Criminal Justice System and Ohio Reentry Program
Introduction
A prison can be defined as a protected and locked institution where juvenile and grown-up offenders are housed with punishments that differ from a year to life. Such facilities hold the objective of accomplishing the verdict that the courts impose on the offenders and also of protecting the community and civil society by taking measures to prevent escapes. These facilities are also accountable to provide programs and services that are important for taking care of the convicted population under their management (“prison,” 2013). A significant trend in criminal justice system is the increasing stress on imprisonment. As compulsory laws related to sentencing have caused an increase in the prison population, criminal justice system has been faced with the issue of adjusting and managing the prisoners inside the walls of the prison.
Importance of Criminal Justice System
One of the recent trends that the criminal justice system is following in today’s contemporary era is that of alternate corrections. As the number of offenders and prisons in the society has increased dramatically, the criminal justice system has given reconsideration to alternative corrections so that the offenders may be given an opportunity to reenter into the society and prove themselves as valuable citizens. This is the major reason why instead of penitentiary procedures and seclusion, the criminal justice system is now focusing on the restoration and reintegration of prisoners in the society to alleviate the burden. As the society finds it difficult to accept criminals as a part of the common life, other corrections make it possible for the passive offenders to work and continue living in the society as a part of it. This trend has, without a doubt, reduced prison population and maintenance costs (Mackenzie, 2001).
Reentry of Prisoners in Society
A majority of the offenders find it a complicate transition when they return to the society from prison. Not only the offenders but their families also find it difficult to live in the community. When former wrongdoers reenter into the society, they frequently make great efforts with substance abuse, do not have adequate qualifications and talents to get a good job, have limited alternatives to accommodate in the community and suffer from psychological problems (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005). Thus, without any employment, money and housing facility, the offenders who return to communities from jails/prisons face the similar difficulties, demands and temptations that made them land in prison for the first time. The major elements that contribute in the successful offenders’ reentry in the society are assistance in getting and keeping a job, identification of intermediary accommodation and appropriate mentoring.
Challenges of Returned Prisoners in Society
This is exceedingly important as more or less ten thousand offenders are released in America every week from both state and federal prisons thus burdening the communities. According to surveys, over six million offenders are freed from prisons on an annual basis. A majority of such offenders are arrested within three years of their release. This increased number of returnees crystal clearly reflects the trend of prison population growth in the United States of America during the last three decades. The return of the former prisoners thus challenges communities in a number of ways, The communities that are mostly affected with such returns are often poor and broke vicinities that have no or little social support and constantly soaring crime rates.
Criminal Justice System Provide Ease to Former Prisoners
Criminal justice system is of huge value to the changing society of today as it has the ability of addressing the root causes of offensive behaviors and criminal activities. This system is the primary one that is supportive for making the wrongdoers understand the consequences of their behaviors and misconduct in addition to their impact on other members of the society. It is also a major organizational system that makes the sinful realize his/her duty for the compensation of the harms he/she caused to the innocent(s) and the society. One of the other major characteristic of criminal justice system that makes it really helpful for the offenders is that they are given the opportunity for proving their positive capacity and individuality to let them realize their good side (Marchese, 2007).
Criminal Justice System Provide Better Survival Experience
Criminal justice system does so by tackling the feelings of guilt and shame with a positive and optimistic approach instead of directing the wrongdoers into further negativity. The criminal justice system is one of the most significant public-service organizations as it also includes victims, families and other related members of the society for the resolution of conflicts in a strong way. This is done by exploring the responsibilities of the people who are related with the crime and criminal. As a consequence, it is crystal clear that the society can do away with criminal activities. The processes of the criminal justice system are there to deliver a better survivor experience, reintegration of the wrongdoer in the community in an effective manner and the decrease of recidivism. All these positive elements may then lead to improved public safety (Marchese, 2007).
Conclusion
In the contemporary world of today, the United States of America is faced with the challenge of prisoner reentry crisis. The offender reentry has increased at a very fast rate which has consequently impacted more people, families and societies. Sociologists and anthropologists fear that this crisis “will become more heightened in the immediate future, as the number of individuals completing their prison sentences will continue to climb and as states that can no longer afford to incarcerate at massive levels and at staggering expense will be forced to release individuals early from their sentences or create other strategies to reduce criminal justice spending” (Pinard, 2010).
Ohio Reentry Program/Plan
There are a number of offender reentry programs that are meant for addressing the issues regarding ex-offenders and their return to the community. The success of such programs is a consequence of the amalgamation of multiple service-providers and various human-service agencies that have together created opportunities for the ex-offenders to return to society effectively. However, only one offender reentry program will be discussed for the purpose of this paper.
The Ohio Reentry Program Enhance the Quality of Life
One of the best offender reentry programs in the United States of America have been introduced in the state of Ohio. The vision of this reentry system is the provision of opportunities for offenders so that they can prove themselves as productive citizens in a successful way. The Ohio Reentry Resource Center in criminal justice is aimed to enhance the quality of the life of the ex-offenders with the active participation of all the stakeholders, making reentry as a safe phenomenon for the communities (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005).
Reduction of Criminal Activities
The mission of the mentioned Reentry Initiative is the reduction of criminal activities and behavior by taking a holistic and organized approach. The reentry process is structured for the assessment, identification and linkage of offenders to the services that most appropriately comply with their requirements. The Ohio Reentry Resource Center aims to accomplish the process of reentry with the assistance of offenders’ families, community partners, law-enforcement and criminal justice personnel and victims (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005).
Provides Behavioral Treatments to Ex-Offenders
The program is successful in the sense that it mirrors strong commitment as far as the implementation of efficient correctional efforts is concerned. It not only targets criminogenic needs of the ex-offenders but also considers dosage in an adequate manner. It also provides behavioral treatments to the ex-offenders who are ready to reenter into the society to prove their worth. When observed closely, there are both strengths and weaknesses in the program (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005).
Strengths of Ohio Reentry Program
One of the main strengths of this program is that it considers authentic reasons when prisoners/families request the transfer of the offender to other prisons. Visiting hardships are given preference in order to fulfill the transfer requests. For instance, if the families of the offenders do not live near the prison and it is difficult for them to access transportation, the reentry resource center in Ohio considers it a valid reason to transfer the prisoner to a prison that is near his/her family. It also gives full support to the offenders to participate in the program, continue education and makes the medical access certain (“Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Frequently Asked Questions”, 2013). One other strength of this program is that it provides all types of job opportunities to a great number of people as The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is the biggest state agency in Ohio. In the present times, there are more than thirteen thousand people that are being employed under reentry program. It is extremely important to mention here that a majority of these workers are correction officers which mean that a large number of ex-offenders can be catered; through this reentry plan/program. Other people that are required for the maintenance of the prison community are also hired in good numbers that include librarians, nurses, doctors, clerical support, IT professionals, social workers, psychologists, parole officers etc. (“Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Frequently Asked Questions”, 2013).
Weaknesses of Ohio Reentry Program
As far as the weaknesses are concerned, the phone rates are very high as compared to the normal long distance calls’ rates. This is because the telephone service that is meant to be used by the inmate class does not have the additional equipment installed for making it easy to make long distance service possible cheaply. There is also a lack of direct email access to the Ohio inmates that is another weakness in the program. However, it is important in a way because if inmates are provided with direct email access, they can use it for illegal purposes (“Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Frequently Asked Questions”, 2013).
Conclusion
To cut a long story short, the offender reentry experiences in Ohio reflect the success of reentry initiatives that the authorities have taken and this is done only through collaborating in a successful way. The efforts have been coordinated by “the many stakeholders-departments of correction, jobs and family service agencies, mental health boards, faith-based and charitable organizations, among others-must build partnerships” (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005) that have resulted in the deliverance of helpful assistance to offenders to reenter in the society.
Although, there are still numerous gaps that need to be filled, the recent initiatives that have been taken by the Ohio authorities have increased awareness in the society. The reentry programs introduced in the state have been helpful as the innumerable concerns regarding the returning offenders have been addressed in novel and modern manners (Wilkinson, Rhine, & Henderson-Hurley, 2005). It is the need of the time to work in a collective manner so that improvements can be brought in the communities. The traditional bureaucracies must be broken so that change can be resisted.