Private prisons
The topic that I learned this semester was about private prisons and it offered me new information. However, I did not have much information until this class, where I acquired new information from class teachings. A private prison, also known as prison for-profit, describes a place where persons are incarcerated by a third party contracted by a government organization. The topic was interesting because during the class teachings I learned of how correctional centers work as well as how prisons are run and other measures that must be conducted to ensure the success of correction programs and safety of the general population. Some of the significant topics that could be introduced to make the semester relevant include; discussion of how private prisons began, and the ethical aspect of private prisons.
One way we are successful in U.S systems of corrections is through the ability to decrease the rates of recidivism; through the creation and application of evidence-based programs. Some of the major ways through which the U.S system of corrections is unsuccessful include; high numbers of inexperienced staff. With a high number of inexperienced staff members, it becomes difficult to manage or run the correction centers effectively. Another way is that the experienced officers, as well as the junior officers, are given low wages. Low salaries given to correctional officers is the main reason as to why a good number of them always consider shifting to places where they can be paid highly. Additionally, officers have also been forced to carry out some duties for criminals in prison as a way of earning extra cash which in turn affects the general safety of other prisoners as well as violates the code of conduct for correctional officers. There have also been numerous cases of staffing shortages within the U.S correction systems since it becomes difficult to retain the experienced ones due to low wages.
Various things can be done to make the U.S systems more successful. One of them is increasing the salaries for the correction officers. With an increase in salaries, the officers will be motivated to carry out or perform their duties effectively. Another measure would be to offer more training to the inexperienced officers. Training would enable them to understand how they are expected to perform their duties and handle situations they are exposed to.
Furthermore, to solve the issue of staff shortage, the U.S system should employ more officers to work with the current officers to ease work. The common way of measuring success is to identify whether or not a suspect or criminal returns to actions also known as rates of reconvictions. For instance, when the rates of reconvictions are low, means that the correctional programs are successful hence prisoners become fully rehabilitated.
One of the major ways through which COVID 19 has impacted the correctional systems globally is that there have been numerous cases of widespread or outbreak of coronavirus in prisons which affects the normal activities in prisons such as visits being canceled. In the United States especially, in New York, there have also been cases of deaths within prisons as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Furthermore, various measures introduced to curb the spread of the COVID 19 virus such as isolation of prisoners has led to riots in prisons which in turn affects the normal activities. What could have been better in NY as learned from China would be mass production of protective equipment which would have led to reduced deaths. In my personal life, creation of awareness and social connection would have been better.