Based on the Monthly Statistical Report for July 2013 for the Fiscal Year 2013, the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Population Trend Summary which includes the ADOC Jurisdictional Population as of July 2013 is 32,341 (Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections). The ADOC Custody Population as of July 2013 is 26,618. The ADOC In-house population as of July 2013 is 25,231. On the other hand, the ADOC in-house population trend summary that is composed of close security facilities for the month of July 2013 is 8,152. While the medium security facilities is 12,543 for the same month in 2013. On the other hand, the minimum security facilities as of July 2013 is 396. The minimum security-work centers for July 2013 is 2,097. The minimum security work relase facilities as of July 2013 is 2,135.
For the special interest population trend summary, those under the supervised re-entry program the total number of inmates under this program is 265 as of July 2013 (Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections). On the other hand, those under therapeutic education facility are 367 in number based on the monthly report for July 2013. The total number of inmates who are under community corrections is 3,193. For those inmates under County Jail, the total population is 2,151. Those who are under County Jail: on-the-way population have 513 inmates. On the other hand, the patients under lease or contract beds have been identified and accounted for representing 513 in number. While those patients under lease and contract beds are 618 (Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections).
Correctional facilities are meant to hold criminal offenders for the period they are sentenced by the court of law. Different states in the United States have different correctional facilities with different sizes and regulations. In the state of Alabama, there are 30 correctional facilities. Among these, 15 are major, which means that they form the bulk of the state’s correctional facilities. Among the remaining facilities, thirteen are work-release centers while two are private out of state facilities.
The correctional facilities are managed and governed by the Alabama Department of Corrections. The Alabama correction facilities started operating in 1842 when the first facility known as Wetumpka State Penitentiary was established. This report will investigate the number total number of offenders who have been served by the correctional facilities, the number of personnel who facilitate the running of the facilities and the types of programs offered by these institutions. Among the programs to be evaluated in this report include education, rehabilitation and recreational programs.
TOTAL NUMBER OF INMATES SERVED
Given the large number of correctional facilities in Alabama, a large number of inmates have served their sentence since the inception of the institution. When the latest statistical report for Alabama correctional facilities was released in July, 2013, all the facilities had a total population of 32, 341 inmates.
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL
The total number of personnel who are currently working in the correctional facilities amounts to 10, 690. The correctional facilities have 3884 permanent staff, 962 support staff, 2922 correctional security staff, 2106 correctional officers, 576 correctional supervisors and 240 correctional trainees.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Within the education programs, offenders are offered various choices of courses. The facilities offer adult basic education program and vocational education program. Offenders who take part in these programs expect to receive certificates once they successfully finish the program.
The Vocational training is based on practical training on various courses that require practical technical knowledge. The two parts of the education program prepare the inmates for their release so that they can find a means of livelihood once they are released. Since the facilities’ inception, 4893 offenders have graduated from the basic education program and 5318 from the vocational training program (Thomas, 8). These figures represent the success of the facilities in assisting the offenders to change their behaviors and reintegrate into society.
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
The rehabilitation programs include inmate drug treatment program, therapeutic program, medical furlough program, and pre-release and re-entry programs. The drug treatment program targets those who are addicted to various types of drugs. Since they cannot be allowed to have them in the correctional facilities, they are likely to experience withdrawal effects. Such effects can be fatal, depending on the level of the offender’s addiction. To prevent fatalities, the correctional facilities offer treatment and counseling services to the inmates going through rehabilitation.
The Alabama therapeutic program is aimed at rehabilitating the inmates in preparation for their work release program. Various behavior theories are used to guide the inmates to change their criminal thinking so that once they are released; they can fit in the society (Gideon and Sung 44). From when the correctional facilities were established, 3344 offenders have graduated from the therapeutic program. Moreover, 24, 473 offenders have gone through the drug treatment program successfully.
The medical furlough program is meant for the inmates with terminal illnesses who are likely to die within the next 12 months. Those in this program are evaluated, and once their cases are determined to warrant entry into the program, they are prepared for release. These inmates are released to join their families so that they can spend their last moments together. The pre-release and reentry programs prepare inmates for their release and integration into the community. Reentry starts immediately after being imprisoned. This program provides the inmates with crucial information to the offenders about community resources, life enrichment classes and reentry services at their disposal throughout Alabama. Through this program, offenders gain living skills on how to transition into the society successfully. The inmates get information regarding means of obtaining basic needs upon release, access of mentoring programs, how to look for job placements, career development and vocational training. For those who lost their parental rights when they were incarcerated, they are trained through the reentry program how to re-establish the rights.
RECREATION PROGRAMS
Recreation programs are mainly found in work release centers such as Elba and minimum security correctional facilities such as Elmore. Since employees are under little supervision, recreational activities are incorporated into their daily routines. Facilities with recreation programs have compounds that can allow inmates to have different games.
CONCLUSION
Alabama correctional facilities have grown from one State Penitentiary to a diversified system. Initially, the facilities were meant to keep offenders away from the communities, but they have done more than that. They have helped many inmates to reform and reintegrate into the society where they have become law abiding citizens. Though the various programs, the facilities have been able to provide critical life skills to inmates who did not have them initially. As a result, some inmates come out of the facilities stronger than when they were admitted.
Works Cited:
Gideon, Lior, and Sung, Hung-En. Rethinking Corrections: Rehabilitation, Reentry, and Reintegration. New York: SAGE Publications, 2010. Print.
Thomas, K.T. ‘‘Monthly Statistical Report for July 2013.’’ Alabama Department of Corrections. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.
