Week of May 12, 2019 –  Summary & Conclusion

To Stay on Track:  If you have a “no grade” because you were missing discussions questions/sets during your second meeting, resolve ASAP before it turns into an F. 

Dates/Deadlines:

• Monday, May 13th – Last Class session  (Journals due from Second Meeting to Last Day of Class)

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. entirety.
• Documentary: “” 

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• death penalty
• shaming
• restorative justice
• retribution
• deterrence
• rehabilitation
• correctional ideologies
• theory, policy, practice
• 6Cs

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to incorporate this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, May 10th. 

1.  What does Dawley’s A Nation of Lords tell us about the future of corrections for both juveniles and adults? Why. How does Dawley’s conclusion compare to Hassine’s? Why.
2.  Based on the course materials, what works in American corrections? What does not work? Why.
3.  Overall, what was the most important thing that you learned in this course? Why. 
4.  What did you like best about this course? What did you like the least? Why.  What ideas and suggestions do you have to improve this course? (Constructive criticism only).

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• What is the future of American corrections?
• What are the major arguments both for and against capital punishment? What is your position? 
• Other books related to capital punishment:
  • Franklin Zimring. The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment. 
  • Vincent Henry. Deathwork.    
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.
  • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: May 8, 2019

Week of May 5, 2019 –  Corrections in Theory, Policy, Practice

To Stay on Track:  If you have a “no grade” because you were missing discussions questions/sets during your second meeting, resolve ASAP before it turns into an F. 

Dates/Deadlines:

• Monday, May 13th – Last Class session 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. entirety.
• Documentary: “” 

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• death penalty
• shaming
• restorative justice
• retribution
• deterrence
• rehabilitation
• correctional ideologies
• theory, policy, practice
• 6Cs

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to incorporate this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, May 10th. 

1.  What does Dawley’s A Nation of Lords tell us about the future of corrections for both juveniles and adults? Why. How does Dawley’s conclusion compare to Hassine’s? Why.
2.  Based on the course materials, what works in American corrections? What does not work? Why.
3.  Overall, what was the most important thing that you learned in this course? Why. 
4.  What did you like best about this course? What did you like the least? Why.  What ideas and suggestions do you have to improve this course? (Constructive criticism only).

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• What is the future of American corrections?
• What are the major arguments both for and against capital punishment? What is your position? 
• Other books related to capital punishment:
  • Franklin Zimring. The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment. 
  • Vincent Henry. Deathwork.    
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.
  • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: May 2, 2019

Week of April 28, 2019 –  The Future of Corrections

To Stay on Track: 1) You should be finishing up Q.3 and proofreading your visual project overall learning assessment. Due at the beginning of class on Friday, May 3rd. Late papers will not be accepted.  2) If you have a “no grade” because you were missing discussions questions/sets during your second meeting, resolve ASAP before it turns into an F. 

Dates/Deadlines:

• Friday, May 3rd, beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due
• Monday, May 13th – Last Class session 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapter  31-34.
• Documentary: “” 

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• death penalty
• shaming
• restorative justice
• retribution
• deterrence
• rehabilitation

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to incorporate this week’s assigned readings. Due: Monday, May 6th. 

1.  Provide your review of A Nation of Lords. What did you like best about this book?Why. What did you like the least? Why.
2.  Compare and contrast Life Without Parole  with A Nation of Lords. What are some of the similarities and differences between these two books? Why.
3. Based on this week’s Haas & Alpert readings, how do you think offenders  will be corrected in the future? Are things getting better or worse?  Why. 

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• What is the future of American corrections?
• What are the major arguments both for and against capital punishment? What is your position? 
• Other books related to capital punishment:
  • Franklin Zimring. The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment. 
  • Vincent Henry. Deathwork.    
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.
  • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 25, 2019

Week of April 21, 2019 –  Juvenile Corrections

To Stay on Track: 1) You should be working on your visual project overall learning assessment — Finishing Q. 1 and working on Q.2.  2) You should attend your second meeting.

Dates/Deadlines:

• April 17-26 – Second Meetings
• Friday, May 3rd, beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due
• Monday, May 13th – Last Class session 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  pp. 97-208
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapter –.
• Documentary: “The Interrupters” 

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• differences between juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system
• status offenses
• new jacks
• boot camps
• youth gangs
• juveniles waived into adult court 

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to incorporate the documentary, “The Interrupters” as well as this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, April 26th. 

1.  What are the differences between juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system? What impact does that have on the corrections of juveniles. Why. Incorporate this week’s class materials into your answer. 
2. Relating to A Nation of Lords, what are some of the major problems in today’s juvenile correctional system? Integrate the documentary into your answer. 
3. What is the future direction of juvenile corrections? Are things getting better or worse? Why. 

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Explore in depth the problems confronting juveniles in Chicago. 
• Does boot camps work? Why or why not.
• Does D.A.R.E. work? Why or why not.
• Check out the latest research and grant funding programs at the OJJDP website. 
• Other books related to juvenile corrections:
  • Anthony Platt. The Childsavers. 
  • Barry Krisberg. Juvenile Justice.   
  • Meda Chesney-Lind. The Female Offender: Girls, Women and Crime.  
  • Malcolm Klein. The American Street Gang.  
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Louis Sachar. Holes. (and the sequel, Small Steps.)
• Wil Hobs. Downriver. (and the sequel, River Thunder.)
• Walt Myers. Monster. (also, Shooter.)
• Carl Hiaasen. Hoot.
• Christopher Curtis. Bud, Not Buddy.
• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 18, 2019

Week of April 14, 2019 –  Special Populations – The Elderly Inmate & the HIV/AIDS Inmate

To Stay on Track: 1) You should be working on your visual project overall learning assessment.  2) You should attend your second meeting.

Dates/Deadlines:

• April 17-26 – Second Meetings
• Friday, May 3rd, beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due
• Monday, May 13th – Last Class session 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  pp. xi-96.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapter 30.
• Documentary: “The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison” 

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• the elderly inmate
• the geriatric prison
• the HIV/AIDS inmate 

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to incorporate the documentary, “The Farm” as well as this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, April 19th. 

1.  What are the unique challenges and problems when dealing with the HIV/AIDS inmate? What might be some solutions? Why. Incorporate this week’s class materials into your answer. 
2. With more and more inmates imprisoned for life, what are the major problems confronting an aging prison population? Why. Are there any alternatives for this special population? Incorporate this week’s documentary about Louisiana’s Angola prison.  
3. Imagine a combination of all four special population characteristics — an elderly, mentally ill, female inmates with AIDS? If you were the prison superintendent, how would you handle such inmates? Why. 
4. What do you think of the first half of A Nation of Lords? Provide specific examples from the readings. 

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Explore in depth the problems confronting the elderly inmate or the AIDS inmate. 
• Other books related to special populations:
  • Wally Lamb. Couldn’t Keep it to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution.
  • Jennifer Gonnerman. Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett.  
  • Sandra Enos. Mothering Inside. 
  • Lori Girshick. No Safe Haven: Stories from Women in Prison.
  • Kathleen O’Shea. Women on the Row: Revelations from Both sides of the Bar. 
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 11, 2019

Week of April 7, 2019 –  Special Populations: The Mentally Ill Inmate & the Female Inmate

To Stay on Track: 1) You should be proofreading your work. Visual Projects are due at the beginning of class on Monday, April 8th. Late work will not be accepted.  2) You should be signed up for your second meeting.

Dates/Deadlines:

• Monday, April 8th, beginning of class  – Visual Component with self-assessment 
• April 17-26 – Second Meetings
• Friday, May 3rd, beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due
• Monday, May 13th – Last Day of Spring Classes

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords.  pp. xi-96.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapters 13, 29 & 30.
• Documentary: “Voices from Inside”   (to be shown in class)

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• the mentally ill inmate
• the female inmate
• drug courts; mental health courts; veteran courts
• children of incarcerated parents 

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do incorporate the documentaries, “The Released” & “Voices from Inside” as well as this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, April 12th. 

1. Other than your own visual project, which project was the most creative? the most informative? Why.
2. What are the unique challenges and problems for the mentally ill inmate both inside and outside of prison life? Why. Incorporate the documentary, “The Released” into your answer.
3. Compare and contrast female inmates with male inmates. In other words, what are the similarities and differences between these two inmate populations? If you were the warden, how might you run a female prison, and how would that differ, if at all, from a male prison? Why. Incorporate the documentary, “Voices from Inside” into your answer. 
4. Based on the two documentaries, “The Released” and “Voices from Inside,” what works? Why. 

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Explore in depth the problems confronting the mentally ill female inmate. 
• Other books related to special populations:
  • Wally Lamb. Couldn’t Keep it to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution.
  • Jennifer Gonnerman. Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett.  
  • Sandra Enos. Mothering Inside. 
  • Lori Girshick. No Safe Haven: Stories from Women in Prison.
  • Kathleen O’Shea. Women on the Row: Revelations from Both sides of the Bar. 
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 4, 2019

Week of March 31, 2019 – Rehabilitation & Community Corrections

To Stay on Track: 1) You should be finishing up your visual component and starting your self-assessment questions. 2) This week, sign up for your second meeting. 

Dates/Deadlines

• Monday, April 8th, beginning of class – Visual component with self-assessment is due. 
• April 17-26 – Second meetings
• Friday, May 3rd, beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due.
• Monday, May 13th – Last day of class. 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapters 22-28.
• Documentary: “The Released”   (to be shown in class)
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords. —-

Lecture related links:

• National Institute of Corrections A resource on jails and local detention.
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• rehabilitation
• recidivism
• program success 
• boot camp
• prison-based therapeutic communities
• victim-offender mediation
• probation
• parole 

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do incorporate “The Released” and this week’s assigned readings. Due: Friday, April 5th. 

1. What are the arguments on both sides of the rehabilitation debate? Which side do you take? Why. Incorporate the documentary and assigned readings into your answer.
2. Based on the Petersilia chapter in H&A and in her article (to be distributed in class), what is the most serious problem relating to prisoner re-entry? Why.
3. Compare and contrast probation and parole. In other words, what are the similarities and differences between the two.

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

•  Research “what works?” In other words, what are today’s most successful rehabilitation programs both inside and outside of the correctional institutions? Why. How is success measured? 
• Explore in depth the problems confronting prisoner re-entry. 
• Other books related to rehabilitation:
  • Robert Martinson. The Effectiveness of Correctional Treatment.
  • Frances Cullen & Karen Gilbert. Reaffirming Rehabilitation. 
  • James Finckenauer. Scared Straight and the Panacea Phenomenon.
  • S. Martin, L. Sechrest & R. Redner. New Directions in the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders.
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.
• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: March 27, 2019

Week of March 24, 2019 – SPRING  BREAK!!!

To Stay on Track:  Continue to work on your visual component including an inexpensive give-away item.  

Dates/Deadlines:

• Monday, April 8th, beginning of class  – Visual Component with self-assessment due 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapters 1-21.
• Documentary: “Second City”   (to be shown in class)
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords. —-

Lecture related links:

• new   National Institute of Corrections  A resource on jails and local detention.
• new Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• jails
• prisons
• pretrial detention 
• misdemeanor
• bail

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do this week’s assigned readings and view “Second City.” Due: Wednesday, March 20th.

1. What are the similarities and differences between jails and prisons?
2. Why are county jails considered the “bottom of the correctional barrel?” What are some problems you would expect to encounter if you were in charge of providing rehabilitation in a county jail? Why.
3. What are some alternative to pretrial detention? What do these alternatives tell us about the interrelationship between “theory, policy, and practice”? Why.

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Research “what works” inside the county jail. In other words, what are today’s most successful rehabilitation programs in the county jail? why. How is success measured? Why.
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• • J.F. Fishman.  Crucibles of Crime: the Shocking Story of the American Jail. 
  • D. Danto. Jail House Blues. 
  • John Irwin.  The Jails: the Managing of the Underclass in American Society. 

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: March 18, 2019

Week of March 17, 2019 – Jails & Short-Term Detention 

To Stay on Track:  Continue to work on your visual component including an inexpensive give-away item.  

Dates/Deadlines:

• Friday, March 22nd  – Last Day to Drop Class via SOLAR
• March 25-29 – Spring Break (no classes)
• Monday, April 8th, beginning of class  – Visual Component with self-assessment due 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapters 1-21.
• Documentary: “Second City”   (to be shown in class)
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords. —-

Lecture related links:

• new   National Institute of Corrections  A resource on jails and local detention.
• new Wisconsin Department of Corrections
• Theory, Policy, Practice
• W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• jails
• prisons
• pretrial detention 
• misdemeanor
• bail

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do this week’s assigned readings and view “Second City.” Due: Wednesday, March 20th.

1. What are the similarities and differences between jails and prisons?
2. Why are county jails considered the “bottom of the correctional barrel?” What are some problems you would expect to encounter if you were in charge of providing rehabilitation in a county jail? Why.
3. What are some alternative to pretrial detention? What do these alternatives tell us about the interrelationship between “theory, policy, and practice”? Why.

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Research “what works” inside the county jail. In other words, what are today’s most successful rehabilitation programs in the county jail? why. How is success measured? Why.
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• • J.F. Fishman.  Crucibles of Crime: the Shocking Story of the American Jail. 
  • D. Danto. Jail House Blues. 
  • John Irwin.  The Jails: the Managing of the Underclass in American Society. 

• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: March 14, 2019

Week of  March 10, 2019 – Courts, Constitution, Corrections 

To Stay on Track:  Begin constructing your visual project including an inexpensive take-away item.  

Dates/Deadlines:

• Friday, March 22nd  – Last Day to Drop Class via SOLAR
• March 25-29- Spring Break (no classes)
• Monday, April 8th, beginning of class  – Visual Component due 

Preparatory Readings:

• Hassine. Life Without Parole. — entirety.
• Haas and Alpert. Dilemmas of Corrections. Chapters 16 through 21.
• Documentary: “Solitary Nation”   (to be shown in class)
• Dawley. A Nation of Lords. —-

Lecture related links:

• • Theory, Policy, Practice
  • W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• prisoner rights
• “hands off” doctrine
• due process 
• disciplinary hearings
• the Eighth Amendment
• solitary confinement 

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do this week’s assigned readings and view “Solitary Nation.” Due:  Friday, March 15th.

1.  Which court case in this week’s Haas & Alpert readings, do you consider the most important? Explain why. 

2.  How does Hassine’s conclusion relate to Haas & Alpert’s readings on the courts? Do you agree with Hassine’s conclusion? Why or why not. 

3. Based on “Solitary Nation” and other related materials,  is solitary confinement cruel and unusual punishment? Why or why not? 

Going Beyond the Course Materials:

Note: If you found this week’s topic interesting, check out how you can go beyond the materials discussed.

• Compare and contrast a series of prison movies and television shows  (both old and new)  with  Hassine’s Life Without Parole. What are some  similarities and differences. Why. 
•  Examine one of the following demographic characteristics of those in prison: age, race/ethnicity, gender or socio-economic status.
•  Read John Irwin’s It’s About Time: America’s Imprisonment Binge. Are we imprisoning too many individuals? Why.
•  If you enjoyed reading Hassine’s Life Without Parole,  you might be interested in other prisoner autobiographies/biographies: 
  • Jack Henry Abbott. In the Belly of the Beast.
  • Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
  • Jarvis Jay Masters. Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.
  • Mumia Abu-Jamal.Live from Death Row.
  • Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thirteenth Round.
  • Eldridge Cleaver. Soul on Ice.
  • The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Recommended Readings:

• Erving Goffman. Asylums. 
• Donald Clemmer. The Prison Community. 
• Gresham Sykes. Society of Captives. 
• Leo Carroll. Hacks, Blacks and Cons. 
• Jeffrey Reiman. The Rich Get Richer, The Poor Get Prison. 
• Michelle Alexander. The New Jim Crow. 
•  John Irwin. The Warehouse Prison.
• John Irwin. Prisons in Turmoil. 
• John Irwin. The Imprisonment Binge.

• • Alfie Kohn. Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community.
  • Alfie Kohn. Unconditional Parenting.

Email me at:  takata@uwp.edu

Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update:  March 7, 2019