Corrections Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Corrections - Research Paper Example Therefore, this paper evaluates the various available forms of corrections for offenders ranging from incarceration to community based corrections. Appreciating the important role played by correction officers in charge of handling and controlling prisoners, the paper evaluates the in-depth responsibilities of these officers, their academic qualifications and attributes necessary for effective executions of their mandate. It would also be critical to analyze the classifications of prisons and the security levels that define these classifications. Introduction In the US, sentencing ranges from restitution, fines, probation supervision, community service, suspended sentences and imprisonment terms to execution in cases of capital offences. Sentencing as a legal process defines the anticipation of the correctional function which carries out these sentences. The correctional function on the other hand define the last component of the criminal justice activities continuum in the criminal justice system responsible for the execution of sentencing orders issued by criminal courts (Cripe, Pearlman & Kosiak, 2012). Correction encompasses the probation authority, jail terms, community corrections agencies, prisons and paroling authorities. In addition to these five traditional and principal components of corrections, this component of the justice system could also include clerks of courts charged with collection of fines and restitution money and also those who assist in the supervision of offenders in the community. Probation refers to imprisonment alternative sentences which allow the defendant to be integrated into the community, stay at home and continue working (Cripe, Pearlman & Kosiak, 2012). However, such a person would be needed to report to a probation officer on a regular basis for counseling and assistance in crises. Violation of the conditions normally imposed by the court to govern the defendant’s activities could result in negative report being subm itted to the court. If serious enough, the probation could be revoked by the court. The courts rely on probation officers for such reports which could cause the defendant to be imprisoned. Lack of payment of fines and restitutions could cause the defendant to possibly face a jail term to serve as a sanction. As another form of correction, incarceration involves confining inmates in a prison. These include boot camps, weekend programs, half-way houses, also referred to as residential reentry centers and other entities for locking up individuals overnight. But a prisoner could be released before finishing the prison term if such a prisoner agrees to abide by certain conditions. This is referred to as parole and if the parole conditions get violated, the prisoner could be returned to prison. Fines would normally be used with or in lieu of prison terms. Less severe crimes such as traffic offenses have come to appreciate fines as the acceptable mode of punishment due to being punitive, e asier to administer and easily fits within a wide range of severity of crimes. However, it has been argued as being unavailable to indigent defendants and not being punitive enough for the wealthy defendants (Clear, Cole, Reisig & Petrosino, 2012). Restitution on the other hand tries to make the injured whole through administration of monetary awards as damages. In as much as