LAWF 2723: Introduction to Corrections

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss early response to crime prior to the development of prisons.
• Outline the history of probation and the characteristics of probationers.
• Identify successful approaches underlying contemporary probation practices.
• Explain how division is used to keep offenders out of the corrections system.
• Explain the goals of intermediate sanctions, restitution programs, and community corrections.
• Discuss the organizational structure of prisons and the jobs and functions of prison staff.
• Explain prison culture for staff members to include unique challenges for female and minority correctional officers.
• Discuss prison unit management and methods for controlling inmate behavior.
• Explain the threat of prison gangs and the role of intelligence in coping with them.
• Discuss the various treatment programs within a prison, including prison labor.
• Explain classification for security versus classification for treatment.
• Describe prison development from the reformatory era to the modern era.
• Explain how inmate needs are identified
• Explain how prison programs can lessen recidivism.
• Describe the characteristics of jail inmates.
• Discuss the organization and basic functions of state prisons and the impact budgets have on correctional policy.
• Describe the development and operation of the federal prison system.
• Describe the history of private-sector involvement in corrections.
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages to privates-sector prisons.
• Discuss the history of the death penalty and the many ways the correctional system is impacted by the death penalty as a form of punishment.
• Explain the history and the current status of parole in the United States.
• Discuss how parole is supervised, the effectiveness of parole, and how it is terminated.
• Compare and contrast the Pennsylvania and Auburn systems.
• Discuss the characteristics of male, female, and juvenile offenders and the facilities they are detained in.
• Discuss the housing of offenders identified as mentally ill, with infectious diseases, or aging.
• Discuss sentencing goals and primary punishment philosophies.
• Discuss how public opinion about crime affects crime control policy.
• Explain the role of prosecutorial plea bargaining.
• Discuss different types of sentences and how sentencing decisions are made.
• Describe alternatives to criminal courts and criminal trial process.
• Discuss the appeal process.