In Austin, Texas, three neighborhoods are home to only 3.5% of the citys adult population, but they grapple with over 17% of people returning from prison each year. For the last 20 years, the crime rate in the U.S. has been falling. The current system does not incorporate existing science (evidence-based practices) about effective treatments or punishments that reduce recidivism. Police violence is not an issue of representation.. For this reason historians often feel that the lens of history can provide a fuller and more realistic understanding of a situation than we can get by reacting to analogies based on the past. The history of the American Correctional system has grown and evolved over the centuries to its current state. The cultural diversity within the white community primarily arises from the individuals' ethnic affiliation (e.g., Polish, Irish, Italian, etc. Furthermore, cultural norms in legal matters differ. A cultural assessment is part of the initial client assessment the Case Manager performs when opening a client to case . Today, nearly 8 million American adults and 650,000 youth are involved with the justice system (see Pew Foundation, 2009; Taxman, Perdoni, & Harrison, 2007). Despite the justice system's claim to treat everyone equally, the reality is that those without financial means -- who are twice as likely to be a minority according to an Economist report -- are at a disadvantage in the justice system. We should discuss two terms before diving into our examples, bias and stereotype. It is inevitable in the United States to notice the wide variety of cultures that with the years have come to share this land with Americans. It is challenging to determine why an inmate becomes involved with religion. To that end, we need to undo our focus on incarceration by pursuing a range of punishments that address the underlying cause of criminal behavior. However, she said, Just increasing diversity isnt going to fix this.. Balancing the threat of bias against running a fair and efficient legal system is outside the scope of this lesson, but it is an important topic that deserves consideration. The Case Manager is to practice cultural competence with awareness and respect for diversity. Although nearly 70% of those involved in the justice system are on probation or parole, the probation and parole in the U.S. is underfunded and undervalued (Taxman, Perdoni, & Harrison, 2007). Can they help reform the ranks? Culturally responsive skills can improve offender engagement in services, therapeutic relationships between offender and providers, and treatment retention and outcomes. This raises questions for correctional facility managers in several spheres of our operations. Cultural identity, in the simplest terms, involves an affiliation or identification with a particular group or groups. In other words, enculturation plays . This paper will also focus on some of the reasons why racial disparity exists within sentencing. Thus, the students parents assumed that it was expected in the American legal system as well. This brings up an important query: Can informal sanctions serve as an alternative form of punishment that satisfies key punitive goals while keeping undesired and/or criminal conduct to a manageable level? Sociologically, multiculturalism assumes that society as a whole benefits from increased diversity through the harmonious coexistence of different cultures. A shift occurred in the 2000s and more institutions are returning to rehabilitation as a form of reducing prison population and curbing recidivism. Look at the numbers: The U.S. has an incarceration rate of 756 per 100,000 (the largest in the world) and holds 23% of the people incarcerated around the world (see pewcenteronthestates.com; Walmsley, 2007). The panel emphasized the need for accountability and leadership, and its recommendations led to police academies adding discussions of bias and its negative consequences to their curriculum. Diversity, and I am talking about cultural diversity, is a much more basic concept. In order to understand prisons, we must look at the reasons we punish offenders and what are our goals. This created a situation where California had to make significant changes to the way it managed offenders and incarceration. Developing cultural competence is an ongoing process that begins with cultural awareness and a commitment to understanding the role that culture plays in behavioral health services. 1989, p. 13). The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. People from many different cultures with different values, faiths, and sets of beliefs call the US home. Cultural competence is not acquired in a limited time frame or by learning a set of facts about specific populations; cultures are diverse and continuously evolving. . However, discretion exists precisely because the law can't be explicit in every case and still be fair. Bias is the tendency of people to become prejudiced either for or against an idea or course of action based on reasons unrelated to the evidence. 17. We hold policy makers to account, ensuring they are meeting their requirements under the Public Sector Equality Duty. So America sought to design a more unique penal system. Introduction. Why is it important for correctional professionals to understand and address these issues? Federal court decisions, as well as state and federal laws support this right, however, this right must not interfere with the security of the institution. Sometimes a person isn't clearly lying, but the judge must decide whether or not to believe their testimony. Its a system that very clearly needs reforming, said University of Pennsylvania data scientist Dean Knox, a co-author of the study. Good Essays. Effective Communication in the Workplace: Help and Review, Communication and Diversity: Help and Review, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Communicating in the Workplace: Help and Review, Communicating in a Diverse Work Environment: Opportunities & Challenges, Being a Self-Aware and Adaptive Communicator, Cross-Cultural Communication: Definition, Strategies & Examples, Individualistic vs. Collectivistic Cultures: Differences & Communication Styles, Cultural Perceptions of Communication in Organizations: Low Context and High Context, Masculine vs. Feminine Cultures: Distinctions & Communication Styles, Monochronic vs. Polychronic Cultures: Definitions & Communication Styles, Communicating in Different Languages: Dealing with Interpreters and Jargon, Prejudice & Ethnocentrism in Organizations, What Is External Communication in Business? The Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement course begins with a basic understanding of culture and how it works. It has been noted that there are issues of unethical practices, discrimination, bias and prejudice which are perpetrated against the American minority communities. Correctional professionals and administrators should understand that each offender embraces his or her culture(s) in a unique way and that there is considerable diversity within and across races, ethnicities, and culture heritages. In recent times the religious institutions and legal services have assist inmates who try to practice their faith while incarcerated. Social diversity and multiculturalism is more prevalent in the justice system than in the rest of society. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Cases being heard in courts all over the country are addressing aspects such as the provision of hormonal medications to transgender offenders, the continuation of transgender-specific medical procedures, and the development of gender awareness in areas such as housing and searches. : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "Principles_and_Procedures_of_the_Justice_System_(Alvarez)" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, 8: Managing Culturally Diverse and Specific Populations in Correctional Settings, [ "article:topic-guide", "license:ccby", "showtoc:no", "authorname:wymoreraber" ], https://workforce.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fworkforce.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FCorrections%2FCommunity_and_the_Justice_System_(Wymore_and_Raber)%2F08%253A_Managing_Culturally_Diverse_and_Specific_Populations_in_Correctional_Settings, \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\). Under California penal code section 1230, the Community Correction Partnership (CCP) was created. State and federal governments are aware of this disparity, and researchers and policymakers are studying the drivers behind the statistics and what strategies might be employed to address the disparities, ensuring evenhanded processes at all points in the . Be able to identify the myths and stereotypes of inmates in correctional facilities. Another common understanding of this concept is an eye for an eye which dates back centuries where the victim was able to exact revenge when they were harmed or wronged by another person. This course provides an in-depth examination of the opportunities and challenges of delivering criminal and juvenile justice services in a multicultural society. An officer might consider this a sign of deceit or evasion, but Muslim culture dictates this as a sign of modesty. In the criminal justice sector we see issues such as racial profiling, discrimination amongst others. Policing is the defense of communities, the duty of making . Violators were punished by being placed in stocks or pillory, wearing a scarlet letter and similar public shaming methods. You may include any videos or supplemental theories you think may be relevant. This system consists of parts which include the police, the courts, and prisons. According to the report completed by the Department of Justice / EEOC, "Research further suggests that increased diversity can make law enforcement agencies more open to reform, more willing to initiate cultural and systemic changes, and more . The current movement to develop cultural diversity awareness training programs for police officers and other criminal justice personnel may support rather than transform the status quo, but contradictions within the mission of cultural diversity awareness training should not cause such training to be abolished or discourage improved police-minority relations. Keep up-to-date with our policy work, blogs, events and opportunities to get involved. Specific deterrence is the prevention of committing new crimes by one specific offender. This process allows the offender to express remorse for committing the criminal act and be forgiven. Female inmates are more likely to have been convicted of a crime involving property crimes, alcohol abuse, or drugs. This practice still occurs in law enforcement, and involves assumptions about the character of individuals based on their culture or skin color. Recent attention focuses on the concentration of people involved in the justice system in certain communities. Since that time, it has fallen to record lows (see the Uniform Crime Reports at www.ucrdatatool.gov). These policies include mandatory minimums, increased incarceration periods, increased conditions attached to probation and parole, increased technical violations and the failure of parole boards to release offenders. Others report that jail and prison overcrowding is due to policies that have increased lengths of stay in prison/jail. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), cultural competence refers to the ability to honor and respect the beliefs, languages, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals and families receiving services, as well as staff members who are providing such services. have children who are minors. They determined that overcrowding was the primary cause of the inmates' inadequate medical and mental health care. The cultural diversity within the black community arises from multiple factors, including skin tone, socioeconomic status, ethnicity (e.g., foreign born blacks), and place of origin (e.g. Because the populations of early colonies were so small and communities close knit, punishment for the violation of laws and social norms were handled swiftly. At the same time, no one thinks its a good idea to open the prison doors and let offenders free. People of color and members of other cultures are the target of profiling because people are influenced based on their own past experiences or the experiences of others. Thoughtful classroom setup and structure supports two of the four anti-bias domains: Diversity and Justice. Of those respondents, 21% reported encountering hostile attitudes from officers, 14% reported verbal assault by the police, 3%reported sexual harassment, and 2% . What do jail and prison leaders and staff need to know in order to appropriately manage these people with safety and respect? Female officers of all races also use less force than males. And we call for greater racial diversity in the criminal justice workforce and promote more inclusive practices from sector employers. Tensions between law enforcement officers and minorities have caused agencies to seek measures designed to reform police-community relations. Should Facilities conduct searches differently with transgender inmates based on their gender identity? The field of criminal justice allows for a wide assortment of research interests, and as such, only a student's imagination limits this research. Most officers respond the same way to violent crimes such as armed robbery or assault. For those jails holding inmates for periods of a year or less, this may be considered to have minimal impact. correctional institutions religious practice is in the form of many faiths, with the most prevalent being the Judeo-Christian faith. One area of research that has been gaining popularity views crime as a product of the culture or subculture to which one belongs, rather than strictly blaming it on individual differences. We see two groups of officers going out, and theyre treating the same group of civilians differently, Knox said. That is, these practices present brick walls. If we intend to undo the consequences while protecting public safety, we have to begin by addressing some common misconceptions. Cultural diversity, cultural sensitivity, or race relations training is a central component of many recent proposals to reform police-community relations. Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice. For the paper, Knox and his colleagues analyzed data on nearly 3 million Chicago Police Department patrol assignments. Commonly-held biases can create stereotypes. And, as a case study of Chicago, the paper is not automatically generalizable to the countrys more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies, especially suburban and rural ones. On the morning of December 19, 2007, Police Officer show more content Despite its limitations, the concept of race is important to discussions of cultural competence. Diverse perspectives allow for a variety of approaches to problem solving, testing and developing new ideas, and cultural expressions such as art and music. Statistics clearly show there are issues of economic status and race are factors in the criminal justice system. During the process of sexual re-assignment, many live as a member of the sex they plan to be. And what about housing a person with a female physiognomy but a male gender identity with males? 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