EXAM 4: STUDY GUIDE

This is not an exhaustive list of all concepts and terms for the first exam. Any information from lectures
or the book is fair game. Be sure to study class notes and the readings. Please contact me with any
questions at [email protected]

History of prisons, jails & reformatories

The general history of prisons, jails, and reformatories. How has the mission of corrections changed
over time (i.e., the different eras of corrections)?

The US started with corporal punishment (like whippings or the stocks). There were few attempts to
reform prisoners, rations were irregular, staff were corrupt, and riots and escapes were common.

The Walnut Street Jail was converted around 1790 into the country’s first penitentiary, in which the
most hardened convicts were kept in single cells. At this time, the institution’s administration was
revamped, and a board of inspectors, instead of the sheriff, was given authority over the jail’s affairs.
Part of the jail’s new direction was to ensure that the inmates had meaningful work and steady
employment.

In 1829, Pennsylvania opened an eastern state penitentiary. It used the separate-and-silent system.
This caused inmates to have mental issues.

In 1817, the Auburn prison in New York used the congregate-and-silent system.

In 1860, the penal systems of other sides of the world were influencing our system, like Alexander
Maconochie, Sir Walter Crofton, and Zebulon Brockway.

In the 1900s, we started focusing on prison labor and created the convict lease system, which
allowed companies and individuals to loan out prisoners for labor.

1930 was the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a federal agency that manages and
regulates all federal penal and correctional institutions, and the Wickersham Commission report
helped shape prisons more towards rehabilitation.

Federal v. State prisons (types, numbers, security levels, etc.)

State prisons-at least 3-4 levels of security (dorm-like housing and low-security perimeter for level
1, secure perimeters with armed guards both inside and outside the prison for level 4.), but it
fluctuates from state to state.

Federal prisons Minimum-security institutions. Also called federal prison camps, these have
dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and little or no perimeter fencing. Some
institutions have a small, minimum-security prison camp next to a larger main facility to provide
inmate labor to the main facility and to off-site work programs.

› Low-security institutions. These have fenced perimeters and dormitory or cubicle housing. The
staff-to-inmate ratio in these institutions is higher than in minimum-security facilities.
 › Medium-security institutions. These have fenced perimeters, often with electronic detection
systems, mostly cell-type housing, and a higher staff-to-inmate ratio and greater internal controls
than lower security facilities.

› High-security institutions. U.S. penitentiaries have highly secured perimeters with walls or
reinforced fences, cell housing, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and strict control of inmate
movement.

› Administrative facilities. These specialized institutions hold pre-trial detainees, treat inmates with
serious or chronic medical problems, and/or hold extremely dangerous, violent, or escape-prone
inmates. All administrative facilities, except for the ADMAX (administrative maximum, also called
“supermax”) facility in Florence, Colorado, can hold inmates in all security categories.

What does the typical inmate look like (e.g., sex, age, race, education, etc.) in prison/ jail?

Male, white, 25-29,

Prison populations—how many people are incarcerated in the US? How do the rates for
incarceration differ across races?

1,900,000 people are incarcerated, 39% are black, 57-58% are white.

What has happened to incarceration rates over the past 90 years? What are some of the
explanations for why this has happened?

It went down from 2009 through 2012. The reason is due to changing sentencing laws and
population growth.

What are the various problems that inmates may face while being incarcerated? How many
inmates face these problems (are they widespread across the population, or only affect a small
group of inmates)?

Hopelessness, dependency, stress, anxiety, violence, assault, and is a problem that is widespread, but
never talked about so they don’t appear ‘weak.’

What are the problems with overcrowding? What rights may overcrowding infringe on? What can
be done to combat prison overcrowding?

Overcrowding is when a prison has more prisoners than it has room for. It can be a heath and stress hazard
for both prisoners and inmates. One way is to release inmates with less serious or violent felonies, older
inmates, or inmates in the infirmary.

What are some of the unique problems women in prison may face? What can be done to remedy
these problems?

Likely to have chronic health problems, cervical cancer, not enough things like sanitary pads to use,
and getting treatment for things like pregnancies and abortions if you are pregnant is really hard.
Sexual violence lecture 13
What are some reasons that sexual violence may occur in prison?
●​ Persuasion is the most commonly reported pressure tactic used in instances of sexual
victimization for both male and female inmates—the use of tactics like threats to
withdraw love, bribery, or blackmail.
●​ However, men do report higher rates of threats of harm and actual harm during the
incident and instances involving the use of weapons.
●​ Coercion with the person within the prison setting often results in what researchers refer
to as consensual homosexuality. So, an agreement to engage in sexual acts under
duress or for protection blurs the lines between consent and victimization.
●​ Sexual activity in prison is a complex and controversial topic. By law, all sexual activity in
prison, whether consensual or forced, is strictly prohibited.

There are many different myths and misconceptions about sexual victimization in prison which
can obscure the true nature and impact of this issue. These myths perpetuate harmful
stereotypes and make it really difficult to address and prevent victimization effectively.

●​ Myth #1 is that men are not capable of being victims of sexual assault.
●​ Myth number 2 is that male inmates who engage in sexual activity are not
heterosexual.
●​ Another myth, focuses on that rape is driven by sexual desire.

Is this a common or rare event?

●​ 2.4%

What can be done to fix this problem?

●​ By challenging these misconceptions, we can work towards a more humane and

equitable correction system that prioritizes the safety and dignity of the inmates
for which they serve.

What has been done to address this problem?

●​ 2 key milestones in addressing sexual violence in prison are the supreme court decision
in Farmer versus Brennan 1994 and the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination
Act, or PREA, which was brought forth in 2003.

Probation and Parole

What are the general characteristics of a released offender (race, age, sex, offense, etc.)?
What is community supervision? What are the differences between probation and parole? What
are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Community supervision-a set of programs that allow people to serve their sentences in the community
instead of jail or prison

Parole-your release from prison under supervision.

probation-your sentence given in court to be under supervision.

What are the different types of probation and parole?

Emergency release- These releases prioritize inmates who pose the least risk to public safety,
ensuring that the correctional system maintains its capacity while balancing security concerns.

Medical parole-granted to inmates with severe medical conditions or terminal in, illnesses. These
individuals are released to receive appropriate medical care outside of prison and are often under
continued supervision.

Discretionary parole-occurs when a parole board evaluates an inmate's readiness for release based
on factors like behavior, risk level, and rehabilitation efforts. This type of release allows for
individualized decision making, ensuring that only those deemed prepared for reintegration are
granted parole.

Mandatory parole-determined by statutory requirements, as we just discussed, and is based on

good time and game time. It doesn't involve parole board discretion and instead follows the
predetermined guidelines for release.

Unconditional release-occurs when an inmate serves their full sentence without any remaining time
for supervision upon release. These individuals are not subjected to parole conditions or monitoring
as their debt to society is considered to be fully paid.

Why might an offender be revoked from their probation or parole?

Not interacting with probation officer or rules, committing a new crime, not paying fines,

What are some of the conditions that are generally included in probation and parole?

Meeting a parole officer,

What are examples of specific conditions of probation and parole?

Specific conditions of probation and parole can include:

maintaining employment,
●​ residing within a designated area,
 ●​ reporting regularly to a probation officer,
●​ refraining from drug and alcohol use,
●​ attending therapy or counseling sessions,
●​ submitting to drug tests,
●​ avoiding contact with victims,
●​ paying restitution,
●​ not possessing firearms, and
●​ notifying authorities of any address changes.

What are halfway houses? What are the functions they aim to serve? What are some advantages
and disadvantages to halfway house programs?

These facilities are most commonly utilized for conditional parolees, helping offenders adjust from life in
prison to life in the community. Halfway houses not only aid in transitions, but also provide a structured
environment with surveillance and support, which are critical to reducing the likelihood of reoffending.

What are the different types of intermediate sanctions? What are the goals of each? Which types
have been found to be successful/unsuccessful?

Purpose
• Bridge gap between probation and incarceration.
• Stricter than probation but less severe than prison.
Types
• Community Service: Unpaid labor benefiting the community.
• Home Detention: Offenders confined to residence with limited, preapproved activities.
• Electronic Monitoring (EM): Tracks offenders’ location, offering oversight without
incarceration.
• Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP): For high-risk offenders, involving rigorous monitoring.
• Community Residential Centers (CRCs): Structured living environments for high-risk
offenders.
• Shock Probation: Short incarceration followed by probation.
• Boot Camps: Military-style programs aiming to instill discipline but criticized for limited
effectiveness.

Who is the most likely to carry out a successful probation or parole sentence?
●​ those with a limited criminal history,
●​ a stable home and employment situation, a positive attitude towards rehabilitation,
●​ strong support networks, and
●​ a low-risk assessment score;
●​ factors like age, education level
●​ first-offender status can also play a significant role in determining success on probation
or parole.
What are the main duties and responsibilities of probation and parole officers? What are some
problems that they may face? What are some possible solutions to these problems?

Probation and parole officers supervise people who have been released from prison or placed on
probation. They help these individuals reintegrate into society and ensure they follow
court-ordered conditions.

Duties
●​ Monitor compliance: Ensure probationers and parolees follow court-ordered
conditions, such as drug testing, community service, and counseling
●​ Provide resources: Help parolees find employment, housing, education, and health
treatment
●​ Write reports: Document each probationer's treatment plan and progress
●​ Work with the legal system: Meet with judges and lawyers to provide updates on
probationers and parolees
●​ Help with rehabilitation: Counsel probationers and parolees to help them stay on a
better path

Challenges

​ High caseloads​
Probation and parole officers may have too many cases to supervise, which can lead to
inadequate supervision
​ Lack of resources​
Probation and parole officers may not have enough resources to do their job
​ Limited cooperation​
Probationers and parolees may not cooperate with probation and parole officers
​ Job-related stress​
Probation and parole officers may experience high levels of stress from excessive
paperwork and meeting deadlines

Possible solutions
●​ Provide more resources to probation and parole officers
●​ Improve training for probation and parole officers
●​ Find ways to reduce the number of cases each probation and parole officer has to
handle

What is the prison subculture? What theories/models relate to prison subculture?

●​ The prison subculture is characterized by a set of values and behaviors that are
consistent across US prisons.
 ●​ The deprivation model- suggests that prison values are formed as a response to the
hardships of incarceration.
●​ The importation model suggests that prison values and behaviors are imported into the
prison from the existing world.

What is prisonization? What is the relationship between prisonization and time incarcerated?
●​ Prisonization refers to the process by which newly incarcerated individuals come to accept prison
life and the broader criminal values of the inmate subculture.
●​
●​ The longer someone is imprisoned, the more likely they are to become "prisonized,"

What are privatized prisons? What are the benefits and disadvantages to privatized prisons?

●​ Prisons owned by private companies.

●​ Pros: can run cheaper than state prisons, and can operate them across different jurisdictions.
Easier to hire/fire for-profit employees than government agents, and are more likely to be fired for
striking.
●​ Cons:they may cut corners to save money, less accountable to the public, easier to cut paychecks
of employees.

What are the different types of terrorism discussed in the textbook? How are these categories
different from one another? What are real-life examples of each?

According to most terrorism studies, the primary categories of terrorism

include: state terrorism, domestic terrorism, international terrorism,
nationalist terrorism, religious terrorism, left-wing terrorism, right-wing
terrorism, and separatist terrorism; each differing based on the perpetrator's
motivations, target, and geographic scope.

Breakdown of categories and examples:

​ State Terrorism:​
When a government uses terror tactics against its own citizens to
suppress dissent or maintain power.
●​ Example: The use of violence by the Soviet Union against political
opponents during the Stalin era.
●​
​ Domestic Terrorism:​
Terrorist acts committed within a country by individuals or groups against
their own government or citizens, often motivated by domestic political or
ideological grievances.
​ International Terrorism:​
Terrorist acts committed by individuals or groups based in one country
against targets in another country.
​ Nationalist Terrorism:​
Acts of violence aimed at achieving political autonomy for a particular
ethnic or national group.
​ Religious Terrorism:​
Terrorism motivated by extremist religious beliefs, often targeting
individuals or groups perceived as contradicting those beliefs.
​ Left-Wing Terrorism:​
Terrorist acts carried out by groups with leftist political ideologies, often
targeting capitalist systems and institutions.
​ Right-Wing Terrorism:​
Terrorist acts committed by groups with far-right political views, often
targeting minority groups or government institutions.
​ Separatist Terrorism:​
Terrorist acts aimed at achieving political independence for a particular
region or group from a larger state.

Key points to remember:

●​ These categories are not always mutually exclusive, as a terrorist group
may have motivations that fall under multiple categories.
●​ The target, geographic scope, and motivations of the perpetrators are
key factors in determining the type of terrorism.
●​ Understanding the different types of terrorism is crucial for effective
counterterrorism strategies

Information/material from The Farm: Life in Angola documentary.

●​ 85% of people who enter Angola prison will die there
●​ Angola was a slave plantation turned prison at the end of the Civil War.
●​ If someone dies in prison and no one is there to pay for a funeral, they will be buried at a
cemetery designated by the state.

Information from Ms. Gregory’s guest presentation on programs and services for incarcerated
people.

Kiting system: kiosks prisoners can use to send instant messages to any department in the
jail, medical, mental health, the lieutenant, jail records, and say pretty much whatever they want
to say.

Competency evaluation: a test to make sure a defendant is competent enough to tand trial. if
not, they are sent to a mental hospital for a period of time determined by their charge.