Introduction
The correctional facility selected for this visit was Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility located in the State of New York within the United States. One of the most exciting aspects of this facility is that it not only operates as a minimum security facility but also seeks to engage in corrections through a reward system. The reward system ensures that prisoners or offenders that obey or follow all the rules that have been laid to out to receive rewards and privileges. On the other hand, prisoners or offenders, who seem to disregard the laid out rules, are punished by having their opportunities taken away. Before visiting the facility, I was able to read about it through different sources, which provided me with a basic understanding of its success in corrections when dealing with non-violent criminal offenders sentenced to prison sentences that do not exceed ten years.
Background Information on Facility Visited
The state government of New York established Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in 1989 as a minimum-security correctional facility with the ability to house both male and female offenders. The establishment of the facility was seen as a critical step towards promoting corrections among prisoners and offenders rather than focusing much attention on the time that they spend within the criminal justice system. Offenders that are charged with non-violent crimes qualify to be incarcerated in the facility for a period that does not go beyond ten years. The full capacity for the correctional facility is approximately 1100 inmates. Currently, the facility has 540 males and 109 females, which acts as a clear indication that it is operating below the set-out capacity.
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The name Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility was reached at focusing on the fact that the correctional facility operated in a boot-like nature with the sole focus being towards shocking offenders into changing their behaviors. The facility provides offenders with an avenue through which to engage in vocational training for courses that include building, horticulture, and computers among others. However, it must also be noted that the facility has a well-equipped alcohol/substance abuse treatment center with the capacity or ability to handle the inmates coming into the facility. The administrators believe in the need for having to promote rehabilitation for these inmates as a way of enhancing overall capacity towards dealing with their criminal behaviors. Additionally, treatment of drug and substance abuse also plays a critical role in trying to understand some of the reasons or factors contributing to crime.
Views on Correctional Process
In the interview conducted, it was clear that the residents, administrators, and correctional officers have a similar look on the correctional process adopted by the facility. The view reflects more on the idea of having to establish a front through which to examine or understand some of the reasons that may have prompted an individual towards engaging in crime. In this correctional process, the main factor is that it relies on one-on-one interactions between patients and the officers within the facility. Generally, this serves as a clear reflection of the fact that this facility seeks to create that general connection with the inmates as part of the criminal justice process to achieve possible outcomes. That means that the facility reflects on its position from the perspective of examining factors rather than forcing change among the offenders.
The administrators indicated that they had invested heavily on the education of the offenders with the view that this would provide them with a leeway through which to achieve success in their respective futures. In one of the interviews, the prison warden indicated that the vocational courses that they offer to their inmates have been of great value towards changing the way in which these persons view their futures. The facility, being minimum security, facility houses inmates that a serving for engaging in minor crimes; thus, meaning that they are likely to be released back into the society within a short period. The residents believe that the correctional approach taken within this facility is efficient, as it creates a structured avenue through which to try and understanding the general needs of the different offenders within the criminal justice system.
Pros and Cons of this Type of Facilities in the United States
When focusing on the pros and cons associated with this type of correctional facility within the United States, it becomes clear that majority of the persons interviewed tend to believe that the advantages far outweigh the existing disadvantages. Regarding the advantages, it can be noted that these facilities tend to have a higher capacity of providing personalized corrections to prisons with the aim of reducing recidivism. In minimum security facilities, one of the critical factors to take note of is that the offenders are taken through a well-structured approach as part of their corrections. In most cases, this seeks to examine the offenders from personal perspectives with the aim of minimizing the possibilities of reoffending.
Another key advantage of this type of facility is that it seeks to advance the idea that corrections should not only focus on trying to change one's behavior but should attempt to instill new values that the offenders would be able to appreciate. In minimum security correctional facilities, offenders are taken through a process of corrections that seeks to instill new moral values matching the overall value system in the society. On the other hand, one of the possible disadvantages of this type of facility in the United States is on the issue of the cost burden to the federal government. Majority of the minimum security correctional facilities operate at low capacities while their costs of operations are significantly higher than expected. That serves as a significant disadvantage considering that it becomes difficult for the facilities to build on their capacities to deliver on what is expected of them based on their spending.
Changes in Corrections
On the other hand, the administrators and correctional officers also believe that the corrections system within the United States has changed significantly within the last ten years. One of the notable changes that can be seen is that it has sought to introduce a leeway through which to ensure that the rights and freedoms of criminal offenders are upheld. In the last ten years, the United States has seen significant reforms in prison and corrections system aimed at structuring the rights and freedoms associated with criminal offenders. The outcome expectation of this is that it has sought to establish a new way through which to achieve positive outcomes in the corrections process by allowing offenders to learn new behaviors.
Comparing and Contrasting Information Obtained
When comparing the information obtained from the interviews and course material, it can be noted that indeed the information seeks to present notable similarities. Steiner, Butler, & Ellison (2014) reflect on minimum security correctional facilities from the perspective of their capacity to promote personalized corrections for the offenders within these facilities. That is the same information that the interviews yielded, which was clear from the fact that indeed such facilities seek to offer a clear avenue through which to build on intended capacities to promote overall corrections. On the other hand, contrasting the information also highlights a significant difference concerning the issue of the cost of these facilities. From the interviews, it was clear that the main con or disadvantage associated with this type of facility was the issue of cost, as the operational cost of running minimum security facilities is notably high. However, course materials suggest that the costs are subsidized through other avenues including funding from the selling of items that are made by the offenders as part of their learning process.
Conclusion
In summary, the correctional facility selected for this visit was the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility located in the State of New York within the United States. The state government of New York established the facility in 1989 as a minimum-security correctional facility. Currently, the facility houses 540 males and 109 females. The facility provides offenders with an avenue through which to engage in vocational training for courses that include building, horticulture, and computers among others. The administrators indicated that they had invested heavily on the education of the offenders with the view that this would provide them with a leeway through which to achieve success in their respective futures.
References
Steiner, B., Butler, H. D., & Ellison, J. M. (2014). Causes and correlates of prison inmate misconduct: A systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Criminal Justice , 42 (6), 462-470.
