole.<\/p>\n
In general, these are the types of offenders one is likely to find in any correctional population. Please remember that these categories are artificial at best and that many individual inmates may overlap between these categories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHAPTER 6 This chapter looks at issues of classification within correctional settings. Classification systems are defined as \u2013 specific sets of objective criteria, such as offense history, previous criminal justice experiences, and patterns of behavior that may apply to assist correctional staff in determining appropriate designation and possible separation of offender groups. There are three […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-80916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-research-paper-writing","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80916\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/papersspot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}