Evolution of Correctional System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Evolution of Correctional System - Essay Example In America, the correction system has witnessed great, interesting changes from the medieval times, to the current super-max prisons. With this in mind, this paper will address the evolution of the correction system, including a historical overview of different types of corrections and custody levels. The criminal justice system of America is concerned with both punishment and corrections, however, today; America has the highest inmate population in the world. The history of corrections system in America traces back to the European system, which was in England, Holland, and France. America only improved on this system in the way they executed it. In the past, common law comprising set rules offered guidance and helped people in solving different social problems. The process of law was under the guidance of judges, as they were responsible for making decisions relating to law. However, as time went by, the colonial system developed their system of criminal justice, which laid the foun dation for the present criminal justice system in America (Gottfredson 11-15). In the 16th and 17th Centuries, there were various correction modes. Most of them were based on public shaming, in order to teach offenders a lesson, and deter others. This approach was to prevent the recurrence of criminal activity, and included, cutting off ears, the stocks, whipping, ducking stool, and placing people in the pillory. For much heinous crimes such as murder, the criminals faced execution through public hanging. The act of imprisonment was rare in colonial years. However, this later found its way into the American criminal justice system. In prisons, people waited for their trial or punishment, while in detention. All types of criminals were detained together while waiting punishment. However, these prisons were poorly maintained, due to the negligence of the prison warders. Most people detained in prisons lost their lives due to various diseases, such as the gaol fever. Houses of correcti on were to serve a purpose of instilling industry habits in offenders through labor in prisons. The people held in these houses were mainly petty offenders, the local disorderly poor, and vagrants. Near the end of the 17th Century, houses of correction were absorbed into the prison system, and put under the control of the local justices of peace (Tonry 12-15). In the 18th Century, many executions of criminals were undertaken. This raised concerns and led to the opposition of the death penalty by many people. They suggested that not all offenders found guilty should be subjected to a death penalty, however, only those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, should be executed. This opposition was counter-productive as jurors finally considered executions for petty offenders extreme. They therefore had to look for a much fairer way of punishing petty offenders, other than execution. In the mid-18th Century, imprisonment, with hard labor, was decided on as the most appropriate form of punishment for petty offenders (Freeman 77-80). Transportation was the most appropriate method used to dispose convicts. These were transported by ship to the America and other British colonies by ship. This happened until the America War of Independence. However, at the end of the 18th Century, there was curtailing of transportation. This means that alternative sanctions had to be put in place. These were later

Project management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project management - Coursework Example According to Snedaker & Rogers (2006), for a project to be successful, it needs to have carefully designed programs, which provide a direction for the achievement of the project goals and objectives. In this regard, a program can be described as a series of different items, events or performances that guide the project’s implementation. Another important aspect of effective business management is portfolio management, which combines management activities for projects and programs. Portfolio management can be defined as the process of central management for one or many portfolios (Bonham 2005). These portfolios include such aspects as identifying, giving priority, authorizing and later management and controlling of programs, projects and different tasks that are linked towards achieving the broad goals of the business. As a manager in ABC Company, I have been tasked with ensuring that the company becomes successful in its operations. To achieve this, I have had to identify smaller projects that can be managed effectively in achieving the company’s mission and vision. Being a company that deals in software development, the staff has been grouped according to their professional experience and specialization into teams that manage certain projects (Bonham 2005). One of the projects being undertaken involves development of websites and online tools for our client. This project is undertaken by a team of technology experts, who come up with programs that guide the implementation of strategies in mangling the projects. A series of projects being undertaken in the company make up its portfolio. As a manager, my responsibility of often empowering the particular project managers to be successful in their projects, thus making the company successful. Each of these elements have people that head them, with a hierarchical structure of leadership that aids in communication and information flow vertically or horizontally for the success of the company. Wide