Cultural diversity in correctional facilities

Diversity Issues In CRJU. Chapter 12: Corrections And Multiculturalism

Required book: McNamara, R. H., & Burns, R. (2009). Multiculturalism in the criminal justice system. NewYork, NY: McGraw-Hill. (ISBN: 978-0-07-337994-4)

Please read Chapter 12 and respond to the following Critical Thinking Questions. You will also respond to 2 of your peers:

How are correctional agencies organized? Do you believe that a centralized approach to corrections (e.g., in the form of one unified correctional system) would be more effective than our fragmented approach? Discuss the difficulties of being incarcerated? What particular challenges do Native Americans face upon incarceration? Why is concern for multiculturalism of significance to probation and parole officers? What steps can be taken to address this concern? Discuss the evolution of diversity in corrections. Why is it important for correctional agencies to incorporate cultural diversity into their staff?

The first deadline for posting is Tuesday November 3rd by 11:59 pm and the second deadline for responding to your classmates is Thursday afternoon by 12 pm. When responding to a student's post, be sure to use and address the following:

Terms and Definitions from the chapter

Amnesty

Clemency

Community Corrections

Conditional Release

Discretionary Release

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Incarceration

Indeterminate Sentencing

Jail

Mandatory Release

Reprieves

Technical Violation

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System

Your responses should reach beyond a simple "I agree with what you are saying." Please use the following to begin your post when responding to your peers:

"I learned from you that.."

"I appreciated how you explained...."

First Peer’s Response: Ashley

How are correctional agencies organized?

I'm not understanding the question. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is within the Department of Justice, operates 114 institutions and 28 community corrections offices. It oversees roughly 193,000 offenders convicted of federal offenses. Included in these facilities are detention centers, which, similar to jails, hold those awaiting trial. The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System is responsible for assisting the federal courts with pretrial practices and supervising federal probationers. The Federal Parole Commission oversees federal parolees. Prisons are state-run correctional facilities administered by the executive branch of each state government. They hold inmates serving sentences of one year or more. Jails hold detainees awaiting trial and those sentenced to incarceration for less than a year. The organization of probation and parole, both forms of community corrections in which offenders are supervised in the community.

Do you believe that a centralized approach to corrections (e.g., in the form of one unified correctional system) would be more effective than our fragmented approach? Decisions are made at the top and communicated to lower-level managers for implementation would be more effective.

Discuss the difficulties of being incarcerated? Some difficulties of being incarcerated is Prison rape ; gang violence; overcrowded, medical needs not being met, labeling, Risk of getting AIDS, HIV.

What particular challenges do Native Americans face upon incarceration?

Native American culture differs from the dominant culture in that maintaining eye contact conveys disrespect. In corrections failure to maintain eye contact when communicating can play an integral role in miscommunication. The possession of items considered sacred by Native Americans is also problematic for the incarcerated and prison officials. Eagle feathers, bear claws, pipes, and other artifacts may be viewed by correctional officers as potential safety and health risks.

Why is concern for multiculturalism of significance to probation and parole officers?

Multiculturalism is of significance to probation and parole officers because it reveals the criminal to even more bad influences and practices which could get him/her in more trouble. What steps can be taken to address this concern ?

In my opinion steps to be taken is new mindset. Training related to people issues such as team building, working and coping with difficult people and addressing the special needs of others/inmates. Training should include a focus on the avoidance of using stereotypes or stigmas and assumptions and maintained with the strictest professionals standards imposed in such training environments.

Discuss the evolution of diversity in corrections.

Culture shape our uniqueness, creativity, vision and personal development in the course of prison management.

Why is it important for correctional agencies to incorporate cultural diversity into their staff.

Correctional agencies should respect and manage cultural diversity in order to complete those tasks duties and responsibilities assigned to facility/inmate. If left out of the big picture it creates more conflicts between ethnical, political or other human related concerns even destabilizing and hindering the progress of sound correctional practices and compliance with all laws within such a domain or setting.

Second Peer’s Response: Brii

How are correctional agencies organized? The correctional agency setup is unique given that there are a plethora of organizational structures within the correctional field. The highest is the federal level. Federal Bureau of Prisons operates 114 institutions and 28 community correction offices (p. 280). The United States Probation and Pretrial services extends other offers for inmates the have been incarcerated. Probation allows an inmate to be released under a specific set of stipulations in addition to monitoring on a consistent basis. Probation and parole are both used to facilitate the reintegration of an inmate into society; parole is administered by the state board and they may or may not work in conjunction with state parole boards (p. 281). State facilities include prisons and jails. Prisons are used to detain serious offenses such as murder, trafficking, and other sentences that require more than a year of detainment. Jails are for inmates serving a sentence of one year of less for less severe charges. Do you believe that a centralized approach to corrections (e.g., in the form of one unified correctional system) would be more effective than our fragmented approach?I feel like it would not be as effective because there would be no specialized areas of studies. Keeping things like the correctional field broad and general can lead to confusion. May people may find themselves doing one side more than another leading to conflicts. It is important to keep things compartmentalized so that things can be organized and fulfill a task or goal without being bombarded with a load of unaccomplished tasks. Discuss the difficulties of being incarcerated? It is difficult to be incarcerated especially for long periods of time. People become desensitized to things and people around them and this can cause problems when it comes to reintegration for those that have no life sentences. The inmate code can transform an individual that might have had the ability to reform his or herself. Gang violence and other forms of abuse can lead to stress , suicidal ideation, and other ailments. Catching an illness is another major factor to consider when being confined with other people whose medical history is not accessible. This is especially true during times of COVID19. What particular challenges do Native Americans face upon incarceration? The religious rights of many native Americans are jeopardized while they are incarcerated. Many ceremonies and rituals are banned while they are detained. The garments that are worn by native Americans such as eagle feathers, bear claws, pipes, and other artifacts may be viewed by the correctional officers as dangerous (p. 289). Many Native people feel as if they are misunderstood and undervalued in this American correctional system . Why is concern for multiculturalism of significance to probation and parole officers? Multiculturalism is significant when it comes to probation and parole officers. It is important to learn not to disproportionately harm or treat anyone with prejudice or malice on the basis of race, sex, age, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. These roles of probation and parole officers impede on the lives of others and those that impede must proceed with a multicultural lens so that discrimination is removed from practice. It is important to consider the special needs of all different groups of people with different backgrounds or upbringings. Diversity and diversity training is essential so that any system serving the people can be as fair and just as possible. What steps can be taken to address this concern? Implementing diversity and diversity training can address this concern. It is essential that people recognize and respect each other without bias. Classes may also be offered to ensure that ethics are being established in the future. Agencies need to be able to resemble the people that they are representing proportionately. Proper recruitment is another key asset. People should be evaluated to weed out those with extremist or prejudice beliefs. Discuss the evolution of diversity in corrections. Recently, there has been an increase in women and minorities when it comes to those working in the correctional field. This is a major difference from thirty to forty years ago where things were specifically designated to white male counterparts. The Attics Correctional Facility riot in New York shed light on the fact on the lack of cultural representation and diversity; Black Muslims were the main demographic considering the prison diet was mostly pork and their religion forbids the consumption of pork (p. 297). After that event , positions started being filled with minorities and other vulnerable populations of people such as women. Why is it important for correctional agencies to incorporate cultural diversity into their staff? It is important for correctional agencies to incorporate cultural diversity into their staff. This is important because the cultural diversity is the backbone for humanitarianism. Everyone has a different way of life that must be respected and accepted so as long as it does not harm another individual. Many ideas that seem foreign to us wont be frowned upon because we understand and respect the history of those ideas. Cultural diversity training encourages tolerance and safety for those that are looked at or viewed as different. This safety net promotes equality and actions that are just within the correctional system.