Corrections Case Study - Methods to Maintain Order and Safety in Prison

This case study discusses the methods used by Sergeant Baldwin and his staff to maintain order and safety in the prison. It also analyzes the effectiveness, risks, pros and cons, and ethics of these methods. The study also discusses the situation of Terry Dibble, one of the inmates, and the unique issues faced by gay inmates. It concludes with suggestions on how conditions at Statefield could be improved.

Running head: CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 1
Corrections Case Study
Name
Institution

CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 2
CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY
1 Describe the main methods Sergeant Baldwin and his staff use to maintain order
and safety in the prison. Take a position on the effectiveness, risks, pros and cons, and
ethics of these methods.
One of the main methods that Sergeant Baldwin applies to ensure that order and safety is
maintained is through keeping the inmates on lockdown. Through this, the prisoners remain
locked up in the prison cells with no ability to freely move around or outside the cell periphery.
During periods that the situation becomes unmanageable, it is thus applied as a measure to fully
contain the prisoners, since it makes the prisoners tone down. Moreover, the method is also best
applicable where there are potential threats as it helps to contain such risks as well.
Despite the fact that it can be best applicable to contain various situations, it is not an
effective method as per the correctional standards of the facility. According to Simkayta
Winfield, one of the inmates at the prison, during the lockdown, they find themselves missing
much as well as idle around without doing anything to keep them engaged.
As per Sergeant Baldwin’s analysis, completely locking off the prisoners from the society
renders them hopeless hence being of more threat to the general public and the community at
large. As a consequence, lockdowns reduces the benefits that would be realised as a result of
engaging them and allowing them outside contact. It also, on the other hand, tends to increase the
aggression levels of the prisoners.
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 3
Apart from the above defects associated with the method applicable, it also makes the
prisoners more apprehensive unfairly punishing putting the inmates not involved in the scenarios
that led to the lockdown.
Firing shots in the air is altogether another method that is applicable in maintaining order
and ensuring safety within the prison. It is applied in instances where a prison warden might be
facing an imminent threat from a prisoner. According to Sergeant Baldwin, the warning shots
fired acts as an informer to the inmates that the prison warders are alert. Though effective it is, it
can be risky as well in that it can promote an environment of intolerance by the inmates.
The fact that the method leaves none hurt during the process, it is thus an ethical method
to be applied.
Lastly, excessive force can be used on inmates trying to lay an attack on the correctional
officers physically. As a method, it helps in creating awareness to other inmates on the
consequences of any an orderly behavior that might arise as well as assists in containing crimes
and controlling against any future threats of violence.
Despite the benefits that accrue as a result of its application, it carries with it some
demerits as well, one being that it can lead to the inmates being injured in the process hence
taking legal action against the prison. Since violence is involved in the process, it is not an
ethical method to be used. Finally, this technique can also make the prisoners to whom the
method is used, more resilient and making them hold negative feelings against the guards
thereby creating an environment of uncertainty.
2 Choose one (1) of the inmates profiled in this video – Terry Dibble, Simkayta
Winfield, Jericho Jones, or Gregory Crowder – and discuss their situation. Explain how
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 4
they ended up at Statefield, the main issues they described facing, and the methods they use
to cope with their time in prison.
Terry Dibble, being one of the inmates, was transferred to Statefield because he fought
with another inmate in the former prison he was held in. his period of sentencing that he is left to
serve is 45 years having served ten years. This sentencing was as a result of a murder case
whereby he killed one man, who had tried to date his girlfriend, and the other man who had been
staying with his girlfriend.
As a result of the transfer, he is faced with the challenge of the lockdown. On the other
hand, he is also not able to quickly see his girlfriend and his mother due to the distance from the
current prison facility. Previously, he could see his girlfriend almost five times a month, while
currently; his girlfriend cannot easily travel to the facility. His girlfriend is an essential coping
mechanism as well as she, being caring and ready to sacrifice for him urges him on.
Consequently, he is willing to give his girlfriend his level best since she is willing to help
him during his period at the prison facility. To cope with his time in prison, Dibble makes
drawings of his girlfriend.
3 Discuss the effect you feel the presence of the active armed guards has on the
violence level and overall safety within this prison.
To maintain safety within the prison, actively armed guards are critical since they act as a
hindrance against any imminent violence in the prison facility. This makes the prisoners aware
that they are being watched over thereby curtailing any grand plans that they might be harboring.
Firing warning shot helps to contain the prisoners during instances of violence, which would be a
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and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 5
contrast if the guards would not be armed, since the prisoners would not be afraid to engage the
police, thereby escalating it. A reduction of violence through the presence of guards at the
facility brings about increased security levels in prison.
4 Describe the issue of isolation in Statesville presented in this video and the effects
connections and contact with outside visitors can have on the prisoners’ mental status.
At the facility, high levels of isolation are practiced since helps to decrease significantly
by a large margin, instances of violence at the facility. This is done on various stages, whereby,
for entrants, the gay prisoners are isolated from the prayers. The second level of isolation occurs
at the exercise yard, whereby the inmates are restricted with the aim of reducing any instances of
violence. Segregation is also practiced during lockdowns, which is not the best form of isolation
since it completely prevents the inmates from interacting with the outside world. This prevents
the inmates from having a positive mental state making them feel dejected. The contact with
individuals outside the prison facility makes them feel part of the society hence having a sense of
belonging; since they can meet and interact with people, they love and care for their lives. For
example, Simkayta Winfield, who is an inmate, can check up on his daughter.
5 Identify at least two (2) issues that gay inmates here uniquely face as well as at
least one (1) method of protecting gay inmates against each of these identified issues.
Those who are guys suffer additional and ill-treatment and torture from the prison
officials and Fellow inmates. The gays are mostly intimidated by the new, and most of the prison
officials were also hostile to them. Most of the prison officials don’t like homosexual men since
they have the stereotype that if you are gay, then you want to have sex with them of which they
put all of the gays in the same situation. Most of the gays when they are outside the prison life
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 6
they are regarded as being predators, but when they are in prison, they are at a higher risk of
being sexual abuse from the fellow inmate.
There are various methods of protecting gay inmates in prison which include:
The prison department segregates gay prisoners: Correction officials used the technique
of segregation when dealing with those who are homosexual. This act as a standard technique as
those who are gay are free from the risk of being attack by Fellow inmates. This technique also
helps to the stemmed official who has the perception that those who are homosexual a threat to
general security in prison. It also helps in reducing the ignorance about homosexuality that exists
within the Prison life.
Another method is the deployment of officers responsible for keeping check of all
inmates that are in the cell; they ensure that those who are targeted by new cellmate are protected
from the attack. The officials are responsible for safeguarding inmate against rape from other gay
inmates.
6 Take a position on how you believe conditions at Statefield could be improved.
Include at least two (2) specific actions that could be taken to improve conditions (i.e.
security and safety, abuse and use of force, isolation, poor food quality, etc.). Provide a
rationale for your position.
The condition of the prison should be improved in the following ways: The
quality of food being provided to the prisoners should be of good quality; this will
enables the prisoners to have good health. Some of the prisoners complain of having a
poor quality meal such as disgusting meat and the prisoners say it is a heal staying in
prison. They should also be given an opportunity of contacting their families on a regular
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and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 7
basis as this will motivate them and improve their psychological life. It is also advisable
for the prison department to provide access to Condoms as this will lower chances of
contradicting HIV AIDS. This is because some of the inmates have to improvise condom
using plastic bags due to lack of Condoms (Schaefer, 2018).
The safety and security of all the officials and prisoners can be enhanced through
the provision of better training to the official guards. The Staffs should be training on
issues that deal with the human rights since we find that most of the officials are fond of
abusing prisoners and intimidating them. The training process should also be extended to
all the prisoners; they should be informed of their rights and the procedures in which they
can take in solving the issues that are affecting them.
There should also be reform on the criminal Justice by establishing alternatives to
sentences that are long. They should check the changes in behaviors to those who are
jailed. Those who have long sentences should be released based on the changes in their
routines.
References
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and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
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CORRECTIONS CASE STUDY 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGyxXGJWA2I&feature=youtu.be
Schaefer, L. (2018). Correcting the “correctional” component of the corrections officer role:
How offender custodians can contribute to rehabilitation and
reintegration. Corrections, 3(1), 38-55.
© 2017 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information
and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of
Strayer University.
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