State Corrections System Survey

CJA/234
Learning Team
Date
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The corrections system in the United States is very complex. It consists of many different
types of facilities of various sizes. Many times, these facilities house too many inmates and the
number of inmates exceeds the capacity of the facilities. The corrections system faces several
problems that the states are trying to fix. New York, California and Florida are three examples of
states that are attempting to address the problems that plague the corrections system.
The New York prison system currently has 58 total facilities at its disposal. It has six
minimum security facilities for men and one minimum security facility for males and females.
There are currently 32 medium security facilities for males and two for females. There are
approximately 15 maximum security facilities for males and one for females. The New York
prison system also has one drug treatment center at its disposal ("Facility Listing", 2014). Each
facility is a different size. The Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, which is a
minimum security facility, houses approximately 300 inmates. The Adirondack Correctional
Facility is a medium security prison that houses approximately 700 inmates. The Coxsackie
Correctional Facility is a maximum security facility, and it houses approximately 1000 inmates
("Facility Listing", 2014). Over the last ten years, the prison population in the New York prison
system has declined from a high of 95,865 inmates in 2004 to a low of 81,580 in 2014 ("Inmate
Population Statistics", 2014).
The New York prison system currently offers 12 program units throughout their facilities.
The types of current program units offered consist of correctional industries, education
(academic and vocational), guidance, and counseling. There is also the division of Hispanic and
cultural affairs, library services, ministerial, family and volunteer services, resource
management, special subjects, substance abuse and treatment services, temporary release, and

transitional services program. Each program unit has units within that are offered to various
facilities depending on the facility's needs. ("Programs by Facility", 2014).
The Florida state prison system currently has 68 facilities. Each facility has different
levels of security from community to maximum security depending on the inmate. Some
facilities offer open bay, cell housing, and room housing. The prison system can house adults or
youths and also has options for wheelchair access and hearing impaired inmates ("Institution
Information", 2014). Florida currently houses 100,445 inmates. It costs Florida prisons $17,338
per year to house an inmate. Florida prisons currently offer numerous programs to their inmates.
These programs are vocational programs, educational programs, substance abuse treatment, and
sex offender treatment to name a few.
The California state prison system has approximately 35 facilities at its disposal with
three being youth facilities. California state prisons utilize a level system to determine what type
of facility an inmate will be sent to. There are four levels. Level one being open dormitories with
low security. Level two has open dormitories with secure perimeter. Level three has secure
perimeters with armed coverage and housing units with cells. Level four has secure perimeters
with internal and external armed coverage housing and cell block housing ("Entering A
California State Prison - What To Expect", 2014). California currently has 187,675 inmates'
houses in its facilities. California prisons have multiple programs available to inmates to include
adult education, work crews, computer literacy learning, sex offender management, and
substance abuse treatment and recovery programs ("What We Do", 2014).
The most significant problem facing the prison system in the state of Florida, California,
and New York is prison overcrowding. One of the most leading cause that contribute to prison
overcrowding are state and local government laws, which are created by state legislature.

Another factor that contribute to prison overcrowding can refer to the primary structure,
functions, and goals of prisons. California has the highest percentage of prison overcrowding in
the nation. According to Los Angeles Daily News, California has a 63.7 percent recidivism rate.
That means for every 1,000 inmates who leave prison, 637 commit new crimes and land back in
prison. In 1977, California created a program called Arts in Corrections, which was a huge
success. The study showed that one year after release, Prison Arts Project participants had a
favorable status rate of 74.2 percent, compared to 49.6 percent for state parolees as a whole
(Robbins & Lieu, 2013). Unfortunately, in 2003 the arts program was eliminated due to a budget
cut. In 2013, California State Legislature held a conference in regards to discuss the positive
effects of art and how it contribute to offenders. As of now, art is used as a rehabilitation method
in the state of California with the help of many non-profit organizations.
The state of Florida adopted a program called PRIDE, which is used to help rehabilitate
offenders. The pride program is also a non-profit organization, it provides life-learning skills to
inmates, especially in the industrial world. Inmates have the opportunity to learn business and
office skills, as well as, craft furniture, clothing, eyeglasses, and dentures. In addition, the PRIDE
program pay inmates to learn. There are several advantages from this program, but the most
effective one help deter crime and reduce the prison population. The creators of PRIDE work
with employers to help secure a positive life for offenders. The primary goal is to teach inmates
the skills they need so that they can find long-term jobs once released from prison.
In the state of New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo introduced a new statewide
initiative that will serve as a rehabilitation method to inmates. The statewide initiative places
emphasis on funding educational programs, so that inmates can have the opportunity to earn a
college degree before being released from prison. The primary purpose of this method is to deter

crime and unclog prison space. According to the NYC PRESS, "Studies have shown that
investing in college education for prisoners dramatically decreased recidivism rates while saving
tax dollars on incarceration." Inmates who participate in educational programs are more likely to
succeed in society, and it reduces their risk of returning to prison.
The community corrections system is a way for governments to keep offenders out of
prison and rehabilitate them through supervised programs. Ideally, when someone gets convicted
of a crime for which the authorities deem minor namely non-violent offenses, the convicted party
will enter into one of these government-sanctioned programs to learn to become a productive
citizen and keep themselves from repeating the criminal behavior. As a result of these
probationary measures, prisons aren't as crowded, and citizens pay lower taxes on jailing costs.
Many programs derived from this system, but not all are successful. Some of the programs in use
are Family Functional Therapy for youth offenders as a way to turn them from their current path.
Another successful program is the Reduced Probation Caseload Evidence-Based Setting where
those at high-risk of re-offending are closely monitored by an officer with a smaller caseload.
This program is important because it takes note of the factors that lead to criminal behavior. The
corrections system recognizes that in many cases, criminal behavior is a product of environment
and cannot simply be drawn out. Although programs like the aforementioned have shown
success, recidivism rates have not varied greatly overall. Though individual states have varying
recidivism rates, and some studies show a decrease in repeat convictions within the three year
period, the rate appears relatively constant since the early 90s. With all of the efforts from our
corrections system, there will always be those who slip through the cracks, as a result, of
finances that lead to insufficient staffing and an unhealthy division of labor. Until we can employ

enough officers who are able to address the population of those being diverted from prisons, we
cannot truly prevent former offenders from making the same mistakes.
Community corrections in every state face some issue. The most common forms of
community corrections are probation and parole. In New York, California and Florida, the main
problems are that offenders are breaking the rules of their probation, but are often not facing the
usual consequences of going back to jail. In Florida, it is estimated that over 400 offenders with a
violent crime that were granted probation violated the terms of their probation at least five times
between 2001 and 2004. When someone who is on probation gets arrested, many go back to jail
but there are also many offenders receive a second, third or fourth chance to go back on
probation. Florida does not yet have a solution to this problem. (KRUEGER, RAEKE &
NGUYEN 2004)
In New York, the main ignored violations are the technical violations. Types of technical
violations are not reporting to a probation officer at required times or an offender who fails to
notify their probation officer of a change of address. Technical violations get dismissed so that
the focus is on substantive probation violations, such as committing a new crime while on
probation. (Murray, 2014)
California is one state that is correcting their problem with offenders violating the terms
of their probation. They blamed the problem on the probation offices, and the officers were not
monitoring offenders closely enough. In 2009, a financial incentive program that awards counties
for offenders completing the terms of their probation was created. This incentive program has
increased the number of offenders that have successfully completed their probation. ("The
Impact Of California's Probation Incentive Program", 2012)

In conclusion, each state has different prison systems and various programs they offer to
inmates in hopes of rehabilitating them and deterring future crimes. States will continue to face
challenges like repeat parole violations and prison overcrowding. There are many alternatives
that can better serve inmates around the world, rather than punish or sentence inmates to harsh
conditions. Studies have shown that by incorporating positive and productive activities within
the prison walls can lead to successful outcomes for both society and inmates.

References
Entering a California State Prison - What to Expect. (2014). Retrieved from
http://cdcr.ca.gov/Ombuds/Entering_a_Prison_FAQs.html
Facility Listing. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.doccs.ny.gov/faclist.html
Inmate Population Statistics. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.scoc.ny.gov/pop.htm
Institution Information. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.dc.state.fl.us/prison-menu.html
KRUEGER, C., RAEKE, R., NGUYEN, D. (2004, June 13). The problem with probation. St.
Petersburg Times. Retrieved from
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/13/State/The_problem_with_prob.shtml
Murray, D. (2014). Violations of Probation in New York City Criminal Court (Queens Bronx
Brooklyn Manhattan). Retrieved from
http://www.queensdefense.com/violationofprobationnewyorkcity/
NYC Press. (2014). Governor Cuomo launches initiative to provide college classes in New York
Prisons. Retrieved from http://www.governor.ny.gov
Programs by Facility. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.doccs.ny.gov/ProgramServices/program_list_facility.html#WATERT
Robbins, T., & Lieu, T. (2013). Restoring arts for inmates a solution to Californias overcrowded
prisons. Retrieved from http://www.dailynews.com
The Impact of California's Probation Incentive Program. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2012/03/01/the-impact-ofcalifornias-probation-incentive-program

What We Do. (2014). Retrieved from http://cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/what-we-do.html