CJ Today CH11 Key Terms

classification

A system used to assess inmates and assign them to appropriate custody levels and programs.

congregate system

A prison system, originating in New York, where inmates worked and ate together during the day and were housed in individual cells at night.

direct supervision approach

A jail management strategy that features staff continuously present in inmate living areas to promote direct interaction and supervision.

fee system

A system in which inmates are charged for various services while incarcerated, such as room and board.

jail

A local facility used to detain individuals awaiting trial or serving short sentences.

lockdown

A situation in which inmates are confined to their cells with limited movement or activity, often due to a security threat.

maximum-security prison

A high-security facility designed for the most dangerous inmates, with strict control measures.

medical model

A correctional philosophy emphasizing treatment and rehabilitation through medical and psychological care.

medium-security prison

A facility with moderate security that houses inmates who are considered less dangerous or pose less risk.

minimum-security prison

A prison with the least security, typically housing non-violent or low-risk offenders.

new-generation jail

A modern jail design emphasizing podular housing and direct supervision to improve security and interaction.

penitentiary

A correctional facility designed to imprison and reform offenders through isolation and reflection.

pretrial detainees

Individuals held in custody while awaiting trial, not yet convicted of a crime.

private prisons

Correctional facilities operated by private, for-profit companies under government contract.

separate confinement

A system, originating in Pennsylvania, where inmates were kept in complete isolation to encourage penitence and rehabilitation.

supermax prison

The highest level of security prison, used to house the most dangerous and high-risk inmates.

time served

The amount of time an inmate has already spent in custody, which is often credited toward their sentence.

warden

The chief administrative officer in charge of managing a prison facility.