CJC 3311 - Contemporary Issues & Trends in Corrections

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2017 (525)

Requisites

Admission to Public Safety Administration (Bachelor of Applied Science) (PSA-BAS)

Course Description

This course will provide the student with an understanding of the evolution of the U.S. Corrections system, specifically the antecedents of modern corrections, the operation and administration of corrections facilities, and the role of corrections in modern society. Emphasis will be placed on the issues and trends in corrections affecting administration and management.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will explain the evolution of corrections as influenced by social, political, bureaucratic, legal, institutional, and community environments by:
    1. describing the importance of the preliterate societies in the origin of corrections as they were influenced through politics, laws, and economics.
    2. describing the value of the Code of Hammurabi in the evolution of the Western world’s laws.
    3. analyzing the philosophy of Sir Thomas More on the causative effects of crime.
    4. distinguishing between the key reformers and the schools of criminology, specifically the issues involved in each theory.
    5. describing the origin of the modern correctional system based on the Pennsylvania and Auburn systems.
    6. distinguishing the origin of the Federal Bureau of Prisons from the state systems.
    7. identifying the impact of John Augustus on community-based corrections.
    8. discussing the early trends evident through the evolution of the corrections system.
  2. The student will analyze the operational responsibilities within corrections including the hierarchy of authority, formal rules and procedures, and management styles by:
    1. identifying the role of the top correctional administrator in each state and the political basis for management.
    2. listing the basic functions of managers including planning, organizing, staffing, leading and budgeting.
    3. describing four management styles found in correctional facilities, including autocratic, participatory, shared-powers, and inmate control.
    4. distinguishing between professional standards and accreditation in the operation of correctional facilities.
    5. describing the difference between a manager and a leader.
    6. identifying issues and trends affecting leaders and managers in corrections.
  3. The student will explain the distinguishing features of a jail, minimum security prison, maximum security prison, and federal facility by:
    1. describing the jurisdiction, administrative structure, characteristics, architectural structure, and services provided within a jail.
    2. describing the differences between a jail and a prison based on structure, inmate classification, and institution administration.
    3. discussing the impact of the federal prison system on the state system of incarceration.
    4. identifying the difference in inmate supervision within the three areas of incarceration due to category of offense.
    5. discussing the specific issues and trends present in the management of jurisdictional and architectural facilities.
  4. The student will explain recent paradigm shifts affecting corrections management and leadership including recent trends and issues by:
    1. describing national issues and trends affecting corrections.
    2. describing the use of technology in institution management.
    3. discussing the need for and use of privatization in corrections facilities.
    4. distinguishing between the trends occurring in sentencing and the use of sentencing alternatives in managing correctional facilities.
    5. analyzing the best practices present in corrections leadership to deal with the shifting trends and issues.
    6. discussing the management difference in private correctional facilities versus public facilities.
    7. identifying future trends based on current issues.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

(submitted as 3301; SCNS approved as 3311). 3 Year Review 2008. C&I Approval: 09/14/2004, BOT Approval: 10/19/2004, Effective Term: Spring 2005 (345).
C&I Approval: 08/12/2016, BOT Approval: 09/20/2016, Effective Term: Spring 2017 (525)

Related Programs

  1. Public Safety Administration (PSA-BAS) (655) (Active)