1. Prisons in America Practical Citizenship Unit 5

2. Security Levels  Three major levels of prison security: –Maximum –Medium –Minimum

3. Maximum-Security Prison  Large institutions with several thousand prisoners  Have high fences, thick walls, and guard towers

4. Maximum-Security Prison  Used for most dangerous inmates who are a severe threat to public safety  Prisoners given little opportunity to associate with each other or have visits  Typically in cells for 23 hours/day

5. Prison Tour  Virtual Prison Tour – Florida Virtual Prison Tour – Florida

6. Medium-Security Prisons  Less serious crimes (minor assaults, small thefts)  Secure dormitories for up to fifty prisoners

7. Medium-Security Prisons  Prisoners have more freedom (use library, exercise yard, etc.)  Some inmates can work outside of the prison under supervision of correctional officers  Prisons often have educational facilities

8. Minimum-Security Prisons  Prisoners who are the least risk to public safety  Prisoners can roam within the confines of the prison  Single perimeter fences, no armed guards

9. Super-Maximum Security Prisons  Meant to hold most dangerous prisoners  First one was Alcatraz, island in San Francisco Bay  Prisoners kept in individual cells  Furniture often made of cement, can’t be moved

10. Poor Prison Conditions  Biggest problem is usually overcrowding –Can lead to discipline problems, unrest, unhealthy conditions, and violence  Many court cases say that poor conditions violate the 8 th amendment, but overcrowding does not if the prison still meets “contemporary standards of decency”

11. Parole  Parole = the process of returning prisoners to society if they have displayed good behavior, and if they give their word to avoid further crime  Parole Board examines behaviors, determines release  Parole officer sees to it that parole conditions are met and that the parolee makes a successful transition to life on the outside

12. Staying Out of Prison  Many ex-convicts have difficulty adjusting to society and staying out of trouble  Imagine that you were just paroled and are trying to stay out of prison. Write a journal of your experiences in the first few weeks after release. Include the following incidents and explain how you dealt with them.

13. Journal Requirements Include these items in the journal: –Finding a place to live –Relating to your family and loved ones –Searching for a job, going to a job interview –Running into an old friend from your criminal days, one you are forbidden to associate with