Introduction
The Massachusetts Correction Institute in Concord for men will be used as an example for this research. People in the society need to feel protected and secured in their homes. This fact is what causes the government to formulate security measures such as the correctional institutions that will be used to punish and rehabilitate criminals. In order to understand the topic of correction and punishment, it is crucial that one should be able to define their meanings. The word correction has many different meanings. However, in the criminal justice system correction is described as the rectification of one's behaviors. Punishment is stated to be the imposition of a penalty as a way of retribution for crimes a person has committed. The correctional systems have different functions and goals (Waldron, 2014). These goals have transformed the prison system into what it is in the modern world. In Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord, they have their sets of rules and regulations. Their form of punishment can be seen to be different to other prisons in the country. It has been claimed that the communities’ views on punishment and the correctional system will determine the kind of policies and programs the government will implement on the matter. Many expectations need to be fulfilled by the correctional institutions such as treat and rehabilitate criminals.
Is punishment effective?
One of the main objectives for correctional institutions is to ensure that punishment is effective. Many people would agree that the form of punishment in the modern world is effective. However, there are those who would disagree with this notion. The reason is stemmed by the number of re offenders who return to the prisons or criminals who escape from their cells. This fact has caused the government to implement security measures and programs that will ensure that the criminals are rehabilitated and secured (Drake, 2012). This is the reason why Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Concord is one of the most secured prisons in America.
People have firm beliefs that criminal’s punishment has to be severe especially for those who have committed heinous crimes. Some of the notable heinous crimes are murder, rape, assault, armed robbery and arson. These individuals have to face up to their crimes and receive the required punishment (Marily and Williams, 1993). For the victims, they would want justice and thus they could apply the concept of an eye for an eye. Therefore, some of them would seek for the death penalty. However, most nations in the modern world have endorsed the system of life imprisonment for criminals. This fact can be observed from the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord, which has housed many criminals. Some of the notable people are Malcom X, Leeland Eisenberg and John Geoghan. For those who leave the prison system, they have to enroll to a parolee. The parole system ensures that the former prisoners have adjusted to the community without any problems. Therefore, they will be constantly monitored so that they do not make any more mistakes or crimes.
History of correctional facilities
In the past, capital punishment was worldly practiced. Therefore, there was nonexistence of prisons. The first form of prisons began in the Roman Catholic where they had underground dungeons, which was used to keep people who committed criminal offenses. The first prison can be traced back to England in the 17th century. The prison was formulated in a manner that will ensure that the convicts are separated from one another. The inmates usually lived in solitary confinement where they had no form of communication with others. However, the number of prisoners increased due to the economic crisis that prompted many to turn to crimes. Women became prostitutes while men become thieves. This caused the monarchy to make some of the ships into prison cells. In these ships, the prisoners were overcrowded in that life for them was hard. They endured many difficulties that caused some of them to die of hunger or became ill. The monarchy soon realized that the prisoners can become useful; therefore, they put them to work. This fact can be called forced labor. In this jobs, the prisoners were able to gain knowledge and skills that would become useful to them in the future. However, in the 18th century, many philosophers began rooting for prisoners to be treated as humans. They believed that prisoners can be reformed, and therefore, there was a need for changes in the correctional facilities.
In America, they formulated penitentiary prisons that are stated to be among the first correctional facilities (Drake, 2012). Some of the earliest biggest prisons in America were the Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia and the Western State Penitentiary located in Pittsburg. These two prisons were used to ensure that the inmates were separated at all times. The silence was enforced in a manner that even if there was interaction among the prisoners in the working field they were not allowed to talk. In the Eastern State Prison, they were trying to rehabilitate the prisoners by ensuring that they were in solitude. Labor is claimed to have been given to the individuals who had shown progress. The prisoners were also not allowed to get visitors. The people who supported this form of correctional facility believed that the prisoners will become reformed because they will have time to reflect on their actions due to complete isolation from people. They also stated that since the prisoners will be in isolation, they will not have a chance to think about breaking rules or try to escape.
The Auburn prisons located in New York used forced labor and solitary confinement at night to try to punish and rehabilitate prisoners (Drake, 2012). The prisoners were not allowed to converse with one another. In the workshops, they were under strict surveillance, which ensured that they did not communicate with one another. This regime was formulated in the late 19th century and continued up to the civil wars.
In this case, the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Concord was formulated so as to replace the aging prisons that was existing. It was opened in 1878 with the warden being a Mexican veteran called General Chamberlain. It is claimed that in 1884, most of the prisoners from Concord were transferred to the Charlestown State Prison. The prison was transformed into the Massachusetts Reformatory. In this establishment, people under the age of thirty could learn about trade that will be beneficial for them once they have returned to the community. By 1893, the institution had been expanded with an increase of 230 cells (Cohn, 2004). The reformatory ended and the institution was renamed as the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at concord. In the beginning, it was meant to be a medium security facility. It was used as a reception and diagnostic center.
Prison administration
The administration of the correctional institution is vital in order to ensure that the prison is running smoothly, and punishment is being carried out. In most states, the jail department is under the county department. This is the reason most of the jail heads are employed by the county government. There are some states where the head of the jails is the chief of police. Counties such as New York and Los Angeles their jails are considered to be part of the local correctional department. In this cases, the jail is designed in a manner where females are placed in a different jail from the men. However, in Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Concord is used to house male inmates. The prison is divided into two where there is medium security and minimum security. Therefore, the administration of the penitentiary department is imperative because it can determine the amount of budget is required. The jail employees range from the qualified prison guards and police officers to civilians. Civilians work as clerks, psychologists, medical staff and priests. The jail workers especially the guards will ensure that the prisoners are facing their punishments in an orderly and peaceful manner (Marily and Williams, 1993).
Security levels
In Massachusetts correctional department, it has different security levels such as the maximum, minimum, and the medium facilities. However, for the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in concord it is considered to be a medium prison. It has been observed that in the medium prisons, the construction and the design of the institution have to ensure that there is maximum supervision both external and internal. The prisoners are regarded to be high risk and therefore, they need to be continuously monitored and supervised. Through this measures, the criminals will be able to face their punishment without any difficulties (Cohn, 2004). The difference between the medium and maximum level prisons is the job opportunity and programs, which prisoners will be given if they cooperate. These employment prospects will enable the prisoners to make some money that will be used to buy food in the canteens, or they will acquire other privileges. Concord prison is also known for reforming the prisoners through the numerous programs provided.
It has been stated that Massachusetts Correctional Institute in concord can be classified as a minimum security prison. Minimum security prison is designed in a manner, which ensures that the inmates get a greater sense of personal responsibility. Most of the prisoners in this facility are awaiting for parole or release into the community. Therefore, they need guidance on how to adjust to living on the outside. This fact has caused the correctional departments to formulate programs that will help in the transition of life. Some of the programs that have been enacted in the correction system are substance abuse programs, sex offender treatments, work programs, stress and anger management program (Cohn, 2004). In looking at these facts, one can be able to see that some of the old regime of reformatory is still being practiced. The prison still continues to reform the prisoners into becoming better people in the society.
Massachusetts correctional institute challenges
One of the biggest challenges for prisons in Massachusetts has to do with overcrowding. It has been stated that nearly all the prison institutions are working above their capacity including the Massachusetts prison at Concord. Therefore, the budget has to be increased for the prisons to be expanded as well as increase resources and workers. However, concerns occur because there is no money and therefore, the budget cannot be increased. It has been documented that in 2011, Massachusetts department of correction’s population was 11, 892 (Reutter, 2013). However, the analysts believe that the population will continue to increase and by 2019, the prisoners will be over fourteen thousand. The inmates in this institution are squeezed in a cell that is required for a few people. This fact proves that Massachusetts form of punishment is mostly through imprisonment.
In conclusion, there are various forms of punishment in the correctional system. Examples of this punishments are incarceration, the death penalty, and probation. The most common form of punishment is imprisonment. There are those who receive life sentence due to committing heinous crimes while others are given shorter sentences. For justice to occur, it is important for the correctional institutions to be operated in the right manner. The qualified people should be employed in their precise places. The design for the prison is crucial because it helps in surveillance of the prisoners. This fact can be observed from the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Concord, which is stipulated to be medium security facility. The design of the prison is in a manner that could occupy few inmates. The prison is also well known for its reformatory systems. This will enable the convicted criminal to be able to learn skills that are beneficial to them in the future while on society.
Reference
Cohn, E. (2004). Criminal Justice in Massachusetts. Prentice Hall PTR.
Drake, D. (2012). Prisons, Punishment and the Pursuit of Security. Palgrave Macmillan.
Larry, M. and Winfree, L. T. (2009). Essentials of Corrections, fourth edition. Cengage Learning Inc.
Marily, D. M. and Williams, F. P. (1993). The Management of Correctional Institutions. New York: Garland Publishing Inc.
Reutter, D. (2013). Massachusetts: Overcrowding Forces Changes in Correctional Facilities. Prison Legal News.
Waldron, R. J. (2014). The Criminal Justice System: An Introduction, Fifth Edition. CRC Press.
