Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) operates correctional centers, regional jails as well as probation offices. Its mission statement is to ‘enhance the safety of the community and to provide secure confinement, reformative programs and a process of supervised community integration’. Correctional facilities are provided on a state based scope. There is the prison system where 13 facilities are operational and they provide housing for those that are detained as well as those that are sentenced.There is also the community corrections system where approximately 5680 adult probationers as well as 973 paroles are supervised.
Alaska DOC ensures that the offenders’ constitutional rights are well respected and programs are put in place to facilitate their easy reentry into the society. According to 2004 statistics there were 10900 adults under supervision in prisons, jails, probation and parole. The rate of offenders was 7% lower than the national rate. The rate of incarceration was 3% higher the national rate and the population on probation was 23% lower the national rate.
It is committed to ensure that policies established are consistent with the relevant laws. To ensure that the inmates have a positive contribution to the prisons while they are incarcerated as well as for easy reentry into the society, Alaska DOC has industries. There is the Prisoners Employment Program (PEP). Acquisition of skills and training ensures the provision of goods and services that are also vital to the wider society. It enables inmates to use their time productively and the practical experience improves their occupational skills.
(www. alaskaci. com)The security in Alaska DOC is divided into different levels from minimum to maximum level. Classifying inmates encourages good behavior among inmates as they strive to be of a higher classification or rank. Technology is highly incorporated in ensuring security. Random searches on inmates, employees and on vehicles and in common areas are also modes of enhancing security.
There is also the enhancement of zero tolerance on drug use in the correction facilities. A drug free environment is promoted and measures are put in place to ensure that illegal drugs are inaccessible there.The Massachusetts Department of Corrections mission statement is ‘to promote public safety by incarcerating offenders while providing opportunities for effective programming designed to reduce recidivism’. (www. mass. gov).
The Massachusetts Department of Corrections has 19 jail facilities in it 14 counties with a capacity of approximately 11229 inmates. It ensures coordination across the facilities and it enforces the standards that have been set are adhered to. It also has 17 prison facilities where more than 9000 inmates are managed.There is the Community Correction System where more than 160000 probationers as well as over 3500 parolees are managed. The correction facilities are integrated in such a manner that ensures the elderly are situated in specified locations.
Inmates in the transition process from prison life to the society or community are offered relevant assistance in different centers for instance the Boston Pre- releases Center. Work release, education as well as counseling facilities are offered here. To ensure that the inmates special health needs are well addressed there is the Bridgewater hospital.General public health is provided in the Lemuel S Hospital correctional unit. Since drug or substance abuse remains a critical issue that is related to crime, the DOC has ensured that there is a detoxification program. The alcohol and drug recovery management services assist the addicted inmates.
Sex offenders are incarcerated in a different location or the Massachusetts Treatment Center. The inmates in need of maximum security and medium location are placed in different facilities. Women are also placed in a different prison but classified according to state or county offenders or those that await trial.There is only one women facility at MCI Framingham. Security in some facilities is through constant inmate’s counts as well as strict accountability procedures.
In minimum security facilities there are no lock- in cells In facilities that adopt maximum security there are high, internal as well as external security measures. There are high and direct supervision of inmates, extensive use of physical barriers as well as check points to prevent the serious risks such inmates pose both to the society as well as to themselves.Medium facilities offer constant and direct supervision and there are increased job and program opportunities. Minimum facilities promote a greater sense and responsibility and autonomy although there is still the supervision and monitoring of the inmate’s behavior. In the pre –Release facilities inmates are allowed to perform direct responsibilities and can interact with other community members.
Hawaii is among the six states where correctional services are offered at a state level as in most other facilities there is the control at a regional level.It is committed to ensuring the safety of staff members as well as that of the offenders is maintained. It emphasizes on efficiency, professionalism, empowerment as well as accountability in ensuring that all the relevant parties involved are attended to. The system also advocates for cooperation or team work, loyalty and respect. Hawaii Correctional facilities have restorative programs that help inmates to connect with community.
They attain new skills and they are given an opportunity to meet their loved ones.They are allowed to meet with those that they wronged and they can seek forgiveness and this is important in facilitating their effective re entry into the society. They are taught communication as well as conflict resolution skills. Hawaii has approximately 6000 people in prison.
Restorative programs would help reduce the problem of inmates going back to prison shortly after their released into the community. (www. realjustice. org). There are four jails in Hawaii and they are also known as community correctional centers and there are four prisons.The Division of Corrections is in the Department of Public Safety.
There is also the community corrections system where probation departments in the judicial districts supervise probationers. According to the 2004 statistics crime rate was approximately 20% higher than the national level and the number of people under correctional supervision or those in prisons jails, under probation and parole was 25,200. (www. nicic.
org). Hawaii Department of Safety Public Safety organization structure has the director as the head. Under him, there are various committees or commissions as well as offices.Committees include the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee, Correctional Population Management Commission, Crime victim compensation and Hawaii Paroling Authority. Offices include civil rights compliance office, executive assistance office, inspection and investigation and public affairs office.
Classification at this stage is then made in administration, correction and law enforcement. Under corrections there is the office of the program coordinator and correctional industries and health care division are under it.
