Careers and Roles in Corrections Journal Entry. Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please complete the assigned readings in your textbook (PDF chapters attached below), watch the CRJ303 – A Career in CorrectionsLinks to an external site. video interview of a corrections officer, and review all required resources for this week. You may also wish to consider recommended resources for this week.
Review a state department of corrections website of your choosing, or the Federal Bureau of PrisonsLinks to an external site., and explore a position within a corresponding correctional system. You can also consider any of the Twitter web pages for state correctional departments listed in the Required Resources this week: SC Dept. CorrectionsLinks to an external site., FL Dept. CorrectionsLinks to an external site., MDOCLinks to an external site., MichiganDOCLinks to an external site.. Please respond to the following:
Explain how functions associated with your chosen position relate to correctional goals.
Reflect on how the position may contribute to both social justice and criminal justice objectives within the context of corrections.
Your journal should be at least 400 words in length and properly cite and reference at least one state department of corrections website or the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
Carefully review the Grading RubricLinks to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Reference for textbook chapters: Stojkovic, S., & Lovell, R. (2019). Corrections: An introduction (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.uagc.edu
References
https://content.uagc.edu
Career Opportunities in Correctional Institutions: Aligning Social and Criminal Justice Goals
Correctional institutions aim to achieve both social justice and criminal justice objectives through rehabilitation of offenders and protection of public safety. Various career roles within corrections can contribute to these dual aims in meaningful ways. This article explores how positions in corrections relate to these overarching correctional goals.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Career roles such as corrections officers, case managers, counselors, and reentry coordinators directly impact offender rehabilitation. Corrections officers maintain safety and security while also modeling prosocial behavior and facilitating rehabilitative programming (Lerch et al., 2016). Case managers and counselors provide treatment, education, and skills training to address criminogenic needs and risks (Schlager, 2018). Reentry coordinators prepare offenders for community reintegration by Helping with housing, employment, and community support post-release (Petersilia, 2004).
Public Safety and Deterrence
Other roles like investigators, intelligence analysts, and administrators focus on deterring crime and ensuring public safety. Investigators solve crimes within institutions to maintain order (Stojkovic & Lovell, 2019). Intelligence analysts gather and analyze intelligence to prevent security threats and criminal activity (Bureau of Prisons, 2022). Administrators create policies and procedures to deter misconduct and criminal behavior both inside and outside of facilities (Mears et al., 2017).
Overall, correctional careers can simultaneously rehabilitate offenders and protect communities by addressing the root causes and consequences of crime. With dedicated professionals fulfilling a variety of important functions, corrections aims to balance these dual goals of social and criminal justice.
References
Bureau of Prisons. (2022). Intelligence analyst. https://www.bop.gov/jobs/jd/intelanalyst.jsp
Lerch, J., Viglione, J., Eley, E., James-Andrews, S., & Taxman, F. S. (2016). Why correctional officers engage in misconduct: A multilevel analysis of survey data. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 44(8), 1111–1135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854816689858
Mears, D. P., Cochran, J. C., Siennick, S. E., & Bales, W. D. (2017). Prison visitation and recidivism. Justice Quarterly, 34(6), 880–907. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2017.1304563. essay writing service.
Petersilia, J. (2004). What works in prisoner reentry? Reviewing and questioning the evidence. Federal Probation, 68(2), 4.
Schlager, M. D. (2018). Rethinking the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 34(3), 247–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218773000
Stojkovic, S., & Lovell, R. (2019). Corrections: An introduction (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.uagc.edu
