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Fayette County Detention Center

Fayette County Detention Center

The Fayette County Detention Center is a juvenile hall located in Lexington, Kentucky. The Department of Juvenile Justice that operates in Kentucky has created ten different juvenile detention centers throughout the state. The Fayette County Detention center is one of these facilities. It is dedicated to providing juvenile offenders with a safe location to learn and modify their behavior. 
This juvenile hall keeps dangerous juvenile offenders out of the community, until they have been successfully rehabilitated. While within the Fayette County Detention Center, juveniles have access to educational programs that provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in life. There has been some concern regarding the conditions of this detention center, and it has come under scrutiny. 
When the Fayette County Detention Center was created, it was intended to hold a limited number of juvenile offenders. Therefore, this secure facility only offered 25 beds. With the increasing occurrence of juvenile crime, many juvenile detention centers must expand, in order to house more residents. Recently, plans have been made to renovate this juvenile hall, in order to significantly expand its size. 
The discussed renovations will transform this small center into a much larger juvenile hall, which can house over 80 residents. The center will possess 50 rooms for single occupancy, and 30 dormitory rooms. These renovations are necessary to adequately accommodate the juvenile offenders that require rehabilitation. 

Yellowstone County Detention Facility

Yellowstone County Detention Facility

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility is a relatively small detention center located in Yellowstone Montana. It was built to house fewer than 200 inmates, however, an significant increase in the inmate population initiated expansion efforts, which were undertaken in 1995. 
 
 
The Yellowstone County Detention Facility is primarily dedicated to containing and supervising adult offenders. Both violent and non-violent criminals are housed within this facility. Juvenile offenders are generally placed in the care of alternative juvenile detention centers throughout the state of Montana. One such juvenile hall is the Cascade County Regional Youth Services Center, located in Great Fall, Montana. This facility plays an important role in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, as do other juvenile halls throughout the state.
 
 
The Cascade County Regional Youth Services Center offers juvenile offenders with a safe environment to serve sentences. This facility is reserved for individuals who are between the ages of 10 and 18, and who have been charged with a crime. This detention facility offers offenders with access to beneficial services and important resources. Within this detention facility, juveniles will receive a proper education. 
 
 
Schooling is year round and classes are taught be certified teachers. In addition to an education, juvenile offenders placed in this facility also have access to recreational services and therapeutic services. The Cascade County Regional Youth Services Center maintains 24 beds, and provides long term care to juvenile offenders. 

State Prison Inmates

State Prison Inmates

State prisons are often described as being much more unpleasant than both county jails and federal prisons. For an individual to become a state prison inmate, he/she must be tried and convicted by a specific state court, for violating a state law. If he/she is sentences by federal court, he/she will be contained within a federal prison. 
Violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and assault, are usually matters of the state, and therefore, the majority of individuals responsible for committing these crimes will be tried by a state court. As a result, state prison inmates are often unmanageable and state prisons maintain a large population of violent offenders. Inmate violence is much more frequent in state prisons, and conditions are often unpleasant.
In many instances, state prison inmates are considered to be dangerous. As a result, numerous state prisons are developed to be maximum security facilities. If an individual has committed a minor offense and has been sentenced to serve a relatively short prison term, it is likely that he/she will be moved to a county jail, or a minimum security state prison. 
State prison inmates often have a history of criminal behavior and have spent time in jail before. It is important to understand that the difference between federal and state prisons is not the severity of the crimes committed. Many people falsely believe that the federal prison system is reserved for more severe offenders. However, the most dangerous criminals are often housed in state jails.

Parwan Detention Facility

Parwan Detention Facility

Parwan Detention Facility is a prison located in Afghanistan. It was developed by the United States’ military and has been used to contain insurgents. The extensive facility was created to negate the threat posed by these individuals and protect the community from dangerous criminals. Previously, detention facilities in Afghanistan were known for their inhumane conditions. The new detention facility seeks to provide more bearable conditions to prisoners and ensure that they are treated with respect. 
Currently, the facility continues to be run be the United States military, however, by the year 2014, the complex will be operated by Afghan officials. The Afghan jail will be used to hold convicted criminals, who have been tried and charged with crimes, and who have subsequently been sentenced to imprisonment.
The Parwan Detention Facility cost millions of dollars to construct. It is able to proper contain roughly one thousand prisoners. The United States military is preparing the Afghan Ministry of Justice to obtain the responsibility of operating this detention center. There are some fundamental complications regarding the proper maintenance of an organized detention facility in Afghanistan. One such complication is prisoner identification. 
Unlike in the United States, detailed identification information and records are not complete or accurate in Afghanistan. Therefore, there is an inherent problem identifying the prisoners that are placed within the Parwan Detention Facility. Progress and advances are currently being made in this area, through the creation of detailed records, regarding inmates’ personal histories and physical appearance. 

Spartanburg County Detention Center

Spartanburg County Detention Center

Spartanburg County Detention Center is a detention facility located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The facility is currently holding over 800 convicted criminals. The Spartanburg County Detention Center seeks to provide a cost effective system of keeping the pubic safe from the potentially dangerous activities of convicted criminals. 
Due to the fact that this facility is a county detention center, it generally does not contain criminals sentenced to long prison terms. Individuals who are sentenced to an incarceration period of over 90 days will usually be relocated to a state prison. The Spartanburg County Detention Center also holds accused individuals who are awaiting trial. This facility is dedicated to ensuring that inmates are provided with secure, sanitary, and humane conditions, while they remain incarcerated.
In addition to containing adults, the Spartanburg County Detention Center maintains a juvenile detention center, which is dedicated to housing and caring for youths who have been convicted of juvenile crimes. the juvenile detention center is located within a building called Annex I. When initially constructed, this building was intended to hold 82 beds; however, due to space restrictions and a reduced staff, it has not reached this capacity. 
In addition to acting as a juvenile detention center, this location is sometimes used to contain adult inmates, if the necessary space is not available within the prison. Currently, additional space is being created within the facility and more staff is being authorized to work within the juvenile detention center. 

Juvenile Justice System

Juvenile Justice System

The juvenile justice system is the system that focuses specifically on addressing criminal activities carried out by individuals who are under the age of 18. Minors who have not yet turned 18 are considered to be juveniles. There are certain procedures that are used to handle juveniles who have been convicted of committing crimes. They usually do not receive the same types of sentences that adult criminals do. 
 
 
Scientific evidence indicates that children's brains are not fully developed, and therefore, they are not able to reason the same way that adults can. Therefore, they cannot be held liable for their actions the same way that adults can. Though intervention is necessary, sentencing juveniles to the same punishments and adults would be cruel. In addition, studies show the children are able to learn and modify their behavior. As a result, adequate education and counseling can help a minor to change his/her behavior and avoid criminal behavior in the future.
 
 
The juvenile justice system is responsible for the trial, conviction, and sentencing of minors. Just as the criminal justice system operates on a federal and state level, the juvenile justice system can also operate on a federal and state level. However, in the majority of cases, juvenile justice processes are the responsibility of each individual state. 
 
 
Every state throughout the United States, maintains a juvenile justice department, which is responsible for overseeing the care and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. Often, juvenile offenders will be placed within juvenile detention facilities, where they will be educated, and have access to counseling. The specific service offered by a juvenile justice department varies greatly from one state to another. 

County Jail Inmates

County Jail Inmates

Many counties in states throughout the country maintain their own jails. A county jail is operated by the sheriff’s department within that county. In addition to county jails, states will maintain a state prison. State prisons are generally larger and more extensive than county jails. 
In most instances, state prisons are reserved for convicts who are sentenced to spend many years in prison. On the other hand, county jails are reserved for individuals who have been given a short sentence, or who have not yet undergone their trial. County jails inmates have been accused of committing crimes, however, they have not necessarily been convicted of those crimes. 
If an individual has been accused of committing an offense, he/she may become a county jail inmate, and remain contained within the county jail until he/she is convicted of a crime, or pardoned. In the event that he/she is convicted and sentenced, he/she may be transported to a state or federal prison, depending upon the sentence he/she received.
In addition to people awaiting trial, county jail inmates may also be convicts who committed relatively minor offenses, and thereby received a short prison sentence. In most instances, inmates contained within a county jail have acquired a prison sentence of one year, or less. 
Due to the existence of judicial discretion, the crimes that were committed to land convicts in county jails may very substantially. While one inmate may have been convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, another may have been charged with a drug offense. Nevertheless, county jail inmates are usually not considered to be dangerous, high risk prisoners. 

Prison Bars

Prison Bars

The Evolution of Prison Bars: From Iron Cages to Modern Rehabilitation

Introduction

Prison bars, though often taken for granted, hold a unique place in the history of criminal justice and incarceration. These unyielding metal structures have played a significant role in shaping the way societies deal with crime and punishment. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating history and evolution of prison bars, exploring their origins, purposes, and the changing philosophies behind incarceration.

I. The Origins of Prison Bars

The concept of incarceration as a form of punishment dates back thousands of years, but the use of prison bars as a means of confinement has a relatively recent history. Ancient civilizations employed various methods of confinement, such as dungeons, stocks, and chains, but the idea of using bars to enclose prisoners is thought to have emerged during the Middle Ages.

A. Medieval Origins

During the Middle Ages, castles and fortresses often had dungeons where prisoners were held. These dungeons were dark and dank, making them ideal for keeping individuals in captivity. While these early dungeons did not feature the characteristic prison bars we think of today, they were enclosed spaces with heavy doors and small windows covered in iron grates.

B. Transition to Prison Bars

The transition from medieval dungeons to modern prison bars occurred as societies began to establish formal prison systems. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the concept of the penitentiary, a place where offenders could be rehabilitated through reflection and isolation, gained prominence. This shift in philosophy led to the construction of purpose-built prisons with cells containing iron bars.

II. The Purpose of Prison Bars

The primary purpose of prison bars has always been to confine prisoners securely. However, the reasons for incarceration and the conditions within prisons have evolved over time, influencing the design and use of prison bars.

A. Punishment and Deterrence

In earlier centuries, prisons were often used as places of punishment rather than rehabilitation. The use of prison bars, in this context, was intended to deter potential wrongdoers by showcasing the harsh conditions and the consequences of criminal behavior. The sight of prisoners behind bars was meant to serve as a warning to others.

B. Rehabilitation

As the concept of rehabilitation gained prominence in the 19th century, prison bars took on a new role. Instead of merely punishing offenders, prisons were seen as places where individuals could reflect on their actions and undergo moral reform. The use of prison bars shifted from deterrence to containment, with an emphasis on isolating prisoners from society to facilitate their rehabilitation.

III. The Evolution of Prison Bar Designs

The design of prison bars has evolved significantly over the centuries, influenced by changing philosophies of punishment and advancements in engineering and security technology.

A. Early Bar Designs

The earliest prison bars were relatively simple, consisting of iron bars or grates that were hand-forged and affixed to cell doors and windows. These bars were functional but often lacked the complexity and sophistication of modern designs.

B. Modern Bar Designs

Today, prison bars are manufactured using advanced materials and technologies. They are designed to be highly secure and difficult to tamper with. Modern prison bars are often made from steel, which offers strength and durability. Additionally, bars are engineered to be resistant to cutting or bending, making escape attempts extremely challenging.

C. Protective Coatings

To prevent corrosion and rust, modern prison bars are often coated with protective finishes, such as powder coating or galvanization. These coatings extend the lifespan of the bars and ensure they remain effective over time.

IV. Controversies Surrounding Prison Bars

While prison bars have been a key element of incarceration for centuries, they have not been without controversy. Several ethical and practical issues have arisen throughout history.

A. Ethical Concerns

The use of prison bars to confine individuals has raised ethical questions about human rights and the treatment of prisoners. Critics argue that the use of bars can dehumanize prisoners and subject them to inhumane conditions.

B. Overcrowding

In many prison systems around the world, overcrowding has become a significant issue. When prisons are filled beyond their intended capacity, the use of prison bars can exacerbate the problems associated with overcrowding, including limited access to healthcare and rehabilitation programs.

V. The Future of Incarceration and Prison Bars

As society’s understanding of crime and punishment continues to evolve, so too will the role and design of prison bars. The future of incarceration may involve innovative approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration, which could influence the use of traditional prison bars.

A. Rehabilitation-Centered Design

Future prison designs may prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. This could lead to the development of facilities that resemble treatment centers more than traditional prisons. In such facilities, the use of bars might be minimized in favor of less restrictive forms of confinement.

B. Technological Advancements

Advancements in technology may also reshape the way prisons are designed and operated. Electronic surveillance systems, biometric security measures, and non-lethal forms of incapacitation may reduce the reliance on physical prison bars.

C. Alternatives to Incarceration

Society is increasingly exploring alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, such as community service, probation, and electronic monitoring. These alternatives may reduce the need for traditional prison bars altogether.

Conclusion

Prison bars have a rich and complex history, reflecting changing attitudes toward crime, punishment, and rehabilitation. From their humble origins in medieval dungeons to their modern steel incarnations, prison bars have played a crucial role in the criminal justice system. As society continues to evolve, so too will the design and purpose of prison bars, raising important questions about the future of incarceration and the treatment of those who have broken the law.


Arguably the most recognizable or synonymous term associated with a prison is the image of solid steel bars. Prison bars are used to confine individuals convicted of a serious offense or felony such as murder, assault, armed burglary, rape etc.

Jail cells are small 6 by 8 foot rooms used to confine individuals convicted of a wrong doing. Jail cells are a fundamental application to enforce the United States’ legal system; without the cells prisoners would roam free or be grouped without surveillance or proper organization. Jail cells are constructed to house as many wrongdoers within a facility as possible; they are stacked on top of each other, and assorted in rows to organize a prison and house as many convicts as possible. As prisons become overcrowded the need for more organized and tighter confinements become a necessity.

Jail cells are comprised of steel and brick; these sturdy materials eliminate the chances of vandalism or escape. The typical jail cell unit has 3 walls and a strong steel door that locks from the outside. The door in some cases is solid, with a small window to observe the inmates. In most instances however, jail cells contain a steel door that is comprised of elongated stainless steel bars.

These prison bars allow correctional officers to freely observe the inmates room as well as his actions. Furthermore, the prison bars also offer an inmate the chance to peer outside of his cell, and even interact with his neighboring cell mates. The openness that prison bars offer can also lead to problems however, as interactions between inmates can spark controversy and problems that extend beyond their confinement. The prison bars are extremely sturdy; they are impossible to bend or snap, diminishing any chance of escape or vandalism.

Can Cell Blocks Keep Prisoners In?

Can Cell Blocks Keep Prisoners In?

A cell block is a unit within a prison or correctional facility that is comprised of multiple jail cells. Cell blocks enable correctional facilities to house a large number of convicts or those convicted of illegal acts in a highly organized and efficient manner. 
The amount of units or jail cells within a cell block will vary based on the correctional facility and the respective security level attached to it. In most cases, cell blocks are comprised of dozens of jail cells and are organized based on name, date of violation, or the severity of the crime in question. Cell blocks are organized through lettering or numbers; for instance, a correctional facility can contain 6 cell blocks, with the first cell block appropriately labeled ‘cell block A’ and the last cell block labeled ‘cell block E.’
The cell block structure was designed to organize and keep correctional facilities running efficiently. The most common problem associated with an American correctional facility revolves around overcrowding. The cell block was created to mitigate population problems; by grouping inmates and their cells within a compact unit, the correctional facility is optimally using the limited space. 
Typically, each cell block is patrolled or supervised by a team of prison guards or correctional officers. To properly execute their jobs, these guards simply can walk up and down the row of cells, while peering inside the cells to observe the inmates and their activity. 

A Look at the Duties of a Prison Guard

A Look at the Duties of a Prison Guard

A correctional
office or prison guard is the person responsible for supervising correctional
facilities or prisons. Corrections officers must ensure that the environment is
suitable for human life, and safe for all prisoners within the correctional
center. A prison guard’s role is thus essential to the well being of our legal
system; without the enforcing abilities of corrections officers prisons would
run improperly and not aid in the rehabilitation of wrongdoers.

 A correctional officer is responsible for the custody, care, and control
of individuals who are awaiting trial or have been arrested. In essence, anyone
who serves time in jail or is held in a cell will be supervised by a prison
guard or correctional officer. In addition, the team is also responsible for
the safety and the security of the facility–without a team of corrections
officers the prisoners would be under no control, and free to not only harm
each other, but vandalize the actual structure of the facility. Most
correctional officers are employed by the government of the country in which
they work, though a small percentage are also employed by private companies.



Although the
duties of a correctional officer can vary, the general role of the prison guard
includes the various actions:

·        
 A prison guard maintains
order and discipline within the correctional facility.

·        
The prison guard enforces rules,
regulations, and applicable legislation to maintain a suitable environment.

·        
A correctional officer conducts
routine searches of inmates to expel any contraband or weaponry that may be
present.

·        
The prison guard is responsible
for transporting inmates to courts and other correctional facilities.

·        
In response of an assault, a fire,
medical emergency, or a riot the prison guard is responsible for maintaining order and providing first response action.