Prison and Jail Systems: Key Concepts and Trends

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the lecture on the prison and jail systems, focusing on policies, historical context, and current issues.

Risk & Needs Assessment

A system that evaluates each incarcerated person’s risks and needs to match them with appropriate programming and rehabilitation services.

First Step Act

Legislation that includes provisions for risk assessment, firearm policy for BOP employees, protection for pregnant incarcerated women, and revisions to mandatory sentencing.

Mandatory Minimums

Legally established minimal sentences that must be imposed for specific offenses, often criticized for being too harsh and inflexible.

Retroactivity of the Fair Sentencing Act

Allows individuals previously sentenced under outdated laws to receive reduced sentences retroactively.

Solitary Confinement

A form of imprisonment in which an inmate is isolated from others, often leading to severe mental health issues.

Racial Disproportionality

The overrepresentation of people of color in prison populations compared to their share of the general population.

Overcrowding

The condition where the number of inmates exceeds the facility's designed capacity, leading to severe issues within prisons.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

A federal law aimed at preventing sexual abuse in prison, requiring facilities to report allegations of sexual misconduct.

Supermax Prisons

Facilities designed to house the most dangerous inmates, featuring high security, isolation, and limited contact with others.

Private Prisons

Correctional facilities operated by private companies, often criticized for higher levels of violence and less experienced staff.