This paper discusses the struggles encountered by correctional managers while formulating policies which are aimed at achieving the following objectives: strengthening the management of staff working within a correctional facility, ameliorating professional service provision to maintain the holistic wellbeing of inmates and implementing penal sentences that meet the needs of the offender, the victim and society in general.
The word policy is extremely hard to define since it holds different connotations and meanings to everyone. However, a common understanding of the word is about having a set of ideas which are used within a particular organization, in this case being the prison setting, in order to make particular decisions which can influence one’s behaviour. When creating a policy, for it to be well-structured and maintained, it needs to focus upon delivering its main objectives. The objectives of a prison revolve around the rehabilitation and reintegration of the prisoner. Correctional managers are faced with a number of challenges whilst, they are formulating such policies. These struggles are going to be discussed in the following sections.
Usually, when people talk about prisons, they only mention the physical attributes about them like for example, the locked-up building with bars. However, prisons are much more than that. They also consist of the essential roles of the staff working within them, who have a crucial part in the prisoners’ process of reintegration and rehabilitation. In order for the management to be strengthened, all the staff needs to understand their role within the prison, whom they should report to and be able to meet the needs of the service users, i.e. the inmates, society and victims.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- (i) Struggles in strengthening the management of the Staff working within a Correctional Facility, whilst formulating policies
- (ii) Struggles in ameliorating professional service provision to maintain the holistic Wellbeing of inmates, whilst formulating policies
- (iii) Struggles in implementing penal sentences that meet the needs of the Offender, the Victim and Society, whilst formulating policies
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This text aims to discuss the challenges faced by correctional managers in formulating policies to achieve three key objectives: strengthening staff management, improving professional service provision for inmate wellbeing, and implementing penal sentences that meet the needs of offenders, victims, and society. The analysis focuses on the practical difficulties inherent in policy creation and implementation within the complex environment of a correctional facility.
- Challenges in staff management within correctional facilities.
- Difficulties in providing holistic wellbeing services to inmates.
- Obstacles in implementing effective penal sentences.
- The impact of resource limitations on correctional policy.
- The importance of staff training and professional development.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section defines the multifaceted concept of 'policy' within the context of correctional facilities, highlighting its significance in decision-making and influencing behaviors. It establishes the core objective of prisons as rehabilitation and reintegration and introduces the key challenges faced by correctional managers in policy formulation, setting the stage for the detailed discussions that follow in subsequent sections.
(i) Struggles in strengthening the management of the Staff working within a Correctional Facility, whilst formulating policies: This section explores the complexities of managing diverse staff groups within a correctional facility—civil servants, professionals, and correctional officers—each with varying perspectives and cultural backgrounds. It emphasizes the crucial role of staff in prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration, highlighting the need for empathy and discipline in staff-prisoner interactions. Challenges such as staff shortages, inadequate training opportunities, low pay, and lack of appreciation are discussed, underscoring the difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. The section also addresses the challenges of resource allocation, including the need for training despite staff shortages and lack of adequate space and resources within often outdated facilities, impacting the delivery of services such as psychological support and medical care.
(ii) Struggles in ameliorating professional service provision to maintain the holistic Wellbeing of inmates, whilst formulating policies: This section delves into the difficulties in defining and providing professional services within a correctional setting. The challenges of identifying and managing professionals are highlighted, along with the obstacles posed by inadequate resources and space within older facilities. This section lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of the challenges in delivering holistic wellbeing services to inmates, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of their needs and the complexities involved in meeting them within a correctional context.
Keywords
Correctional management, penal policy, staff management, inmate wellbeing, rehabilitation, reintegration, professional services, resource allocation, staff training, policy implementation, prison safety, burnout, incentives.
Frequently Asked Questions: Challenges in Correctional Policy Formulation
What is the main focus of this text?
This text analyzes the challenges faced by correctional managers in formulating and implementing policies within correctional facilities. It focuses on three key objectives: strengthening staff management, improving professional service provision for inmate wellbeing, and implementing effective penal sentences that meet the needs of offenders, victims, and society.
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the difficulties in managing diverse staff groups, providing holistic wellbeing services to inmates, implementing effective penal sentences, the impact of resource limitations, and the importance of staff training and professional development. The text also highlights the practical difficulties inherent in policy creation and implementation within the complex environment of a correctional facility.
What are the specific challenges discussed regarding staff management?
The text discusses challenges such as staff shortages, inadequate training opportunities, low pay, lack of appreciation, and difficulties in managing diverse staff groups with varying perspectives and cultural backgrounds. Resource allocation issues, including the need for training despite limitations in space and resources, are also highlighted.
What are the challenges related to providing holistic wellbeing services to inmates?
The text explores the difficulties in defining and providing professional services within a correctional setting, including challenges in identifying and managing professionals, and obstacles posed by inadequate resources and space within older facilities. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of inmate needs and the complexities of meeting them within a correctional context.
What obstacles are addressed concerning the implementation of effective penal sentences?
While not explicitly detailed in the provided summary, the text implies challenges related to balancing the needs of offenders, victims, and society when formulating and implementing penal sentences. This likely involves considering factors such as rehabilitation, reintegration, and public safety.
What is the significance of resource allocation in correctional policy?
The text emphasizes the significant impact of resource limitations on correctional policy. Limited resources affect staff training, provision of professional services, and overall facility conditions, hindering the effectiveness of policy implementation.
What role does staff training and professional development play?
The text highlights the crucial importance of staff training and professional development in improving staff management, enhancing professional service provision, and ultimately achieving the objectives of rehabilitation and reintegration. Inadequate training opportunities are identified as a significant challenge.
What is the overall objective of correctional facilities as presented in this text?
The text establishes the core objective of prisons as rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates back into society.
What is the structure of the text?
The text includes an introduction, sections detailing struggles in staff management, professional service provision, and penal sentence implementation, and concludes with a summary of key findings. A table of contents and keywords are also provided.
What is the intended audience for this text?
The text is intended for academic use, focusing on the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner. The language and level of detail suggest a focus on researchers, students, or professionals in the field of corrections.
- Quote paper
- Kimberley Bartolo (Author), 2019, Sentencing, Penal Policy and Management in a Correctional Facility, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/958694
