In criminal justice , particularly in North America , correction , corrections , and correctional , are umbrella terms describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies , and involving the punishment , treatment , and supervision of persons who have been convicted of crimes . These functions commonly include imprisonment , parole , and probation . A typical correctional institution is a prison . A correctional system , also known as a penal system , thus refers to a network of agencies that administer a jurisdiction 's prisons, and community-based programs like parole, and probation boards. This system is part of the larger criminal justice system , which additionally includes police , prosecution and courts . Jurisdictions throughout Canada and the US have ministries or departments, respectively, of corrections, correctional services, or similarly-named agencies.
24-455: "Corrections" is also the name of a field of academic study concerned with the theories, policies, and programs pertaining to the practice of corrections. Its object of study includes personnel training and management as well as the experiences of those on the other side of the fence — the unwilling subjects of the correctional process. Stohr and colleagues (2008) write that "Earlier scholars were more honest, calling what we now call corrections by
48-485: A halfway house or community service program, home confinement , and electronic monitoring . Additional sanctions may be financial and may include fines , forfeiture , and restitution ; these are sometimes applied in combination. The use of sanctions , which can be either positive (rewarding) or negative ( punishment ) is the basis of all criminal theory, along with the main goals of social control , and deterrence of deviant behavior. Many facilities operating in
72-456: A prison guard , is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation of prisoners . They are responsible for the security of the facility and its property as well as other law enforcement functions. Most prison officers or corrections officers are employed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate, although some are employed by private companies that provide prison services to
96-430: A few universities and publications. A discipline may have branches, which are often called sub-disciplines. The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to academic disciplines. In each case, an entry at the highest level of the hierarchy (e.g., Humanities) is a group of broadly similar disciplines; an entry at the next highest level (e.g., Music) is a discipline having some degree of autonomy and being
120-644: A form of whipping on male offenders, to be administered on up to three occasions, but did not limit the number of strokes. Whipping of female offenders was not allowed. The whipping could be inflicted using a strap, cat-o'-nine-tails , or a paddle unless specified by the court. The move to abolish corporal punishment in the Canadian penal system coincided with several reforms and a change from the Reform Institutions label to Corrections or Correctional . Intermediate sanctions may include sentences to
144-403: A role similar to a police SWAT or Special Weapons and Tactics team, but are tailored to the prison setting. Though these vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, they typically must pass a very physically and mentally demanding tactical academy or training course, often lasting a week or more. Special units must qualify regularly and at shorter intervals than regular line staff to remain in
168-403: Is the term "penal officer". The official who is in charge of a specific prison is known by various titles, including: " prison warden " (US and Canada), "governor" (UK and Australia), "superintendent" (South Asia) or "director" (New Zealand), respectively "Direktor" or "Gefängnisdirektor" (Germany). Prison officers must maintain order and daily operations of the facility and are responsible for
192-583: Is used in New Jersey. Due to the law enforcement status and authority of New Jersey's officers, New Jersey's officers employed by the Department of Corrections are classified as "police officers". Brazil has a similar system to New Jersey, but the officers are known as "state penal police agent" or "federal penal police agent". "Correctional officer" is used in Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and
216-658: Is usually done through on the spot corrections, a formal disciplinary process, or through the legal process in extreme circumstances. Correction officers must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility. Officers check for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. Fire and severe weather drills may be common. Officers may screen all incoming and outgoing mail for select high risk offenders. All prison staff, regardless of position, volunteers, visitors, new court commit, and offenders returning from off ground, are searched prior to entry. This aids in
240-491: The 1950s and 1960s which was driven by a new philosophy emphasizing rehabilitation . It was accompanied by concrete changes in some prisons, like giving more privileges to inmates, and attempting to instill a more communal atmosphere. At least nominally, most prisons became "correctional institutions", and guards became "correctional officers". Although the corrections-related terminology continued thereafter in US correctional practice,
264-401: The U.S. In Australia , prison officers were known as turnkeys until the 19th century after which they were known as warders until the late 20th century. Additionally, a slang term used as an insult or form of group endearment during this period was 'screws'. Following this period they were known as prison officers and later correctional officers. "Detention officer" is used in the U.S., as
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#1732771941300288-409: The US, these trips are most often local, but may be across the entire country. Correction officers may assist police officers on/off duty depending on their peace officer status and jurisdiction. Corrections officers' training will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility depending on the legislated power given, the nature of the facilities, or even the socioeconomics of
312-649: The United States adhere to particular correctional theories. Although often heavily modified, these theories determine the nature of the facilities' design and security operations. The two primary theories used today are the more traditional Remote Supervision and the more contemporary direct supervision model . In the Remote Supervision Model, officers observe the inmate population from remote positions, e.g., towers or secure desk areas. The Direct Supervision Model positions prison officers within
336-482: The adult or juvenile offenders. Community Based Corrections can focus on both of adults and juveniles, attempting to rehabilitate them back into the community. In contrary to the " tough on crime " mindset which expresses harsh punishment, this community based correctional method seeks to transition offenders back into the community. In Canada, until 1972, the Criminal Code legislated that courts could impose
360-606: The care, custody, and control of inmates. A correction officer has a responsibility to control inmates who may be dangerous, and that society themselves do not wish to accommodate. An officer must always prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates. Officers have a responsibility to protect themselves, other officers, inmates, and the public from assault by other inmates. Correctional officers must also protect inmates from harming themselves or committing suicide. An officer must be alert and aware of any and all movement taking place inside
384-432: The facility. Prevention is one of the key components of an officer's duties. Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons, drugs, or other contraband. Officers should remain assertive and in most situations refuse to back down. An officer shall hold offenders who violate facility policy accountable for their actions when rules are violated. This
408-516: The fundamental identity felt by its scholars. Lower levels of the hierarchy are sub-disciplines that do generally not have any role in the structure of the university's governance. Also regarded as a Social science Linguistics listed in Social science Also regarded as a Social science Also listed in Applied science Also regarded as the separate, an entry at the highest level of
432-526: The government. Historically, terms such as " jailer " (also spelled " gaoler "), "guard" and "warder" have all been used. The term "prison officer" is used for the role in the UK and Ireland. It is the official English title in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Poland. The term "corrections officer" or "correction officer" is used in the U.S. and New Zealand. The term "correctional police officer" or "CPO"
456-511: The hierarchy Also regarded as a social science Main articles: Outline of futures studies and Futures studies Also regarded as a formal science Also a branch of electrical engineering Also regarded as a social science Also listed in Humanities Prison officer A prison officer ( PO ) or corrections officer ( CO ), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as
480-575: The inmate population, creating a more pronounced presence. List of academic disciplines An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of knowledge , taught and researched as part of higher education . A scholar's discipline is commonly defined by the university faculties and learned societies to which they belong and the academic journals in which they publish research . Disciplines vary between well-established ones in almost all universities with well-defined rosters of journals and conferences and nascent ones supported by only
504-606: The name penology , which means the study of punishment for crime." The idea of "corrective labor" ( Russian : исправительные работы ) in Soviet Russia dates back as far as December 1917. From 1929 the USSR started using the terminology "corrective-labor camps" ( Russian : исправительно-трудовые лагеря (ИТЛ) ) and "corrective labor colonies" ( Russian : исправительно-трудовые колонии (ИТК) ). The terminology change in US academia from "penology" to "corrections" occurred in
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#1732771941300528-406: The philosophical view on offenders' treatment took an opposite turn in the 1980s, when academics labeled the "get tough" program as "The New Penology" . Community Based Corrections are sanctions imposed on convicted adults or adjudicated juveniles that occur in a residential or community setting outside of jail or prison. The sanctions are enforced by agencies or courts with legal authority over
552-453: The reduction of contraband being introduced into the facility. These routine searches often employ hand held or walk through metal detectors, and baggage x-ray machines. Under certain instances, a canine, pat/frisk, full strip, and vehicle (if parked on facility grounds) search may be conducted. Correction officers are responsible for transporting inmates to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances, and other approved locations. In
576-773: The region. Training may be provided by external agencies or at the facility with a peer-group or supervisor instructor. In North America, standard training usually includes: Many jurisdictions have also, in recent years, expanded basic training to include: Most institutions in the United States have a crisis resolution team of some sort, though these vary in name (i.e., Crisis Resolution Team or CRT, Special Response Team or SRT, Critical Incident Response Team or CIRT, Correctional Emergency Response Team or CERT, Crisis and Emergency Response Team also CERT, Correctional Emergency Unit or CEU, Special Security Team or SST, Disturbance Control Team or DCT, Special Operations And Response Team or SORT, and Tactical Support Unit or TSU). These teams take on
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