Maximum Security Prison Analysis

Corrections institutions are owed and run by private corporations that contract with the state or federal governments to house inmates. The correctional system has three main goal, which is to punish the offender, protect the community, and rehabilitate the offender. Module five gave me a better understanding on correctional institutions and prison operations. There are numeral types of prison that held inmates according on how dangerous they are, or depending on the period of time they have to spend in prison. For example, Maximum Security Prisons, Minimum Security Prisons, Medium Security Prisons, Open Security Facilities, Supermax Prisons, Jails, and Federal Prisons. Even though there are different levels of prisons, inmates are being under …show more content…
Inmates in the maximum security prison are controlled by shackles and handcuff when they are outside of prison cell and they are also being supervised at all times by armed correctional officers. “According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, state and federal prisons held over 1.6 million men and women in 2009”. (Silver, 2014) Prisoners also remain in their cells twenty three hours a day with only one hour to shower or exercise. Prisoners in Minimum Security Prisons are considered to pose little physical risk to the public and are generally non-violent. They live in less secure dormitories which are usually patrolled by correctional officers. Thirty five percent of prisoners are being held in Medium Security Prisons. Inmates sleep in dormitories on bunk beds, and there is less supervision over the internal actions of prisoners. “Medium-security prisons have a double fence perimeter with armed watchtowers or armed roving patrols”. (Silver, 2014) Open Security Facilities are non-secure buildings and provide inmates with “Work Release” which allows them to work in the community then after return back to the corrections facilities. Supermax Prisons provide the highest level of prison security. These inmates are in general lockdown for twenty four hours a day seven days a week. Prisoners in the supermax prisons are extremely dangerous and a threat to others with a background of violent and brutal crimes. Federal prisons only held persons convicted of violating federal laws which is the laws of the United States. Many times federal prisons also held individuals who are waiting on a trial, after that individuals are either sent to state prisons or city or county