Discussion Questions

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Chapter 1: Introduction 

  1. Discuss the interactions between the three federal branches of government and the corrections system and identify the negative consequences that congressional gridlock can have on criminal justice policies.
  2. What are some solutions to prison and/or jail overcrowding? Discuss the implementation and potential costs to these solutions.
  3. Compare the present issues in the corrections system to the civil rights issues of the 1960s. What is the relationship?
  4. Who are the key players in the corrections system?
  5. How will the progressive smart-on-crime approach impact the current corrections system?

Chapter 2: Punishment and Social Structure 

  1. Discuss the transformation of punishment beginning with the early Middle Ages.
  2. Discuss how current social issues, such as those in Ferguson, MO, will impact the criminal justice system.
  3. Discuss the current state of the Right on Crime approaches and give examples of how the state is moving away from the Get Tough era.
  4. What is the current state of prison overcrowding? Have efforts been made to reduce overcrowding?

Chapter 3: The Purpose of Punishment and Sentencing Trends

  1. Discuss the sentencing process at every stage. Identify the actors that are involved at each stage of the process and explain their duties as well as their importance.   
  2. Discuss the complexity of the presentence report. What elements does it cover?
  3. What is discretion and how important is discretion in the criminal justice system? Who exerts the most discretion during the sentencing stages?
  4. What is the relationship between reintegrative shaming and religion?

Chapter 4: Jails

  1. Discuss the prevalence of mental health issues in jails. What can local, state and federal officials do provide proper services?
  2. Discuss video visitation technology. Do prisons/jails have a right to prohibit offenders for face-to-face contact?
  3. What is the effect of race on the jail and prison populations? Discuss the races mentioned in the text and the different issues they face.
  4. Discuss the historical and modern design of jails/prisons. Which design do you think works best? What are the pros and cons of each design?
  5. Identify the stages of inmate processing in jails and prisons. Is it a complex process? 

Chapter 5: Probation and Alternatives to Incarceration 

  1. Discuss whether you believe probation works. Do you think it satisfies the public’s need for accountability?
  2. Compare and contrast the historical and modern day probation. What are the significant differences?
  3. Which probation perspective do you believe works the best? Should the corrections system continue with the law enforcement approach?
  4. Discuss the role of probation officers. Do they have a significant amount of discretion? Identify a few ways in which the roles of probation officers may differ by jurisdiction. 

Chapter 6: Prisons

  1. Discuss a state’s political culture and how it impacts crime policy and incarceration rates.
  2. Discuss the historical panopticon and modern radial and linear prison designs. Which one do you think works best?
  3. Discuss the impact of immigration on the prison population.
  4. Discuss the differences in prison security levels. Do you think isolation in the supermax prisons is effective?
  5. Discuss education in the prison system. Do you believe that it can reduce recidivism?

Chapter 7: Reentry and Parole

  1. What is the purpose of specialty courts? Give an example of a court that specializes in a single offense.
  2. What are the risk and needs principles? What do they state? Compare both of the principles.
  3. What is the difference between discretionary and nondiscretionary parole decisions?
  4. What are some of the challenges of reentry? Discuss the effect of mental health disorders on recidivism.
  5. Discuss the standard conditions of parole.

Chapter 8: Juvenile Corrections

  1. How are youth and adult offenders similar? Discuss the incarceration rates of youth and adults of color.
  2. How did the Prison Litigation Reform Act impact the corrections system?
  3. Compare and contrast the needs of juvenile offenders and adult offenders, especially those of female offenders. Are they any different? Do juvenile offenders require more supervision and counseling?
  4. Discuss the recidivism rates of juveniles. Why is it hard for the federal government and states to track these rates?
  5. What are the Scared Straight and Tough Love programs? Do you think these programs deter juvenile offenders from future criminality? Why or Why not?

Chapter 9: The Corrections Workforce

  1. Discuss the distinction between probation and parole corrections workers. How are their roles similar and how do they differ?
  2. Discuss the potential negative effects of prison overcrowding on both inmates and staff members? States have made efforts to alleviate this issue, do you think that enough is being done?
  3. Discuss the importance of corrections worker unions. What is the purpose of the unions? How do they become so influential?
  4. Discuss the importance of diversity in the workplace.
  5. Is a code of silence warranted in the corrections system? What issues can arise when the code of silence is used by custody officers?

Chapter 10: Law and Corrections

  1. Discuss the reform efforts that took place during the progressive era. Have there been instances where the corrections system has reverted back to abusive practices?
  2. Do you think the accreditation process is political? If so, please explain why.
  3. What efforts have been done to improve prisoner’s conditions of confinement?
  4. Discuss the importance of the Bill of Rights, its applicability to prisoners, and the courts reluctance to apply the constitutional protections to prisoners.
  5. Discuss the impact of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 on the corrections system.

Chapter 11: Corrections and the Color Line

  1. Discuss the problem of measuring incarceration rates of individuals who identify as a mixed race. Are there any solutions to this problem? Should data collecting methods be revised?
  2. What do you think that only a handful of states report data on arrests for Hispanics? Should the FBI implement their data collection methods?
  3. Discuss the differences between rural and urban prisons. Why is it that staff members from rural areas harbor social prejudices towards people of color?
  4. What is the purpose of the Racial Justice Act? What do you think are the reasons why other states have not approved laws such as this? Does it have to do with a states political culture?
  5. Compare and contrast tribal territories to federal, state, and local territories. Why are tribal lands considered more dangerous?

Chapter 12: Women in the Corrections System

  1. Discuss the defense of women accused of murdering their abusive partners. Do you believe that women who commit crimes such as these should be incarcerated?
  2. What influence does the media have on the portrayal of young girls and women who commit crime? Do agree with their “women are becoming more violent” portrayals?
  3. Discuss the effect of the War on Drugs on the incarceration of women. What were the unintended consequences of this war?
  4. Discuss the effect of the Three Strikes Laws on the incarceration rates of women.  Should women who have committed non-serious crimes be placed in community corrections rather than prison?
  5. Discuss the controversy surrounding pregnant inmates. Should children be allowed to stay with their mothers? What are the unforeseen consequences of removing a child for their mothers care?

Chapter 13: Special Populations

  1. Discuss the issues with funding and how funding drastically effects the services provided to inmates with special needs.
  2. What are some of the challenges that jails and prisons face when providing regular care to sick inmates?
  3. Discuss the relationship between substance and drug abuse and chronic illnesses. What solutions do you propose to help combat substance and drug abuse outside of jails and prisons?
  4. Discuss the health risks of pregnant women who are incarcerated. Are their health needs met while in jail or prison?
  5. What is the difference between elderly and geriatric?

Chapter 14: The Death Penalty

  1. Discuss the current issues and controversies surrounding the drugs that are used for lethal injection. Should the states be allowed to use drugs that are used on animals?
  2. Discuss the role of the executioners. What issues could these individuals face in the future (i.e. guilt, stress, etc.)?
  3. Do you believe that LWOP is a harsher punishment than the death penalty?
  4. Discuss the case of James Holmes, the Aurora, CO theatre shooter. His prosecutors entered a plea of not guilty  by reason of insanity. Do you believe the court should still pursue the death penalty or should the shooter be placed in a mental institution?

Chapter 15: The Growth of Privatization in Corrections

  1. Do you believe that private prisons are necessary? Should the federal and state governments invest in improving the public facilities rather than contract to private?
  2. Discuss the issues with transparency and accountability in private prisons.
  3. Discuss some of the issues seen with private prison contracts. Are they poorly drafted? What problems can arise from a poorly written contract?
  4. What is the impact of immigration on the private prison industry?
  5. Discuss the pros and cons of the private prison industry.

Chapter 16: The Politics and Future of Mass Incarceration

  1. Discuss California’s Realignment. Do you believe this will work to help reduce prison overcrowding? What will the impact be on rural communities?
  2. What were the major funding issues that California faced after the 2008 market plunge? How did the lack of funds affect other areas such as Education?
  3. Discuss citizen’s ability to change laws through ballot measures. Do you believe this is good practice?
  4. Discuss the importance and influence of prison guard unions on crime policy.