Criminal Justice and Corrections: Key Concepts and Definitions

Conditions of Release

Conditions of release are the rules that must be followed by parolees.

Intermediate Sanctions

Intermediate sanctions are punishments that fall somewhere between probation and prison.

Women's Prisons and Rehabilitation

Women's prisons are smaller and there are fewer female prisoners than males, which has contributed to a lack of resources devoted to programs and rehabilitation.

The Bail Reform Act of 1984

What authorized the use of preventive detention in cases where the accused places the public at great risk? The Bail Reform Act of 1984.

Prison Terminology

• Fish: A slang term for new prisoners.
• Cigarettes: The traditional standard currency among prisoners.

Identity Theft and Cyber Crime

• Credit card theft is the most common form of identity theft.
• IC3 complaints are related to cyber crimes.

Pre-Trial and Court Procedures

• Pre-trial detention: Where someone waits for trial when they cannot make bail.
• Arraignment: The formal court appearance of an accused person where the charges are read.

Technology in the Courtroom

Electronic file management can be seen when evidence is presented on computer screens and projectors.

Correctional Models and Philosophy

• Medical Model: Based upon the assumption that criminal behavior is caused by biological or psychological conditions that require treatment.
• Retribution: The philosophy of punishment that best describes the use of the death penalty.

The CSI Effect

The CSI Effect deals with citizens believing that there should be more scientific evidence in order to convict.

Sentencing and Parole

• Truth in Sentencing: The law that requires offenders to serve a substantial proportion of their sentence before being released on parole.
• Parole Board: The entity that determines if someone should be released on parole.

Correctional Staffing

Factors that keep people from applying as correctional officers include: boring work, low pay, and minimal career advancement. Additionally, the increase in prison populations is a reason for a shortage of correctional officers.

Forensics and Criminal Law

• DNA Analysis: A scientific technique that identifies people through their distinctive gene patterns.
• Federal Crime: Illegally downloading music is a federal crime in the U.S.

Incarceration Statistics

Most women are incarcerated due to drugs.

Recidivism

Recidivism is relapsing into criminal behavior.

Release on Recognizance

Offenders most likely to be released on their own recognizance include: lower-grade offenders, the indigent, those with serious medical conditions, and defendants held for a long time without a formal charge.

The Lease System

The lease system was a system under which inmates were leased to contractors who provided prisoners with food and clothing in exchange for their labor. Inmate deaths were often due to them trying to escape.

Surveillance and Security

• US Patriot Act: Approves the use of surveillance aimed at particular individuals.
• Security Levels: The method used to classify prisons.

Boot Camp Effectiveness

Three reasons why boot camps have failed include: lack of education, lack of employment, and failure to reduce prison crowding. These programs could potentially be successful under changed conditions by instilling positive attitudes.