Scenario You are working for Vera Institute, a private agency dedicated to “tackl[ing] the most pressing injustices of our day.” | Homework #1 Solution

Scenario You are working for Vera Institute, a private agency dedicated to “tackl[ing] the most pressing injustices of our day.”

Competency

In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies:

• Analyze how the ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections
• Describe the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities
• Analyze systemic issues that affect incarceration

Scenario

You are working for Vera Institute, a private agency dedicated to “tackl[ing] the most pressing injustices of our day.” Your work group is writing a grant asking for federal funding on behalf of the State of Alabama Department of Corrections, which desperately needs funding in order to build new structures and programs to combat overcrowding. The piece of the grant you will craft is the statement of need, which focuses on reviewing the ideologies of punishment, explaining considerations in corrections facilities, and analyzing systemic issues that affect incarceration. You have been provided with a template Word Document to assist you in organizing your work.

Reference

Vera Institute. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.vera.org/about

Directions

Grant Proposal Statement of Need

In this assignment, you will craft a statement of need for your grant proposal. This statement will explain the issues that generally relate to today’s corrections departments and how you are seeking to address these issues. Your statement of need should be divided into sections using the following headers:

Ideological Influence on Professional Practice

To begin your statement, you will use research to analyze how the ideologies of punishment influence professional practice in corrections.

• First, describe how the goals of sentencing may lead to specific programs and sentencing structures. In your analysis, include each of the following:
  • Identify the five goals of sentencing. Name and define each goal.
  • Describe how prison programs can foster rehabilitation.
  • Describe some of the different goals of sentencing demonstrated through different programs and sentencing structures.
• Next, you will explain the impact of sentencing structures. Choose two of the following to explain the impact(s) of sentencing structures:
  • Determinate and indeterminate
  • Felonies vs. misdemeanors
  • Mandatory minimums
    • Three strikes law
• Then, describe how felony convictions create an unintended “invisible punishment.” Be sure to address the following areas of impact that persons convicted of felonies might face upon release:
  • Civil liberty restrictions
  • Private sector restrictions

Structure and Logistics of Correctional Facilities

In the next part of your statement of need, use research as you consider the organizational structure and logistical considerations of correctional facilities.

• First, describe the processing of offenders in correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
  • The prisoner intake process
  • Application of the Fourth Amendment to searches and seizures in corrections
  • Transitional services and release planning
• Next, describe the physical and organizational structure of correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
  • The different jurisdictions of correctional institutions, including:
    • Prisons and jails
    • Federal, state, local
  • The impact of different types of sanctions on corrections facilities
  • The physical layout of a corrections structure and its impact on corrections processes
• Then, analyze the impact of age-related diversity on correctional facilities. Be sure to address each of the following:
  • The impact on facilities
  • The impact on adjudication, including:
    • Juvenile or adult
  • The impact of an aging prison population on the correctional system. You may consider describing the following:
    • Medical care
    • Financial considerations

Systemic Issues

In the last part of your statement of need, you will use research as you analyze systemic issues that affect incarceration.

• First, analyze the impact of diversity in prisons.
  • Address past policies and practices related to the response to increased diversity in corrections. Consider addressing some of the following:
    • Mental health issues
    • Language and cultural issues
    • Issues in women’s prisons
    • LGBTQ issues
• Next, explain the rise of incarceration rates and strategies to reduce them. Select two of the following events or criminal justice areas to focus on in your explanation:
  • War on Drugs
  • Parole/probation violations
  • Pre-trial detention
• Then, describe factor(s) that impact prison culture. Select one or two of the following factors to include in your description:
  • Long-term incarceration rates
  • Two models of inmate behavior
  • Sexual violence in prisons (Eighth Amendment)
    • Relevant legislation
    • Court ruling(s)

What to Submit

To complete this project, you must submit the following:

Grant Proposal Statement of Need

Your statement should be 6–8 pages, formatted using the provided template, which provides specific section headings and formatting, and include in-text citations with complete references in APA style in the identified reference section.