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Trends in prison sentencing

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Trends in prison sentencing
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Week 3 Assignment 1
Trends in Prison Sentencing
Samantha Mullins
Orscinil Beard
October 23, 2014

Prison Systems

How did Rhodes v. Chapman change the operations of prisons? Rhodes v.Chapman changed the operations of prisons by trying to control prison population. Rhodes vs. Chapman stated that two inmates being housed in one cell is not cruel and unjust, because the prisoners were out of the cells for most of the day.

What is the general mission of most correctional agencies? The general mission statement of most correctional agencies is “to supervise criminal offenders during the period of their sentence, protect the public, and offer programs that assist in the rehabilitation of criminals.”

How many inmates are there in U.S. correctional facilities? As of 2010, there were about 1.6 million offenders incarcerated in prisons and other detention facilities within the U.S.

Describe recent trends in terms of the inmate population, commission of violent crimes, and length of sentence. Recent trends in terms of inmate population has Hispanics increasing in prison, the commission of violent crimes are actually down since 1970s, but the length of sentence is longer because of the tough on crime mentality.

Describe the increase in the number of prisons over the past decade. The increase in the number of prisons in the past decade has been over 150 new prisons to keep up with the growth demands, and the new crimes that are being committed.

What three prisons were included in the Three Penitentiary Act of 1891? 1. Leavenworth, Kansas, 2. McNeil Island, Washington, 3. Atlanta, Georgia

What was the result of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, and what impact did it have on the Bureau of Prisons? The result of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 was the bureau experiencing the beginning of a tremendous population growth. The impact it had is that it abolished parole, established determinate sentencing, and reduced the amount of good time available

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