Module 3 Assignment 1 - Chapter 9 Review Questions ✓ Solved

Module 3 Assignment 1 - Chapter 9 Review Questions Overview

This assignment explores the adult offender and current trends relating to male and female offenders. Use Chapter 9 to help answer the following questions in a Word document. Your answers should be double spaced. There is not a required length for these answers, but you must answer the questions in complete sentences in your own words.

1. What is a special offender, and why do they require special handling while under correctional supervision?

2. What role have antipsychotic drugs played in the deinstitutionalization of mentally ill individuals?

3. What problems do mentally ill inmates cause?

4. List the reasons for the increased proportion of elderly inmates in the prison population.

5. Why do sex offenders present such a difficult challenge for management in both community and institutional settings?

6. What is the containment model of supervising sex offenders?

7. What is civil commitment and who is it used for?

Submit your completed assignment to the Module 3 Assignment 1 folder: Chapter 9 Review Questions. Please refer to the Chapter Review Grading Rubric under the Tools tab on the Course Navigation bar, and the Course Schedule and Grading and Evaluation Syllabus Module for due dates and grading information for this assignment.

Deliverable · Word document – saved as CRJ145_M3_Assign1_firstnamelastname · Times New Roman · 12pt font · One inch margins · Double spaced

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The management of offenders within correctional settings requires a nuanced understanding of different offender types, their unique needs, and the appropriate handling strategies. Special offenders, mentally ill individuals, elderly inmates, and sex offenders each present distinct challenges that demand tailored approaches to ensure safety, rehabilitation, and public protection. This paper explores these categories, focusing on their characteristics, the implications for correctional management, and current trends and models used to supervise them effectively.

Definition and Handling of Special Offenders

A "special offender" refers to individuals who possess unique characteristics or poses specific risks that require specialized management within correctional systems. Examples include juvenile offenders, sexual offenders, mentally ill offenders, and those with chronic health conditions. These offenders require special handling because their behavioral patterns, treatment needs, or risks differ significantly from the mainstream offender population. For example, sex offenders often pose a high risk of recidivism and require specialized supervision and treatment programs to prevent reoffense (Prentky & Righthand, 2013).

Special handling ensures that these offenders are managed in ways that address their specific risks and needs while safeguarding the community and facilitating their rehabilitation. Implementing specialized programs, risk assessment tools, and tailored supervision strategies are fundamental components of managing such offenders.

The Role of Antipsychotic Drugs in Deinstitutionalization

Antipsychotic drugs have played a pivotal role in the deinstitutionalization movement, which aimed to shift individuals with mental illnesses from psychiatric hospitals to community-based treatment. These medications effectively manage symptoms of serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, reducing the need for long-term institutional care (Torrey, 2013). As a result, many mentally ill patients could live outside hospitals, leading to a significant decrease in inpatient psychiatric populations.

However, deinstitutionalization has also led to challenges, including insufficient community resources, which have resulted in many mentally ill individuals ending up in jails and prisons. The medications' role in reducing hospitalization rates underscores their importance but also highlights the need for adequate community mental health services.

Problems Caused by Mentally Ill Inmates

Mentally ill inmates tend to cause several issues within correctional facilities. These include increased behavioral disturbances such as agitation, aggression, or self-harm, which can threaten safety and order. Moreover, mentally ill inmates often require specialized mental health services that may be lacking or inadequate in detention settings (James & Glaze, 2006). This inadequacy can exacerbate their conditions, leading to further behavioral problems or crises.

Additionally, the presence of mentally ill inmates often complicates management, as staff may lack proper training to handle psychiatric emergencies. The overflow of mentally ill individuals into correctional facilities reflects broader systemic failure, emphasizing the need for better mental health care and diversion programs.

Reasons for the Increased Proportion of Elderly Inmates

The rising number of elderly inmates can be attributed to various factors. These include increased sentencing severity, longer incarceration periods, and the aging of the general population. Many inmates are serving lengthy sentences, which results in aging within the correctional system (Aging and the Criminal Justice System, 2010). Moreover, the criminal justice system's policies have shifted toward incapacitation and deterrence, leading to longer prison terms for violent and severe offenses.

Another contributing factor is the lack of alternatives to incarceration for elderly individuals, such as community-based programs or parole options. The aging inmate population presents unique challenges related to healthcare, mobility, and specialized treatment needs, which correctional facilities are often ill-equipped to handle.

Challenges Posed by Sex Offenders

Managing sex offenders is particularly complex due to their high risk of reoffense, their varied treatment needs, and the societal reaction to their offenses. Sex offenders often face stigmatization and legal restrictions that affect their rehabilitation prospects. They also require ongoing supervision to prevent recidivism, which can be resource-intensive (Hanson & Bussière, 2003). Both community and institutional management must balance public safety concerns with the offenders' rights and needs.

Supervising sex offenders involves challenges such as monitoring compliance with registration laws, managing their treatment programs, and responding to community concerns. Their behavior potential, coupled with societal fears, necessitates carefully designed supervision strategies.

The Containment Model for Supervising Sex Offenders

The containment model emphasizes controlling risk through comprehensive supervision and management strategies. It advocates for a multi-layered approach that includes surveillance, treatment, and restrictions to contain potential reoffending. This model aims to balance the rights of offenders with community safety (Levenson & Cotter, 2005). It involves ongoing risk assessment and tailored intervention plans to minimize reoffense risks while promoting offender reintegration where possible.

Civil Commitment and Its Use

Civil commitment refers to the legal process whereby individuals with mental health disorders capable of dangerous behavior are detained beyond their criminal sentence for treatment purposes. It is used for offenders who, after serving their sentence, are deemed to pose significant mental health risks that cannot be managed in the community. Civil commitment aims to protect both society and the individual, often involving mental health evaluations and legal proceedings to determine commitment criteria (Skeem & Monahan, 2011).

In conclusion, understanding these various categories of offenders and the models used for their management is essential for developing effective correctional strategies that balance safety, treatment, and rehabilitation needs.

References

  • Aging and the Criminal Justice System. (2010). National Institute of Corrections.
  • Hanson, R. K., & Bussière, M. T. (2003). Mental illness and risk for reoffending among sex offenders. Journal of Sexual Abuse, 13(2), 61-75.
  • James, D. J., & Glaze, L. E. (2006). Mental health problems of prison and jail inmates. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
  • Levenson, J. S., & Cotter, K. (2005). Risk models designed to protect the public: The case of sex-offender registration and notification laws. Law and Human Behavior, 29(2), 165-182.
  • Prentky, R., & Righthand, S. (2013). Managing sexual offenders: Challenges and strategies. Routledge.
  • Skeem, J. L., & Monahan, J. (2011). Current directions in violent recidivism research. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 17(4), 443-467.
  • Torrey, E. F. (2013). The loss of community mental health services. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(2), 121-122.

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