Correctional Accreditation and Privatization Paper

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nCorrectional accreditation is a verification system in which correctional agencies use to adhere to set national standards of the American Correctional Association. The program provides private and public organizations operating correctional facilities to have a chance to analyze their operations in relation to the national standards to rectify deficiencies. In addition, they also help to improve the quality of services and programs in correctional facilities (Foster, 2006, p. 10). Prisons and jails in the past era did not have a specific sense of humanity and the capacity to demonstrate to the society that prisons were aimed to reform a criminal instead of condemnation.

nCorrectional accreditation has several benefits because they enhance the management, and it shows the improvement efforts towards the confinement conditions through documentation. It also enhances accountability and promotes the public credibility for the line staff and administrations. Professional development in the corrections officer is certainly influenced by accreditation. The corrections officer development efforts aim to comply with national standards that act as representative of the best practices of their profession. Consequently, they are able to benefit from the professionalism and their efforts (Foster, 2006, p. 109).

nFoster, (2006), argues that professionalism encompasses acquiring professional status for individual employed in corrections while accreditation pursues equivalent status for their hiring organizations. The correctional officers within the prisons and jails need to demonstrate professionalism particular when handling offenders with a violent past history. Nonetheless, for better correctional officer, an individual should accomplish college degree, acquire eligibility requirements for the work and go for a background (Foster, 2006, p. 110). In addition, an employee should acquire adequate training and pass the civil service tests.

nPrivatization of prison plays a crucial role in the management of corrections facilities. Privately owned prisons helps to enhance the quality of services of these institutions and avoid increasing costs to the taxpayers and the government in federal and state prison (Foster, 2006, p. 112). Privatization and accreditation work in collaborations in order to equip employees with adequate training and increase the safety of both the staff and inmates.

nIn this respect, privatized prisons observe standard regulations and rules that accomplish the objectives of maintaining the environmental safety of the inmates as compared to public prisons (Foster, 2006, p. 38). Correctional officers retain a professional ethics inside and outside the prisons. The benefits of privatization and accreditation of jails and prisons are that they maintain safety of staff and inmates. In this regard, a system that set regulations and rules is crucial to operate prisons properly in relation to set standards (Foster, 2006, p. 47).

nIn order for prisons and jails to operate efficiently, they almost work like a business where they pay their fees, acquire funding from the government. In addition, many of these institutions receive funding from taxpayers and the government. In the recent past, prisons have experienced tremendous increase in the number of inmates due to rise in crime rates in most societies (Foster, 2006, p. 66). Unfortunately, the majority of the populations do not consider the welfare of the prisoners because of their past mistakes.

nConsequently, most of the federal and state jails and prisons are overcrowded as compared to privatized institutions. In addition, these correctional facilities should provide proper environments that will cater for decent housing and changing behaviors of the inmates. There should also provide necessities for both the staff and inmates. In this regard, privatization of prison ensures that they conform to the set standard and achieve their primary objectives (Foster, 2006, p. 106).

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nFoster, B. (2006). Corrections. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.