I. Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on and analyze the main themes that are covered in your readings specified in the course syllabus for exam I.  This exercise will enable you to apply course material and provide valuable examples to study from for your exams and/or quizzes.  They will serve as part of our in-class review.  

Part I: (20 pts)

A. In Chapter 1 of your text, there is a discussion of the “systems framework” for studying corrections.  For this portion of your assignment, you are to go to the Department of Corrections (DOC) website for the state you have been assigned and look around the website and the various tabs, links, reports, and overall information. You will reference this information for your response to the following: 

  

A. Define what Clear et al. (2022) meant by the goals of corrections? Discuss using 2 examples from the DOC how this state either meets or fails to meet these goals. 

Support and defend your position.

B. Define what is meant by complexity and then explain using 2 different examples from information on the DOC website that illustrates the complexity of our correctional system? 

C. Define the concept of interdependency and identify 2 practices within the DOC that illustrate this concept. Explain your rationale. 

D. Cite using 2 examples of how practices in your state’s DOC impacts the “environment?” as described in your book. Explain your rationale. 

Part II.  (20 points)

     Please respond in complete sentences to each of the following questions:

• Restorative Justice

1. Explain (providing 2 examples) of how restorative justice is practiced in your assigned state.
2. Discuss the goals of restorative justice and 2-3 potential benefits for individuals and communities.

• Based on the guest speaker presentations from Abraxas, discuss 3 important takeaways from the presentations, and how they help supplement your understanding of criminal justice and/or corrections.  (5 pts)

Answer

Goals of Corrections According to Clear et al. (2022) and Analysis of State Department of Corrections

Clear et al. (2022) define the goals of corrections as encompassing punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and restorative justice. These goals aim to balance societal protection, offender accountability, and the potential for reintegration.

To illustrate how these goals are met or unmet, let’s analyse the DOC for California.

Rehabilitation

The California DOC emphasizes rehabilitation through various programs aimed at reducing recidivism. The California Model of Rehabilitation includes educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services (Xu et al., 2024). For instance, the department’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program offers inmates training in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and computer technology, aiming to equip them with skills for post-release employment. This aligns with the rehabilitation goal by providing inmates with tools to reintegrate into society successfully (Milley et al., 2024). However, despite these efforts, the challenge remains in the consistency and availability of these programs across all facilities, indicating a partial success in meeting this goal.

Restorative Justice

Another goal discussed by Clear et al. is restorative justice, which focuses on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. The California DOC has implemented restorative justice programs such as the Victim-Offender Dialogue Program, which facilitates structured dialogues between victims and offenders (Xiao et al., 2023). This program aims to provide closure to victims and promote offender accountability and empathy. While these initiatives reflect the state’s commitment to restorative justice, their limited reach and voluntary nature mean that not all offenders or victims benefit from them, showing an area for improvement (Dan et al., 2022).

While the California DOC makes substantial efforts to meet the goals of rehabilitation and restorative justice, there are areas where it falls short. Expanding the availability and consistency of rehabilitation programs and ensuring wider participation in restorative justice initiatives would enhance the effectiveness of the corrections system in meeting its goals comprehensively.