Analyze the role of community corrections to address the needs of special populations. When conducting your analysis, consider those special correctional populations that are more appropriately served with community corrections supervision instead of incarceration.
Community corrections are a form of alternative sanction used after someone has been sentenced outside a normal prison or jail setting. The community corrections facilities have an obligation to fulfill their roles in meeting the needs of the special population. Community corrections involve working and paying fines as an approach to influence the character of the offender to take responsibility for their life. The special population can include people like the mentally ill, the elderly, or those that have severe medical problems. The best interest of a patient should be considered and applied when deciding whether the inmate should be incarcerated or placed on a community correction with supervision. The individuals that are under the program are usually supervised outside the prison setting but are expected to serve the community. The parole officers have the responsibility of protecting the people that require community corrections. Community corrections programs are critical in helping special offenders get back to society after developing the proposed change.
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Community programs will serve as a rehabilitative approach to corrections instead of prisons that usually do more harm. The current status of the prison system focuses on punishing offenders. While any offense by people of the special population requires that they be punished, the punishment can do far more harm than good. For instance, a mentally ill patient can result in undue stress, which can further lead to the worsening of someone’s mental health. Additionally, a severely sick patient being placed in the prison system will result in a further deterioration of their health as they will not get proper medical attention.
Community corrections are important in serving the needs of the elderly population. According to Psick et al. (2017), prison populations throughout the globe are increasing at an unprecedented rate, and there have been serious age-related medical costs with serious consequences for the jurisdictions that strive to create those changes. The elderly populations that are placed in community corrections have a better chance to access medical care and to also receive a greater degree in the quality of care. The cost of medical supervision when caring for the elderly can be rather difficult due to the limited funds that prison facilities have. The solution is that prison facilities should consider placing the elderly population on community corrections. Such an approach ensures that they can get a doctor at their own costs.
The mental wellbeing of mentally ill individuals can further deteriorate due to the challenges of being in a prison facility. Van Duck (2012) observed that approximately 60% of all inmates have been diagnosed with mental illness. Many individuals in mental facilities suffer from problems due to the lack of freedom. People that have mental challenges will find it difficult to adjust to the new environment and may regard it as a threat to them. The community corrections program should help mentally ill patients improve on their recovery person. It should also stabilize their mental health which can further reduce their recidivism rate.
In conclusion, it was identified that community corrections can help in helping special populations improve their wellbeing. Community corrections are vital to help an offender transit back to society as they can develop various behavioral changes and habits. The programs can also help the special population by addressing their direct needs like that of finding affordable medical care.
References
Psick, Z., Simon, J., Brown, R., & Ahalt, C. (2017). Older and incarcerated: Policy implications of aging prison populations. International Journal of Prisoner Health . 13(1). 1744-9200, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-09-2016-0053
Van Dunk, J. (2021). Prison Mental Health Programs: A Growing Need Within the American Correctional System. Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy , 1 (2), 7. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/jspp/vol1/iss2/7/
