Introduction
It is important to mention that the future correctional issues will be different from the way they currently look like. This is due to the fact that as technological advances take place criminal activities are also likely to increase. But also it is possible that in future death penalties may be completely removed from the statutes of many countries of the world thereby necessitating quarantining and segregating certain criminals who would otherwise be sentenced to death. The correctional facilities will undergo a serious transformation to take care of emerging correctional issues (Seiter, 2004).
The Segregation of HIV-positive Inmates is Ethical
Even though most people are against segregation in general, it is some times appropriate in certain situations. It is well known and globally acknowledged that HIV is a dangerous disease and is fatal; this owes to the fact that the scientists have not yet found cure for it. With this respect, it is important to note that some of the inmates are highly likely to have contracted the virus before being brought into prison (Mulleady, 1992).
Inmates are never enjoying being in prison. So they are likely to vent their frustrations on anybody they find around. Besides, it has been reported that inmates some times fall out with one another amongst themselves. The most important thing to note is that it is not wrong to let HIV negative inmates stay with HIV positive inmates. However, the problem is that in case of confrontation amongst themselves they are likely to bruise one another and in the process the sick ones may infect the rest with HIV Virus. Moreover, inmates may sometimes turn against the prison officials and those have HIV may intentionally throw sharp objects containing contaminated blood at the prison officials. In this case, it will be important to segregate HIV positive inmates to save HIV negative inmates and officials. This can also make it easy for prison officials to be cautious with them and also to offer them specialized care due to their status (Puisis, 2006).
One thing that is common in prison world over is that inmates are separated according to sex; this means that female inmates are kept separately from male inmates. In relation to this, it is worthwhile to mention that in such a case, it is highly possible to find issues of homosexuality and lesbianism going on in the prison cells; these sexual activities are never protected or safely done hence exposing HIV negative inmates to the virus. This implies that segregating them will be of great significance in terms of the health of other inmates. There are so many reasons to support why HIV positive inmates should be segregated in future correctional issues (Puisis, 2006).
Conjugal and Familial Visitations Are Effective Rehabilitative Concepts
Conjugal visits between the inmates and their wives and husbands are very significant to the structure of the family. This is especially crucial for inmates who are jailed for long term. If conjugal and visits were not allowed to the inmates, their couples could easily seek sexual gratification from outside marriage which has the potential of leading to divorce; but divorce may be very devastating to the inmates and may cause more psychological torture. The consequence of this is that the inmate may not have a family by the time he or she is being released (Middle East Watch).
Family support is also highly likely to be important to the inmates, particularly the inmates who are determined to correct their traits which made them land in jails. An inmate requires to have a feeling that things will not be the same again once they complete their jail term. In this case, the wish of the inmate is that the family unit should stay as intact as it can always be and this can be made possible when the family members are allowed to visit the inmates. They get to share new developments in the families and also get encouragement and assurance from family members (Frantz, 2009).
Families play an important role in facilitating the rehabilitation of inmates; they provide hope to the inmates and assure them that some people still care about them outside the prison cells. This also provides them with psychological relief as they do not need to be preoccupied with the thoughts about their families so much; they are sure of seeing the family members as they visit frequently.
Serial Killers and Violent Sexual Offenders should be Quarantined
A serial killer can be referred to as a career criminal whose main obsession is to kill as many innocent people as possible. Only specific persons are victims of serial killers and sexual offenders. In cases where the authorities are convinced an individual is very dangerous to those within the neighborhood as a serial killer and sex offender, then it is most appropriate to place such individuals under maximum quarantine. Quarantining the serial killers and sex offenders ensures that their likely victims, who are in many cases women, are safe. Besides, it is important to note that quarantining the serial killers and sex offenders is not just to protect their potential victims, but it is also crucial to protect them from the angry public who are dismayed by their heinous activities.
Some serial killers are engaged in some form of cult which makes them kill as part of ritualistic requirements. By quarantining them, they are stopped from possibly recruiting innocent people into such cults and hence also become serial killers. As for sex offenders, quarantining them will ensure they do not influence others into becoming sexual offenders, especially through peer pressure or influence (Seltzer, 1998).
Conclusion
Segregation of HIV positive inmates is important to protect transmission to other inmates and also allow prison officers to be cautious while handling them. Therefore, as much as many people are opposed to segregation, it remains positive in the context of HIV positive inmates who need to be kept away from HIV negative inmates and prison officials. Meanwhile, conjugal and familial visitations may be considered important part of effective rehabilitative concept. I this case, the inmates get hope that they are still cared for and also help them strengthen family ties. As in the case of serial killers and violent sexual offenders, quarantine is also appropriate to stop them from harming more innocent people. Besides, quarantining them saves them from angry public who may decide to lynch them (Seltzer, 1998). Quarantining the serial killers and violent sexual offenders is very appropriate and relevant in situations where death penalty is forbidden. In brief, the future correctional issues are likely to take a new dimension due to dynamic statutes that can be changed and also due to growing human rights activism.
Reference List
Frantz, M. (2009). Jail Time: What You Need to Know…Before You Go to Federal Prison! New York: Dog Ear Publishing.
Middle East Watch. (1993). Prison conditions in Egypt. Egypt: Human Rights Watch.
Mulleady, G. (1992). Counseling drug users about HIV and AIDS. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
Puisis, M. (2006). Clinical practice in correctional medicine. U.S.A.: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Seiter, R. (2004). Corrections: An Introduction. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Seltzer, M. (1998). Serial killers: death and life in America’s wound culture. New York: Routledge.