Question

Assignment: Please write several paragraphs explaining the difference between institutional corrections and community corrections. Your exploration of these differences should mention structure, function and expenditures.

Answer 1

The institutional and community corrections are the types of corrections which are used in order to make sure that the prisoners or offenders are corrected and taught how to live a normal life again in the society.

The institutional corrections refers to the situation where the offenders are supervised and checked upon when they are inside the institution itself (i.e., prison/jail). The prisoners are not left open in the society, but are tried to be corrected when they are within the premises of the prison itself. On the other hand, community corrections refers to the situation where the offender is supervised and checked upon after they are left open in the society after giving parole or probation. Here the prisoners are not within the premises of the jail/ prison.

The main function of institutional correction is to make sure that the prisoners are checked upon and taught to become good human being under the supervision of the officers and being within the prison. The main reason is that maybe the prisoner is not willing to be corrected and commits another crime being under correction period.

On the other hand the main function of the community correction is to make sure that the prisoners are corrected while giving them free hand in the society and given a chance to live in the society. The reason being that prisoners will be corrected on their own once they get the ethical and moral environment around them, but still with supervision of officers.

The expenditure in case of institutional corrections lies on the shoulders of the institute/ government, since the prisoner is within the premises and supervision of the officials. On the other hand, the expenses of community corrections does not lie totally on the government / institute throughout as the prisoners are helped with finding jobs for themselves and earn their living in the society, with strict supervision of officials. The expenses are borne only till the prisoner is not employed anywhere or not earning for himself.