StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Correctional Operations - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
The researcher of this essay will make an earnest attempt to explore correctional operations in general and then narrow down to discussing the 10th and the 13th amendments, and how they have affected the criminal and prison justice system in Florida…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.8% of users find it useful
Correctional Operations
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Correctional Operations"

Correctional operations. In every society, there are generally acceptable set norms and values, which their members are expected to adhere to. Any deviation from these norms and values is considered deviance, and requires correctional actions. Governments also have a set of regulations, called the law, which her citizens are required to abide by. Any person who contravenes them is liable for punishment as prescribed by the same law. Laws are in place to shape the behavior of individuals, to maintain order and to enable favorable relationships with other people. Laws are subdivided into various categories like, criminal, commercial, and international laws among others. They ensure peaceful coexistence of people within the society, protection of property and individuals, and good governance. Whoever breaks them is considered a societal misfit and should be corrected in to shape their behaviors to be able to fit in the society harmoniously. According to Hornby, the term correction refers to the process of improving behaviors of criminals usually by punishing them (260). The paper will explore correctional operations in general and then narrow down to discussing the 10th and the 13th amendments, and how they have affected criminal and prison justice system in Florida. Different countries have ways of rehabilitating offenders. In the United States for instance, correctional facilities run educational programs, vocational training and psychological treatment to ensure that offenders’ behaviors are modified positively (Aptheker). Why do the authorities require such correctional operations? According to (Aptheker), the correctional operations serve to confine and treat the potential and actual disrupters of social system. A system denotes components that work together for a common goal; if one of them fails there is a possibility of a breakdown. If individuals misbehave in the society, there is likely to be societal malfunctioning. Take for example a serial killer, a terrorist or a rapist. Such criminals are detrimental to the societal environment, and need to be incarcerated to promote safety in the society and to rehabilitate them. Another function of correctional operations is to equip and empower offenders with skills that are necessary for their survival after release. The vocational and educational training accorded to inmates are useful for their social and economic empowerment. The inmates are accorded conducive environment to identify and pursue talents and skills, which they can use to earn a living after release, other than engaging in criminal activities. Further, correctional operations spearhead psychiatrist therapy. Offenders are accorded guidance counseling services aimed at altering their perceptions of life and correcting their mental anomalies if any. Some people do suffer from adverse psychological effects of stigmatization that is associated to criminal tendencies, and correctional professionals need to restore their self-worth and to prepare them to face life positively. Criminal justice system all over the world has been on a continuous flux due to immense social development. Florida is not an exemption to such alterations. Before the eradication of slave trade in 1865, slaves majorly the Africans were confined in the American prisons and their forced and cheap labor exploited to help in reconstruction after the devastating effects of civil war, and to spur economic growth in America. The slaves were being mistreated and handled in a terribly dehumanizing manner. They were treated as objects, machines or animals who worked in the farms, industries and homes of the whites. “In 1865, the 13th amendment officially abolished slavery for all people, except those convicted of a crime” (Smith and Hattery 8). This amendment provided a window for the criminalization of blacks to provide cheap labor. The 13th amendment tremendously changed the criminal and prison justice systems in Florida. According to Smith and Hatterry, the elimination of slave trade, lead to the formulation of a new set of laws called ‘Black Codes’ aimed at decriminalizing the blacks (9). For example, walking in town at night become loitering and saw many African Americans behind bars, and while there, they provided cheap labor for the vibrant American economy. The 13th amendment therefore was a veiled plot to re-enslave the blacks. This trend has been maintained by forces of racial discrimination and self-centered capitalists to date. Smith and Hatterry alludes to this opinion by observing that African Americans have more likelihood of being jailed (3). This explicates the fact that, “African Americans comprise nearly two thirds of male prison population yet they are only 13% of the total American male population” (Smith and Hatterry 3). From the discussion it is clear that the 13th amendment did open a window for exploitation of black Americans through biased imprisonments to exploit their free labor to serve the selfish interests of capitalists. The prisoners provide labor for state facilities and organizations. Currently, there has been privatization of prison department in the United States. Those who are incarcerated it in the private prisons provide cheap labor for the private sector organizations, for instance they work in multinational companies like Microsoft. Let us now explore the 10th Amendment of and how it has influenced the criminal justice and prison system in Florida. The amendment provides that, “powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people” (Thomas 17). This gives the states autonomy to have control over their own affairs, but they are controlled by the central government when it comes to issues of the United States. Florida being a state in the U.S.A. was accorded powers to manage its own affairs including criminal justice and prison services. This meant that the federal government was prohibited from controlling legislative, executive and judicial braches of the states. However, this has worked for the executive and legislative branches but not the judicial branches. Federal and State judicial systems are really not separate as the federal government tends to override. Thomas states that, “supremacy clause of the federal constitution explicitly provides that state courts must follow federal law, even if it overrides state laws or constitutions (18).This means that the federal government is not ready to relinquish control when it comes to judicial systems. According to Reddy, the provisions of the 10th amendment have been greatly ignored by the federal government, and it continues to meddle in the ordinary administration of justice within the states. It controls both the civil and criminal justice system, and this is an overt violation of the 10th amendment. Even habitual drug offenders are taken to federal courts. Reddy documents that, Justice Antonine Scalia opposed the practice of committing even petty offenders to trial at the federal courts. He said that, “it was a great mistake to put routine drug offenses into the federal courts” (Reddy). Surely, some offences should be left to the states to deal with in the spirit of upholding the 10th amendment. Byrne argues that, the 10th amendment gives the American states the right to determine punishments for violation of the law within the states, and further to establish courts and prisons and other penal institutions to address legal issues. Florida has improved in handling crime by prosecution and committing offenders to prisons, but a lot still needs to be done by ensuring its autonomy. Though the federal constitution overrides that of the state it should concentrate on major crimes like terrorism and drug trafficking, but not less serious crimes. Both the 13th and the 10th amendments were formulated to improve systems including criminal justice and prison systems. The 13th amendment declared the abolition of slave trade thereby liberating slaves who were majorly blacks from the traumatizing chains of imprisonment. The 13th amendment was a brilliant idea and a remarkable stride in social development and demonization of racism whose climax was manifested in slave trade. However, this splendid amendment was somersaulted by capitalists’ forces by formulating and implementing legislations that criminalize mainly the black Americans. There should be a departure form this trend, and Florida State should ensure that the 13th amendment is pursued to the latter to avoid racial discrimination, which was brought about by slave trade, in the course of the dispensing justice. The declaration is very instrumental and is aimed at ensuring racial equality when in matters of justice. Florida State has made strides in this area, but more still need to be done to stop racial biasness in legislations and trials. The 10th amendment is also important for the state of Florida, since it advocates for functional autonomy. It gives Florida autonomy to handle its criminal justice and prison systems in the most appropriate manner. This independence, if respected, is very vital for the political, social and economic advancement of the state. Note that there are criminal tendencies that are unique to the Florida state; hence it is expedient to allow her to handle them. The 10th amendment comes with freedom that, if used well, can promote effective and efficient dispensation of justice and as such very important for Florida. The paper has explored the correctional operations, and why they are necessary. It is clear that they help in the rehabilitation of offenders, and promote peaceful societal co-existence. Owing to their importance, governments and other legitimate authorities must ensure that it is treated with uttermost seriousness. Flaws associated with justice systems should be established in time corrected efficiently to enhance professionalism. The 13th amendment declared the abolition of slave trade, hence a vital tool of fighting racial biasness in the justice process. It is imperative that Florida State ensures that it is implemented to the later, and to strongly advocate against re-enslaving the black Americans through prejudiced legislations and trial systems. The 10th amendment on the other hand advocates for autonomy of American States to run their own affairs. It should be respected to ensure social, political and economic advancement of the state of Florida. . Work Cited Aptheker Bettina, The Social functions of the prisons in the United States. 2012. Web 14 April 2012. http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/apthekersocfun.html Byrne Brianna. Rights and Duties of States. EHow.com 2012. Web 13 April 2012. http://www.ehow.com/list_6750021_rights-duties-states.html Hornby, A.S. Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary of Current English. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Reddy Vicrant P. 10th Amendment applies to criminal justice, too. 2012. Web 14 April 2012. http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202542435200&slreturn=1 Smith Earl and Angela Hattery. Incarceration: A Tool for Racial Segregation and Labor Exploitation.2008.Web 14 April 2012. http://www.wfu.edu/aes/pdf/Prison_Industrial_Complex_RGC_2-16-08.final.pdf Thomas R. Keneth..Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional. 2008. Web 13 April 2012. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30315.pdf Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Correctional Operations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words, n.d.)
Correctional Operations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/law/1771611-correctional-operations
(Correctional Operations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words)
Correctional Operations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words. https://studentshare.org/law/1771611-correctional-operations.
“Correctional Operations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/law/1771611-correctional-operations.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Correctional Operations

Future, past. present

The other aspect of the current state of the law enforcement component of the justice system is that their duties and responsibilities are now well cut out, with such provisions enshrined in the constitution and in the law enforcement policies and regulations that guide their operations....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Cultural Competence in the Criminal Justice System

The impetus for such changes must come from a variety of sources including social services, education, employment, and faith-based operations.... About 20% of people in prison or jail or on probation for violent crimes have a mental illness, but only about 13% of the total correctional workforce is appropriately trained counselors, psychologists, medical staff, chaplains, or social workers....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Real Time Kinematic GPS

GPS technology has been given enough consideration due to its usefulness and much advancement is there to get precise real-time positioning information till the cm level.... Due to these advancements, the researchers and professionals are much at ease who are in need of high level… The industry as a whole is revolutionized due to the advancements in this technology. Real Time Kinematic technique or RTK is a GPS mode that is broadly employed for accurate positioning applications....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Ann Arbor Probation

The next step is the correctional facilities management, field operations administration and operations support administration.... The field operations administration directly oversees the probationary units in the field.... Management of the field operations administration falls directly on the correctional facilities management administration and then back to the director's office....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

The Media: the Publics Perception of Prisons in a Negative Light

This will give the public a clear insight into the operations of the facilities hence rid the society of the stereotypes.... This study looks into correctional facilities in the judiciary systems.... correctional facilities are depicted as oppressive and the guards as dehumanized individuals.... correctional facilities are depicted as places characterized by physical brutality where the inmates are subjected to violence (Surette 179)....
1 Pages (250 words) Case Study

Crimes in the USA, Current Situation and Causal Factors

This self-perpetuating cycle of greater and greater numbers of incarcerated person, stricter laws, as well as corporate interests in the ever expansive and privatized role of correctional institutions in the United States bears witness to the failed policies of the War on Drugs and the War on Crime which date back to the early 1970's....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Affiliation of Coyote Ridge Corrections Center

Coordination of primary operations which includes financial planning are done by the WDOC10.... e is appointed by the Washington State correctional Department for 6 years2.... Discuss the main function/responsibility of the correctional department of facility?... he Coyote Ridge correctional center is operating as a decentralized unit of the central Washington department of correction (WDOC).... Organizational Conflict in Coyote Ridge correctional Center There is no organizational conflict on the manager to handle prisoners when fighting lead to assigning of more officers during a fight or nay kind of scuffle....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Consequence of Inaction

At the correctional facilities, we give all of them second chances to change their behavior and focus on enhancing their lives and those of their family members.... Also, public confidence in the correctional facilities will subside.... As the paper "Consequence of Inaction" outlines, crime is dangerous both to the criminal's life and to others....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us