With so many overcrowded prisons and jails in the U.S., there is always a high job demand for correctional personnel, be it on an administrative, operational, institutional or community basis. Students interested in embarking on a career in the correctional field will learn valuable skills to become a success in this industry. Topics range from the historical development of corrections, offender characteristics, special inmates including women, the elderly and juveniles, inmate rights and much more. Students will also examine issues relevant today such as overcrowding, direct supervision jails, privatization, accreditation and study future trends in the field. Corrections is a fast-paced and ever-changing profession and learning everything you can about the field now will help you advance in the future.
* In this course, you will learn to describe the multifaceted complexities of the U.S. correctional system and how to recognize the progress that has been made as corrections has evolved historically. You will also learn how to identify how public policies have shaped correctional practices over time, determine the differing goals, functions and operational features of institutional and community-based operations and compare various types of traditional and innovative inmate treatment programs.
* You will also analyze the impact of special offenders, including female inmates, the mentally disabled, drug addicts, the AIDS-afflicted and the elderly, as well as identify how corrections is being affected today by such issues as drug related crime, overcrowding, capital punishment, prison gangs, privatization, organizational management, vicarious liability, chronic stress and social policy transitions, while you explore the career opportunities available in the corrections field.