Critical Issues in Corrections

Corrections Issues

When speaking on the topic of critical issues faced in the corrections system, there are many. They range from funding to prisoners amendment rights. Through this course we have covered many topics found throughout the corrections system and also a lot of the problems as well. The critical issue I have chosen to discuss is the issue of race, ethnicity, and the problem of discrimination that the corrections systems face.

"Ethnicity is a concept used to distinguish people according to their cultural characteristics" (Clear). Now, race is sort similar but a little different. "Race is a biological concept used to distinguish groups of people by their skin color and other physical features" (Clear). One uses physical characteristics while the other uses cultural characteristics to separate people into different social groups.

Disparity and Discrimination seem to be the two major factors that are the problems in the correction system. "Disparity is the unequal treatment of one group by the criminal justice system, compared with the treatment accorded other groups" (Clear). Currently no one uses the term disparity most are used to discrimination. "Discrimination is differential treatment of an individual or group without reference to the behavior or qualifications of the same" (Clear). Usually discrimination can be based on a person's race or ethnicity, which can include language, religion, and or group traditions. An example of discrimination would be when people of color are sentenced regardless of their criminal background. Not only are offenders being discriminated by color but also by age and mental capacity. "There exists a significant inequality between elderly and mentally ill inmates in comparison to inmates qualified for general population. Additionally, violent inmates who pose a threat to themselves, staff, and other inmates are rightly segregated from general population" (Robertson). When the prisons and jails have to worry about discrimination and Disparity, they spend more money on segregation and keeping the inmates safe from any violence. For the elderly offenders medical attention could increase the costs of the corrections system. "The issues of Alzheimer's disease, self-harm and victimization by other inmates becomes prevalent. Because the elderly prison population is growing, there is