Community Corrections
Analyze the role of community corrections to address the needs of special populations (e.g., elderly, severe medical issues, mentally impaired, etc.). When conducting your analysis consider those special correctional populations that are more appropriately served with community corrections supervision instead of incarceration.
Please see attached for further detail. Of the 5 Sources 3 of them need to be peer reviewed.
Community Corrections
Among all the people that have been in contact with the criminal justice system, 70% of them are supervised within the community (Allen, Simonsen & Latessa, 1975). The reason why there are community corrections is because most of the people who have collided with the law are not violent. Some of the offenders may have violated the law in a way that requires a form of punishment and not being incarcerated. Also, offenders being around their families and maintaining their jobs is viewed to be an effective way of repairing the harm that the offender had caused.
The special population, such as women, sex offenders, substance abusers, and offenders who need mental health treatment, among others, require special treatment. In most cases, women who are incarcerated are likely to have substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS, circumstances of pregnancy, and mental disorders. Most of these women with mental health disorders suffer from depression and traumatic stress disorder. Community correction helps these women in getting the necessary treatment and care out of prison through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). If the woman has a child and is a single parent, the child protective service agency takes charge of the child.
The older people found locked up in prisons are either those who have mandatory minimum sentencing or those that have served a lengthy jail term. The older people typically have general health issues compared to the younger generations. Community correction steps in to help the elderly in accessing various services and programs that they are entitled to, such as social security, Medicare, or maybe the veterans’ benefits (Field, 1998). They also get supported living arrangements such as the nursing homes where treatment is easily accessible.
The offenders with mental illness get a more stabilized treatment in community correction compared to what they get in prisons. Their families are more involved, and the offenders are less vulnerable to victimization while under community corrections. Despite getting a better treatment from the outside, these kinds of offenders hardly get paroles. That is because of the fear that the community has towards their safety. In some cases, these victims refuse to take their medication when they are about to attend a parole board meeting so that they can appear as if they don’t get proper treatment from the inside. The community corrections in one way or another help in providing them with insurance for treatment.
The sex offenders serve a longer jail term and may have trouble adapting to community corrections. However, it is a good initiative for them since most of them suffer from various disorders. The community corrections help them get proper treatment by ensuring that they have a medical cover (Probation, 1984). They are first treated for substance use disorder followed by the mental health disorder. Also, community corrections help in providing programs that help sex offenders through counseling and education. They also attend therapy sessions as part of the correctional services.
Offenders with physical disabilities are of different types. Some have impeded mobility, and others may have a sensory that is limited or rather an inadequate expressive capacity. Those in prisons are not able to get proper treatment and care. So, these offenders with disabilities often get community corrections (McCarthy & Leone, 1997). That is because the community corrections help them in providing facilities and programs to accommodate them. The kind of treatment given is screening for traumatic brain injuries and other physical injuries. They are also provided with sign language interpreters for efficient communication.
Offenders who have chronic illnesses or some contagious medical conditions are put under community corrections to prevent the spreading of these diseases in prisons. For example, there are cases of people who have unprotected sex in prisons; hence, the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS is very high (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1998). The community corrections help is providing a space where these people can serve their punishment while still under treatment or seclusion. The health services accreditation programs offered by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare come in handy.
The developmentally disabled offenders or those with mental retardation acquire disabilities that range from moderate to very severe. These offenders have an intellectual functioning that is compromised. The offenders who suffer from severe mental retardation serve community corrections. That is because their IQs are too low to cooperate with the prison rules. They need special care and attention. In community corrections, they can get services from state mental retardation agencies. They also get help from the community in terms of fees to be able to get therapy from institutions.
In conclusion, some of these offenders, especially those with mental health disorders and mental retardation, have to go through a test to determine their level of sobriety. That is to prevent them from causing more harm and fear to the community. While on parole, the offenders are under strict observation from authorities. The authorities ensure that they serve their punishment up to the expected time as well as acquiring the necessary treatments, education, and services. Pregnant women also get exceptional care and attention when on community corrections.
References
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (1998). Continuity of offender treatment for substance use disorders from institution to community.
Field, G. (1998). Continuity of Offender Treatment for Substance Use Disorders from Institution to Community: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series 30. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services.
Probation, P. (1984). Community Corrections. New York.
McCarthy, B. R., McCarthy, B. J., & Leone, M. C. (1997). Community-based corrections. Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Allen, H. E., Simonsen, C. E., & Latessa, E. J. (1975). Corrections in America: an introduction (p. 120). Beverly Hills: Glencoe Press.
