Introduction to Corrections
Chapter Activities
These lively and stimulating ideas for use in and out of class reinforce active learning. The activities apply to individual or group projects.
Activity 1:
There are many programs designed for correctional populations. In this activity, students will assess the evaluation data available on a chosen correctional program. Students may select from a program highlighted in the text, one offered by a jail or prison in your jurisdiction or choose a program from the National Institute of Justice’s website CrimeSolutions.gov (https://www.crimesolutions.gov/TopicDetails.aspx?ID=2).
Students will use the following criteria to evaluate the program:
- Who is the target population?
- What are the characteristics of the population?
- What services are needed?
- What specific services are rendered?
- How can the program best deliver the needed services?
- What resources does the program need to be effective?
- Was the program evaluated for effectiveness; what were the results?
Activity 2:
Future of Technology in Corrections
In this exploratory essay, students will outline the use of technology in correctional facilities from one of the following perspectives:
- Security (e.g., monitoring offenders in the community).
- Health care (e.g., telemedicine).
- Reentry (e.g., contact with family/friends).
Students should address in their essay the need for technological advances in their chosen perspective; current use of technology, and its limitations and potential; and how technology can be used to support the sentencing models introduced in Chapter 2.