Data Collection Methods & Tools

In the United States, the issue of overcrowding in the correctional facilities is on the alarming rate, and the number of challenges that inmates encounter indicates how far the problem is from being addressed by the federal government. According to Abel (2018), the number of people convicted stands at a rate of 520 for every 100,000 people. To emphasize on the challenge, the researcher collected data from three correctional facilities in Florida, namely; Bay Correctional Facility, Sumter Correctional Institution and Taylor Correctional Institution. The research involved preparing a brief questionnaire to administer to correctional officers in the respective institutions. The feedback form contained simple questions which enquired for the number of incarcerations, the number of staff in the facility, the rate of releases, projects underway, and the convictions made in a day. The questionnaire was necessary due to its effectiveness as a source of data collection. The summary of the questionnaire content is as follows, 

The data on the table is extracted from the questions answered by officials in the three correctional facilities. The number of prison officers in each of the facility shows the imbalances in administration, as the ratio of staff to convicts shows a single worker is responsible for five prisoners. As if that’s not enough, the number of arrests per day almost double the releases made, and there are no expansions in the facilities. Therefore overcrowding is highly experienced in these correctional facilities and needs for an alternative method of handling offenders should be sorted by the federal government (Bales, Bedard, Quinn, Ensley, & Holley, 2005). The response from the facilities is also presented on a graph for easy analysis and discussion of the results from the data collection  

The data graph has been used to reveal the alarming number of convicts in the correctional facilities, which are characterized by lower releases and high arrests, and limited resources. The three correction centers indicated limited chances of expanding the facilities which can address the challenge of overcrowding, and over-stretching of the existing human resources, and is an indication that the massive incarceration in the US prison is posing challenges to both the workers and convicts. Wagner & Sakala, 2014). The graph presents summarized data which makes analysis and eases the drawing of conclusions from the study. 

References 

Abel, A. M. (2018). Prison Reform in Arizona: An Analysis of Approaches to Alleviate Overcrowding in Arizona Prisons. 

Bales, W. D., Bedard, L. E., Quinn, S. T., Ensley, D. T., & Holley, G. P. (2005). Recidivism of public and private state prison inmates in Florida.  Criminology & Public Policy . 

Wagner, P., & Sakala, L. (2014). Mass incarceration: The whole pie.  Northampton, MA: Prison Policy Initiative .