This chapter focuses on the field of incarcerated corrections, specifically on the concept of punishment, where it comes from, and the different ideologies of why and how people are punished. After examining punishment ideologies, we will discuss the emergence of prisons and jails in the U.S. and compare how the design and supervision styles of these facilities serve different purposes. We will break down the differences in incarcerated populations, facility levels, and governance between jails, state prisons, federal facilities, and privatized prisons. Finally, we will learn more about the role of a corrections officer.

Author’s Note

The term individual or person has been used throughout the sections to bring attention to the real people who have found themselves within the justice system and have experienced the ups and downs of this system. This was done to be mindful and respectful of them as individuals. Oregon recently legally changed these terms to no longer refer to individuals who are incarcerated as inmates or prisoners but instead to refer to them as Adults in Custody (AICs) or Youth in Custody (YICs). Many organizations across the nation have also turned to using terms like Justice-Involved Individuals (JIIs), allowing for these titles to be temporary based on the state the individual is in during their involvement with the system and not a permanent negative label. There are places (specifically within cited works), though, where the terms inmate, offender, prisoner, probationer, and parolee have been used, but only where needed for clarity purposes or to note a cited work or resource that used the term in their title or description. As this text was being written, it was extremely important to the authors to make this distinction and, in every way possible, to use these terms respectfully and professionally.

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, students will be able to:

1. Analyze where the basic concept of punishment comes from and compare the different ideologies of why and how people are punished.
2. Relate global ideas around punishment to the emergence of prisons and jails in the U.S.
3. Compare the design structure and supervision style of facilities.
4. Describe differences in incarcerated populations, facility levels, and governance between jails, state prisons, federal facilities, and private prisons.

Key Terms

Below are some of the most important key terms and phrases used in this chapter. You should review and become familiar with these terms before reading this chapter:

• Correctional facility
• Corrections officer
• Criminogenic needs
• Deterrence
• Facility design-linear
• Facility design-podular
• Incapacitation
• Jail
• Prison
• Punishment
• Rehabilitation
• Retribution
• Supervision style-direct
• Supervision style-indirect

Licenses and Attributions for Chapter Overview and Learning Objectives

Open Content, Shared Previously

“Chapter Overview” is adapted from “8: Corrections” by David Carter in SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Modifications by Megan Gonzalez, revisions by Roxie Supplee, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 include updating for clarity.