Background
Criminal justice procedure consists of a set of legal and social institutions that are mandated with the duty of enforcing criminal laws that exist in a particular country. It aims at maintaining social order and punishing the offenders. The system has three main players; law enforcers, courts, and corrections. The three players are interdependent thus decision of one affects the other (Duckett & Schinkel, 2008).
After the suspect has been found guilty he /she is handed over to the correction department. The department is responsible for probation, parole, and custodial functions. Custodial functions are administered by the prisons; where the offender is denied freedom of movement thus hindering him from committing further crime. The prisons have the goal of ensuring that the offenders are reformed and given skills that will assist them in integrating in the society again (Eastvedt, 2008). In California, there is an increased number in petty crimes where sentencing is less than one year; prison facilities available are not adequate to cater/rehabilitate offenders. The local government needs to build a prison that takes care of this class of offenders. One of the problems facing modern society is congestion in prisons which hinder their effectiveness. The jail will be a low use jail with a capacity of 1000 men inmates of the age 18-25, divided into three groups according to the classification of crime committed. The name of the jail will be “Modern Prisons”. The mission statement of the jail will be “To be a correction center where prisoners are rehabilitated to change their ways and fit into society after their jail term: a jail with a human face” it will be operated by the government but services from private sector will be encouraged. This paper discusses a project to make a low use jail; it will give it a name, mission statement and give a justification and a management style of the jail.
Name of the Jail
The jail will hold short term sentencing of less than one year; it will be constructed in the in Los Angeles County, in California. The name of the jail will be “Modern Prison”.
Mission Statement
To be a correction center where prisoners are rehabilitated to change their ways and fit into society after their jail term: a jail with a human face.
Vision Statement
To rehabilitate all offenders kept under our custody, and ensure that they leave Modern Prison better than they came.
Users of the Jail
The jail will be a men facility; the facility will be divided into three classes according to the classification of crime committed. The classification is Felonies and Misdemeanors, Personal/Violent Crimes and Traffic Offenses/infraction
There is an increased population in all cities in California; with increase in population, there is a increased crime rate and thus facilities to rehabilitate offenders should be put up (State of California, Department of Finance, 2007) (also see appendix 1). There is an increased number of property crime which is more likely to have a jail term of less than one year and thus this facility will assist a great deal (Office of the Attorney, 2010) (also see appendixes 2).
The facility will accommodate inmates in the age bracket of 18-25years. It will not, though, take care of those between the ages of 18-25 years. The composition will be as follows;
Although the jails will be in the same compound, they will be independent in a way, the management will be central although officers will be allocated areas on a weekly basis. To manage this number, we will be having a central management point then there will be officers who will be designated to various halls. The reason to differentiate the inmates in terms of crime committed classification is recognition that they require different attention depending on the experience that they have had in life. During the time of sentencing, there will be planning for various classes conducted by professionals an area that we feel a certain class of inmate need.
Management of the Jail
The jail will be managed through a private-public program. This is a system that the public (which are private and corporate individuals will play a stake in the management) and the central government allocations. Financial obligations will be the work of the government but we will encourage the general public to be visiting the jail for various functions. One of the areas that we would like to leave at the control of the public is the conducting of religious services. We will encourage various denominations around the area to be visiting the jail and conduct masses (Bardsley, 1987).
Analyzing the target group; they are petty offenders- they are people who can easily be rehabilitated and integrate effectively to the society. This is why we aim not to disconnect them fully from the society. On the other hand, there are high chances that they are first offenders. First offenders only require love and counseling for them to change their ways; the following is a recommended weekly timetable of activities.
Justification for the Prison being a Low-Use Jail
A low use jail is a facility that has more focus on integrating an inmate back to the society rather than punishing the inmate. In this kind of jails even if the inmate is punished by the fact that he is denied his freedom, there is a general understanding that what should be more emphasized in them is correction and thereafter integration. Those convicted and sentenced for less than one year are on the rise in the country and thus this facility will suit more than any other.
As the world population is on the rise, social crimes have drastically increased and thus a facility that can “train” people on how to live in the changed world is needed in the society, “modern Prisons” will act as one such facility.
Conclusion
Criminal justice system is not complete without the prisons. Custodial functions are administered by the prisons; where the offenders are denied freedom of movement thus hindering them from committing further crime. One of the problems facing modern society is congestion in prisons which hinder their effectiveness. The jail will be a low use jail with a capacity of 1000 men inmates. The name of the jail will be “Modern Prisons”. The mission statement of the jail will be “To be a correction center where prisoners are rehabilitated to change their ways and fit into society after their jail term: a jail with a human face” it will be operated by the government but services from private sector will be encouraged. The prisons have the goal of ensuring that the offenders are reformed and given skills that will assist them in integrating in the society again. I feel that the central government should build a facility but its day to day running should be a partnership with the general public.
Reference List
Bardsley, B. (1987). Flowers in Hell: an investigation into women and crime. London: Pandora Press.
Duckett, P., & Schinkel, M. (2008). Community psychology and injustice in the criminal justice system. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 18(5), 518-526. Web.
Eastvedt, S. (2008). Criminal justice ethics: a view from the top. American Jails, 22(5), 61.
Office of the Attorney.(2010). Web.
State of California, Department of Finance,(2007). Race/Ethnic Population with Age and Sex Detail, 2000–2050. Sacramento, CA.
Appendixes
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
