Effects of Correctional Policies and Practices in Relation to Sex Offenders

In the correctional system there are many policies and practices that are effected personally, politically, socially, and culturally. In this paper I will be stated how policies and practices have effected each one’s experiences.

Megan’s Law was a policy put into place because of her personal experience with a sex offender. Megan’s Law became what it is today, because when she was seven years old’s, she was lured into a house of a two-time convicted sex offender, and was beaten, raped, and murdered. An even though, the offender confused and led them to the body, her parents’ felt she should of have been notified, which is where the law comes in. “Her parents lobbied state legislator, argued of they had known they would have been able to protect her,”. So, because of her parents the legislator made the sex offender registry. The register includes names, offenses, address, and because this was created there were many consequences to come from it. Once labeled as an offender it becomes very hard for them to get and keep a job to have a stable income. There’s also a housing restriction, once they have an address on file, they are there permanent location, they also have to let neighbor know who they are by going door to door. The offender could also lose custody of their children if labeled as one. I think we should keep this policy because its necessary for people to know if a sex offender lives near them especially if they have children. “New Jersey has more than 15,000 registered sex offenders, and 4,085 have been categorized as moderate to high-risk offenders”.

However, Sheriff Joe Arpario is a prime example of how political figures effect the correctional system. Sheriff Joe was a sheriff in Arizona and was given multiple warning to stop racial profiling drivers. During his time as the sheriff he would have them working in Tent City outside in the heat, they were stripped from their clothing, and made to wear striped jumpsuits with pink underclothing. “At the time, Arpario was told to he could not detain immigrants simply because they lacked legal status- but for 18 months, his deputies carried on with the practice”. Because of his continuance with detaining or picking them up and sending them to border patrol they judge charge him with criminal contempt of the court. And because of his charges he was no longer the sheriff. This is a prime example of how people think just because they are in charge and have the power, they think they don’t have to obey the law that are given. Sheriff Joe thought nothing would happen to him because he was the sheriff, but he was wrong, and because he didn’t listen and always tried to find a way around what they judge told him. He would say, “that the violates were a result of lack of communication and lack of understanding.”

Then, for the social experience there’s the Prisoners’ Right Movement. The prisoner’s right movement was created because of how inmates were being treated. The movement gave them the ability to file habeas corpus. With this movement, “inmates had the right to challenge both legality of the sentencing and the conditions of imprisonment.” Before this movement prisoners were being treated badly, and since it was very overcrowded, there weren’t enough toilets for every inmate to use; so, they would go on the floors on the prison. They also weren’t given any medical treatments unless it was to the point of deadly injury, and that is why I think we should keep the prisoners’ right movement.

Now that majority of the policies and practices are in effect, we should keep the one that are more effective. Such as, the sex offender registry, which gives people a sense of security at home. And with being in charge doesn’t mean you can disobey the law like Sheriff Joe. Then with the Prisoners’ Rights Movement it gave them the ability to challenge anything, so even while in prison they may not have the ability to do what they want but they can be treated fairly.

References

• Dwyer, C. (2017). NPR Choice Page. [Online] NPR.org. Ex-Sheriff Joe Arpario Convicted of Criminal Contempt. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/31/540629884/ex-sheriff-joe-arpaio-convicted-of-criminal-contempt
• Jacobs, J. (1980). “The Prisoners’ Rights Movement and its Impact, 1960-1980”. Crime and Justice 2, 429-470.
• Joffe-Block, J. and Kelly, A. (2017). NPR Choice Page. [Online] NPR.org. America’s Toughest Sheriff Joe Arpario Goes on Trial. https://www.npr.org/2017/06/26/534381348/americas- sheriff-or-community-destroyer-joe-arpaio-goes-on-trial
• Markos, S. (2014). WashingtonTimes. Pros and Cons of Sex Offender Rules Still Debate. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/1/pros-and-cons-of-sex-offender-rules- still-debated/
• O’Neil, L. (2014). Ozy.com. The Prisoner’s Rights Movement of the 1960s.
• Schapiro, R. (2014). NY Daily News. Exclusive: Parents of Little Girl Who Inspired Megan’s
• Law Recalls Brutal Rape, Murder of Their Daughter 20 Years Later. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/parents-girl-inspired-megan-law-recall-tragedy-article-1.1881551