The Mission of the Correctional System

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The correctional system has three main goals: punish, protect the community and rehabilitate the offender. However, it is unclear how well the modern U.S correctional system achieves these goals and whether the money invested in the correctional system might be better spent. These are some of the points I will cover regarding what I think about the correctional system.

Department of Corrections is an agency of the state that is responsible for the supervision and management of convicted felons. The Department of Corrections allows the protection of the community by operating safe, secure facilities that keep offenders under firm, fair practices. There is a wide range of treatment including educational and vocational programs that help the offenders become rehabilitated citizens.

Corrections have the duty to punish and reform offenders. I believe that offenders should be penalize for breaking the law, but also the offender should have the opportunity to reform and turn away from crime. Corrections starting point is that the public must be protected from those offenders who pose a threat. This is why prison is the right place for the most dangerous, serious and the most persistent offenders. States are increasing prison capacity to ensure that there are always enough places for these offenders costing millions of dollars to taxpayers.

Prisons are the first and the most effective punishment. It removes the liberty of offenders, forcing them to comply with a structured, disciplined and tough regime where everyday choices usually taken for granted are removed. But along with this punishment we must also give offenders the chance to reform and change their behavior. Offenders must take responsibility for their behavior and take the ...

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...rections Compendium, 35(1), 17-28. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals.

Homant, R.. (2009, October).” Do Prisons Make Us Safer? The Benefits and Costs of the Prison Boom.” Corrections Compendium, 34(3), 16-17. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals.

Anonymous, “Inmate Education Programs.” (2008, May). Corrections Compendium, 33(3), 9-25. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals.

Delgado, M & Humm Delgado D. (2008). “Health and Health Care in the Nation’s Prison: Issues, Challenges and policies.” Corrections Compendium, Lanham, Md., Rowman and Litlefield Publishing Group, 2008, 310pp.

Morgan, M., & Smith, J... (2009, August). Hiring the Right Individual for Your Corrections Staff. Corrections Today, 71(4), 22-24, 26. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodical.

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