Answer to Question 1
The answer should contain an adequate amount of the following information:
The growing trend toward getting accreditation must continue in both community-based and institutional facilities.
There needs to be a nationally applicable set of principles and philosophy on what is acceptable behavior toward residents in community-based programs and correctional institutions. Accreditation provides the broad map of what is expected in correctional care, but the subtle things expected from staff need further clarity and explanation.
The quality of juvenile institutions has improved compared to those in the past, but there seems to be a movement in juvenile corrections in some states to make training schools into juvenile prisons. This is a movement that must be discouraged.
The level of professionalism is very much affected by the ability to recruit the right staff and, once they are recruited, to explain the principles and behaviors that are expected of them.
Rehabilitative programs for those who desire them must be based on the most effective design, delivery of services, and follow-up in the community.
The residential staff's inclination to a culture that sanctions abuse and mistreatment of youths must be eradicated.
One way that this can be done is to videotape any disciplinary interaction between correctional staff and residents and to remind officers that charges will be brought in court if they violate the rights of residents.
The use of restraints in institutional settings must be carefully supervised, because of the possibility of abusive treatment of difficult-to-handle residents. The salaries of correctional personnel in the community and institutional contexts need to be revised periodically.
The salaries of these staff in some jurisdictions are still far too low. One advantage of increased salaries is that college-educated applicants will be attracted to these positions in higher numbers.
Administrative correctional staff must be willing to step forth when colleagues are out of line. This may come to the point of termination if that should be necessary.
Private correctional care, which has always played and still plays an important role, can pose a problem because too frequently privately run institutions pay inadequate salaries to staff, have poorly constructed corrections facilities, and fail to provide needed services for inmates. Private companies, if they intend to be in the corrections business, must maintain the standards of county and state corrections.
Correctional organizations must develop greater clarity about their purpose: why the organization existsits mission; why it is needed to support the purpose and mission; what should be the future direction of the organization.
Answer to Question 2
FALSE