Law Homework Help

1.) post a message (here) in the conference in which you complete the following: “Special populations create challenges for the prison environment. Special populations can include mentally ill, drug addicted, elderly, juveniles, and AIDS. What challenges are created by the inclusion of these populations in a prison environment? Is the system able to address these challenges? Should it be expected to do so? Can you offer any alternatives for these individuals?” Be Specific.

2.) also respond to the two student posts below

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Kaitlyn Grissom

People with mental and physical health problems occupy the majority of the special populations in prisons and jails. One challenge created by segregating mentally ill people from the general population is that they need effective care and treatment to help their problems. If left untreated, those people can keep cycling through the criminal justice and social services systems (SAMH 1998). People with AIDS in prison are often discriminated against and end up not being eligible for early release or education programs because of their illness. Other challenges presented by AIDS positive inmates includes them being denied jobs in prison, possibly no visitation rights and costing the jails and prisons more money to keep them separated. As the population ages in prisons, elderly people face problems such as struggling to find a job that can accommodate them, difficulty accessing income support, and oof course health problems like dementia, paranoia or confusion. In many cases juveniles under the age of 18 can be tried as an adult and therefore placed in the general population. Not segregating juveniles can make it really difficult for them to adjust to prison life and they tend to be more prone to violence and negatively affected mental health. Upon conviction of drug addicted inmates, they are offered rehabilitation programs. Offering help to drug addicts significantly helps avoid recidivism which means reoccurring in jail over and over again. If successful, rehab programs help get inmates clean and steers them away from a harmful lifestyle. Unfortunately, treatment providers for jails and prisons generally are not able to keep up and provide the special populations inmates with effective care. It’s tough to say, but I think that the criminal justice system should be expected to provide health care programs that assist mentally ill, elderly, and drug addicted inmates. Even though it costs a lot of money to provide for them, it’s their best chance at getting out and staying out of prison/jail.

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Richard Walker

People who are are at risk outside of prison can have an ever more challenging time within the prison walls. Men and women, and even children end up confined and in some form of a penitentiary. Those who are serving out drug-related offenses do not always receive the help they need. Addiction is a disease and even though prisons have security, the inmates and even staff, find ways to smuggle drugs inside. There are some treatments programs but they are deemed costly. ( Schmalleger, 2018).

There are an estimated 143,000 elderly inmates. Many of these offenders have medical conditions that require active treatment. Many of these inmates commit crimes while they are younger but have aged during their prison terms. It is not cost-productive to keep those who are very elderly in prison. Proper healthcare and staff are not available and the elderly end up neglected. ( Schmalleger, 2018).

Parole or probation should be an option for those who are non-violent or juveniles. The AIDS population also suffers as does anyone with severe medical issues. If people are going to be placed in prison then adequate elements must be in place. True rehabilitation is met when those who are at risk get the care and have the preventative means.