Study Notes on Detention and Prison Systems

Discussed the importance of creating a logical progression of themes within academic papers.
Issues surrounding citations in APA format and the necessity of including page numbers for ease of verification.

Focus on detention in Western criminal justice systems, specifically Canada and the US, alongside comparative analysis with Scandinavian systems.
Highlighted the plethora of human rights concerns for those detained.
Mentioned conditions of solitary confinement, referencing the Ashley Smith case as an empirical case study.

Inquiry into what prisons are supposed to achieve.
Discussion of the violation of detainee rights within the context of the course materials, notably the Ivan Zinger article.
Addressed the political ethic of penal populism influencing corrections in Canada, especially from conservative governments.

Explored issues surrounding the rights of detainees and the concept of 'social death' for prisoners.
Discussion on political rights for detainees, including voting rights, and the impact of prison privatization, especially in the US.
Mentioned critical issues regarding the treatment of women in prison and the need for awareness of graphic conditions within prisons.

Affirmation that deprivation of liberty is a significant human rights concern.
Discussion on the norms and rights related to due process in the criminal justice system.
Mentioned the existence of formal rights, such as the presumption of innocence, and contrasted these with the reality of detention.
Importance of treating detainees with dignity and humanity was emphasized, regardless of their status as prisoners.

Prisons viewed as criminogenic sites that can worsen individual behavior rather than rehabilitate.
Discussed the concept of total institutions as defined by Erving Goffman, emphasizing the lack of individualism and the regulation of daily life within prisons.
Term 'mortification' defined as a process where individual identities are stripped away in prison settings.
Importance of addressing degrading rituals, such as head shaving and numbering, which dehumanize incarcerated individuals.

Adverse psychological effects of detention on both prisoners and staff.
Defined the 'us versus them' mentality that emerges from total institutions, fostering a criminogenic environment.
Highlighted studies on the Stanford prison experiment as a reference for understanding institutional dynamics.

Public perception often sees detention as punishment justified through cultural narratives.
Discussion about the public's justification for the harsh treatment of detainees and the lack of empathy towards them.
Critiques of the notion that prisons serve as effective deterrents against crime.

Discussion of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its implications for detained persons.
Article 7 of the ICCPR prohibits torture and degrading treatments; Article 10 emphasizes the right to humane treatment.
Emphasis on the failed conditions of detention facilities in Canada compared to international standards.

Introduction of the Mandela Rules which create standards for humane treatment of prisoners.
Article stipulations include the prohibition of torture and cruel treatment, access to healthcare, and provision of educational offerings in prisons.
Significance of maintaining these rights in light of the criminal justice system's evolving narrative.

Circumstances leading to her prolonged confinement and subsequent death were discussed as a critical example of systemic failures.
Emphasized the need for humane treatment in accordance with international standards to avoid tragedies like Smith's.

Noted significant increases in the number of women, particularly Indigenous women, in Canadian prisons.
Women often bring unique challenges to prisons, often characterized by socio-economic disadvantages and histories of trauma.
Issues highlighted regarding the adequacy of programs targeted to female inmates.

Overview of the operational conditions in the now-closed P4W and its inadequacies for rehabilitative support.
Recognition of how feminized care issues have historically been overlooked in prison settings.

Stressed the importance of understanding both the psychological and social elements within the prison context.
Promised exploration of a documentary related to women's experiences in prisons in future classes to illustrate discussed points.