Public Services in Contemporary Society Assignment Sample

The Evolution of Punishment and the Role of Resilience in Contemporary Prisons

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Public Services in Contemporary Society Assignment

Introduction of the impact of resilience on public service organizations

In the current times, government is placing more emphasis on the improvement of imprisonment system. Resilient operations refer to the ability of delivering services without any interruption. By doing research, it has found that austerity has significant impact on the resilience of prison’s well-being and governance as well. The focus is placed on the creation of broadened environment. In this, report will provide deeper insight about the recent forms of imprisonment. Further, it will highlight prison’s structure and officer’s requirement within the concerned settings. Report also entails accountability with regards to ensuring resilience pertaining to prison service. It also depicts funding sources, cost of prison system and austerity.

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TASK 1

Evaluating the development of punishment with reference to the contemporary forms of imprisonment

There have been many different ways and ideas that have influenced the evolution of penalties throughout history. The objective of this report is to assess the development of penalties, with an emphasis on the change of the brutal code, travel, quiet and distinct processes to modern forms of incarceration (Anessi-Pessina, et.al, 2020). Learn more about the difficulties the prison system has experienced recently and the role perseverance has played at this time by looking at these previous approaches.

  • The Bloody Law- In both the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, England's judicial system made use of the infamous “Bloody Code.” This code covered a wide range of offenses that could result in death, regardless of very minor ones. The intention was to dissuade possible offenders by threatening them with dire repercussions (Bracci, 2021). But the overuse of the death penalty exposed the drawbacks of the involving as its inability to distinguish between multiple offenses and its restricted efficacy in lowering criminal activity.
  • The separate system and silent system- These have been employed in prisons throughout the nineteenth century to rehabilitate prisoners via seclusion and contemplation. This method prioritized isolation and prohibited inter-prison interaction. Advocates said that seclusion might cause people to reflect and apologize, which might result in behavioral modification. The quiet and distinct structures, on the other hand, came under heavy fire for their harmful impact on psychological wellness, frequently escalating instead of curtailing criminal behavior.
  • Modern Methods of Imprisonment- Prisons nowadays are more concerned with recovering and reintegrating than ever before (Wynen, et.al, 2020). To tackle the root causes of unlawful behavior, prisons work to create an orderly atmosphere that also provides classes, job training, and therapy programs. This strategy acknowledges that retribution is enough by itself to stop the process of committing additional offenses executing these programs successfully and assisting inmates' rehabilitation requires the prison system's resolve.

The Prison Service's Challenges- During the past ten years, the prison system has experienced a variety of difficulties. Expenses have been stretched and jail quality of leadership has been affected by austerity policies and a lack of qualified personnel. As seen by the excessive number of jail people, overpopulation has endangered security and made it difficult to give offenders the proper care and assistance. Prison staff members must adjust to difficult situations and ensure the efficient administration of criminals in the face of such hurdles.

The effect of resilience inside the prison system: Resilient inside the prison system is crucial for upholding the rule of law, managing security, and ensuring the safety and welfare of staff members and inmates. Prison guards that are resilient are flexible, empathic, and capable of handling pressure. They are essential in putting rehabilitation plans into action, handling disagreements, and fostering a pleasant prison environment. By building positive connections with convicts and offering direction for their effective return to the community, resilient police also help to lower the incidence of recidivism.

Rehabilitative and alternative methods that are community to incarceration- Modern prisons place a growing value on these two types of options. To properly rehabilitate prisoners into the community, there is an increasing emphasis on offering assistance programs, education chances, and career prospects (Lapsley, 2019). This is because it is understood that imprisonment alone might not tackle the root reasons for criminal conduct. Community-centered efforts like parole, probation, as well as rehabilitation programs, work to lower crime rates and encourage people to reintegrate into society.

Mental wellness and drug misuse- The prison system must deal with the high rates of drug misuse and psychological problems among those who are imprisoned. Drug and psychological issues are common among those who join the system of criminal justice. To help inmates on their road to rehabilitation, the prison system must ensure that they have a connection to psychological services, counseling, and addiction therapy. Prison guards must also receive special training to recognize and meet the requirements of inmates who are struggling with psychological issues.

Handling offenders having a variety of profiles, which includes individuals from various ethnic origins, age groupings, and degrees of crime, presents challenges for the prison system. Robust prison guards know the value of societal sensibility, efficient interaction, and an awareness of each inmate's requirements (Kim, 2020). Greater effective treatment results may be attained with the use of customized programs and treatments that take into account the unique difficulties experienced by various offender characteristics.

Innovation and creativity- The prison system have additionally witnessed the application of cutting-edge tools and creative methods to improve safety, productivity, and inmate supervision. Improved risk evaluation, occurrence reduction, and distribution of resources are made possible by cutting-edge surveillance technologies, biometric verification, and statistical insights. To be resilient inside the jail system, one must be able to adjust to these innovations in technology and keep up with evolving difficulties.

Collaborations- The jail service is becoming more and more aware of the benefits of working in tandem with outside organizations including nonprofits, institutions of learning, and charitable organizations (Satterthwaite, et.al, 2020). These collaborations enable the provision of various rehabilitation centers and aid programs that encourage effective reentry. To improve prisoner results, resilience prison officials cultivate cooperative connections among these partners.

Assessing the prison structure and the need for prison officers to demonstrate resilience in the profession

The design of the jail system as well as the function of prison guards are essential components of the justice system for criminals. This evaluation seeks to look at prison organization and emphasize the requirement for prison guards to show professional resiliency. The proper management of jails, the security of the personnel and prisoners, and the positive recovery of criminals all depend critically on resiliency.

Prison Structure

  • Physical Facilities- Prisons are made up of structures, cells, communal spaces, and safety precautions intended to keep inmates under supervision and avoid breakouts. The physical layout must be safe, enable surveillance, and offer suitable spaces for the requirements of convicts, including medical care, schooling, and leisure.
  • Organizational Hierarchy- Prisons have distinct categories of administration and staff, and they function in a hierarchical system (Azadegan, 2021). The company's peace and safety are maintained, activities are effectively coordinated, rules and protocols are followed, and all of these things are made possible by the organizational structure.
  • Security Actions- To reduce the possibility of assault, escaping, and illegal substances in slavery, prisons use safety precautions like CCTV cameras, border fencing, restricted entry, and prisoner sorting. These steps are crucial to preserving a safe atmosphere for employees and prisoners.

Resilience is required in prison guards

  • Safety and protection issues- Prison guards deal with a variety of safety-related problems in the custodial setting. They are in charge of upholding law and order, averting conflict, and attending to crises. Because they have to adjust to changing circumstances and skillfully manage possible hazardous or explosive circumstances, prison guards must be resilient to deal with the natural hazards and strain of their work.
  • Management and Facilitation of Inmate Recovery- Prison staff is essential to the management and promotion of prisoners' rehab. They engage with people from a variety of ethnicities who exhibit varied degrees of regulation, behavioral problems, and behavioral disorders (Qing, et.al, 2020). To foster a healthy environment in prison and assist inmate rehabilitation, robust prison officials show the capacity to build relationships, assert their authority, and use skillful interpersonal and dispute-resolution techniques.
  • Emotional and Mental Demands- The mental and emotional health of prison guards might suffer as a result of being employed in a custodial environment. They frequently witness tragic occurrences, are under a great deal of anxiety, and run the danger of becoming burnt out. Prison officials who possess resiliency can manage the psychological demands of their jobs, present an expert image, and ask for help when necessary.
  • Specialized Ethics and Integrity- Prison staff is obligated to observe ethical behavior and keep the highest levels of integrity. Making wise judgments, navigating ethical conundrums, and fending off the possibility of corruption or complicity are all made possible by resiliency. Prison guards are better able to endure outside criticism and uphold their dedication to the values of fairness, equity, and respect for the freedoms of staff members and prisoners.
  • Workload Tensions and Workforce Shortages- Several prison systems are experiencing a staffing shortfall, which has an impact on efficiency problems and higher responsibilities (Shamsuddin, 2020). Prison guards with a strong sense of resilience are more suited to meet the requirements of their job in such situations. Despite few resources, they demonstrate flexibility, creative thinking, and the capacity to efficiently prioritize duties, assuring the continuation of important services.

Examining accountability when it comes to ensuring resilience within the prison service

For ensuring fair treatment of inmates, optimum utilization of resources, and open responsibility for wrongdoing, effective monitoring is crucial. Audits, official investigations, whistleblower programs, external tracking, and examination are just a few examples of the various ways control may be conducted. Making sure that prisoners who are leaving prison are prepared for life after release is essential to decreasing reoffending. This entails:

  • Providing convicts with opportunities for learning and training while they are incarcerated;
  • Assisting them in finding suitable employment and accommodation after their release.
  • Roles enhance the support services provided to convicts in these fields, eventually helping service avoid victims by transforming lives and lowering reoffending (Eriksson, et.al, 2020).
  • Reaching alcoholism and further health problems, as these may be what is motivating their criminal behavior.

When assessing if prison environments are fair and satisfy prisoners' fundamental requirements, monitoring organizations should take information regarding women inmates as well as additional populations at risk into consideration. Accountability improvements may concentrate on crucial areas outlined in the regulations, like as these:

  • Publishing policies and guidelines that are easy to understand and understandable about how prison employees should treat female inmates.
  • Procedures for filing complaints by female inmates, involving ways for them to voice concerns about abuse and amenities for their support and safety (Sarker, et.al, 2020).
  • The rule requires independent bodies to look into all complaints of abuse.
  • The appointment of women to positions on oversight, exploring, or oversight boards.

Analyzing sources of funding in against to the cost of prison system and assessing the impact of austerity on the concerned service

In 2021/22, the UK spent the most on its jail system—approximately 5.42 billion British pounds—and more than it did the year before. Due in large part to the austerity measures taken at the time during the ruling coalition, the UK continuously spent a smaller between 2011/12 and 2019/20 than it spent in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

The decrease in police numbers

In Wales and England, there had been around 21.93 million prison officials employed as of the year 2020, a little decrease from the previous year (Drury, et.al, 2019). As government funding decreased after 2010, so did the number of jail officials, which inevitably followed an identical trajectory to that of money.

Increase in attacks

The decrease in officer staffing and money resulted in a sharp increase in prison attacks. In England and Wales in 2018, there were over 34,000 assaults on inmates, in addition to 10, 21,000 assaults on prison personnel. In 2014, only a few years prior, there had been 3.6 thousand assaults upon workers and 16.2 million assaults on convicts.

Government spending on prisons in the UK

(Source: Government spending on prisons in the UK 2009-2022, 2023)

English jails have suffered significantly as a result of austerity measures implemented in reaction to the financial collapse of 2008, which has led to grave concerns over prisoners' human rights. Despite significant and ongoing opposition, the UK's governing coalition implemented significant expenditure cutbacks for public programs in May 2010 to reduce the deficit. Furthermore, the government preemptively put into effect a deflation plan by enacting drastic policy changes (Albott, et.al, 2020). Although the UK is not a member of the eurozone, the government's decision to act like that of Italy, the Republic of Ireland, and Portugal throughout the same period suggest that austerity was mainly meant to act as a political tool to placate the financial markets, permitting government agencies to keep obtaining loans at competitive interest rates. Furthermore, by prioritizing productivity, limited government interference, and private (instead of collective) obligations, austerity has legitimized neoliberalism. Its goals complement those of neoliberalism, especially regarding the state's function in income redistribution and the shifting patterns of power discussed in this section.

The effects of austerity are particularly noticeable in the UK due to the higher-than-average than incarceration there (174 per 100,000 people vs. 132 for Europe). Difficulties with prisoners and life in prison are exacerbated when there are more inmates to control. For instance, seven out of ten convicts have more than one mental problem, frequently as a result of traumatic childhood events that are frequently linked to criminal behavior. The National Health Service (NHS) in England offers healthcare services in secure and unsecured environments by the concept of equivalency (Ahrens, 2020). The National Partnership Agreement for Prison Healthcare in England 2018-202 was established by the UK government and consists of five national health and justice organizations. Since 2013, funding for NHS prison healthcare has been mostly ring-fenced at £400 million. Despite being exempt from cuts related to austerity generally, the growth of the NHS decreased from 3.8 percent in 1979 to 1.1 percent in 2010, and due to budget restrictions, this pace stayed constant through 2009/10 and 2014/15. The decreased amount of outlays has raised questions because of the rising demands of a sizable jail population.

Review future prison strategy considering the need for a resilient prison service and whether any historical practices could inform contemporary versions of themselves.

By providing convicts with the training, abilities, and addiction help that they require to lead secure lives, modernized jails can decrease recurrence and safeguard the public.

Zero-tolerance drug policy all newly constructed prisons will come equipped with state-of-the-art body-scanning devices and airport-style safety to stop inmates from engaging in illegal activities while they are incarcerated. Keeping offenders sober and addressing alcohol and drug abuse disorders that obstruct rehabilitation entails screening all convicts upon entry for drug abuse to illicit substances and developing a thorough strategy to help them begin their road to recovery on the right foot, involving abstinence-based therapy. The newly established Prisoner Education Service will train criminals in technical fields like building and coding to improve their chances of finding work and keep them out of trouble. This service will also ensure that every prisoner has a basic understanding of English and maths so that they are prepared for employment upon release. Rehabilitation Passports provide each inmate with a customized passport that contains everything offenders must begin searching for work right away, involving a CV, verification, a financial institution account, and crucial assistance in society. These passports are designed to put adequate preparations together for prisoners upon release and to provide all inmates with an exclusive passport. When inmates violate the law, new expedited sanctions advance a quicker sanctioning process. To encourage recovery, penalties are going to be specifically connected to the offense, such as making inmates fix the harm that they create to the jail premises or their cells.

The effects of different kinds of focused rehabilitation, such as those that tackle alcohol, drug and psychological issues, on returning to crime are as follows:

  • Addressing problems with accommodations.
  • Assisting with job-related issues.
  • Programs designed to alter an offender's attitude, behavior, and thinking processes are known as offender behavior programs.
  • Enhancing the bonds between offenders and their families and friends.

Solutions to regular incarceration have been researched in the past with different levels of success. For peaceful criminals, programs in the community including parole, probation, and diversionary measures provide alternatives to jail. These options can ease jail congestion, cut expenses, and offer more targeted interventions by redirecting people out of prison and into rehabilitation programs. By focusing resources on high-risk persons while providing suitable neighborhood-based assistance for lower-risk offenders, the implementation and expansion of such options inside a modern jail approach can improve resilience.

The value of knowledgeable and encouraged employees inside the jail system has been acknowledged historically. Ensuring that jail personnel have thorough training in interpersonal skills, dispute resolution, and psychological assistance gives them the abilities they need to handle difficult circumstances (Jia, et.al, 2020). Additionally, by offering continuing assistance and well-being programs for personnel, the jail system can better withstand the harmful effects of stress and burnout. The importance of employee wellness and growth as professionals may be prioritized in modern jail initiatives by drawing on past instances of employee education and assistance.

Effective jail systems in the past have understood the value of cooperation and alliances with outside organizations. Involving community groups, nonprofits, colleges, and universities may help the jail system access a variety of resources and knowledge. Collaboration may improve the way recovery programs are delivered, make it easier to provide after-release care, and encourage innovation inside the criminal justice system. Powerful collaborations enable modern jail methods to access outside expertise and assistance, enhancing the service's resiliency and performance.

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Conclusion

Over antiquity, the penalty has changed greatly, moving from the horrific ‘The Bloody Code' into the implementation of conveyance, quiet and distinct processes, and ultimately to contemporary types of jail. Modern prisons place a higher priority on recovery, learning, and reintegrating into the community than earlier models that were more concerned with punishment and isolation. Yet, the criminal justice system suffers several difficulties, such as financial limitations, a lack of employees, and the requirement to deal with prisoners' mental psychological, and drug addiction problems. For those who work in prison to keep things in line, control safety, and encourage convict recovery, perseverance is essential. Partnerships, transparency, and creative thinking are essential for a robust jail system that successfully performs its function in the legal system.

Reference

Books and Journals

Ahrens, T. and Ferry, L., 2020. Financial resilience of English local government in the aftermath of COVID-19. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 32(5), pp.813-823.

Albott, C.S., Wozniak, J.R., McGlinch, B.P., Wall, M.H., Gold, B.S. and Vinogradov, S., 2020. Battle buddies: Rapid deployment of a psychological resilience intervention for health care workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Anesthesia and analgesia.

Anessi-Pessina, E., Barbera, C., Langella, C., Manes-Rossi, F., Sancino, A., Sicilia, M. and Steccolini, I., 2020. Reconsidering public budgeting after the COVID-19 outbreak: key lessons and future challenges. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 32(5), pp.957-965.

Azadegan, A. and Dooley, K., 2021. A typology of supply network resilience strategies: complex collaborations in a complex world. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 57(1), pp.17-26.

Bracci, E. and Tallaki, M., 2021. Resilience capacities and management control systems in public sector organisations. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change.

Drury, J., Carter, H., Cocking, C., Ntontis, E., Tekin Guven, S. and Amlôt, R., 2019. Facilitating collective psychosocial resilience in the public in emergencies: Twelve recommendations based on the social identity approach. Frontiers in public health, 7, p.141.

Eriksson, E., Andersson, T., Hellström, A., Gadolin, C. and Lifvergren, S., 2020. Collaborative public management: coordinated value propositions among public service organizations. Public Management Review, 22(6), pp.791-812.

Jia, X., Chowdhury, M., Prayag, G. and Chowdhury, M.M.H., 2020. The role of social capital on proactive and reactive resilience of organizations post-disaster. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 48, p.101614.

Kim, Y., 2020. Organizational resilience and employee work-role performance after a crisis situation: exploring the effects of organizational resilience on internal crisis communication. Journal of Public Relations Research, 32(1-2), pp.47-75.

Lapsley, I. and Miller, P., 2019. Transforming the public sector: 1998–2018. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(8), pp.2211-2252.

Qing, M., Asif, M., Hussain, A. and Jameel, A., 2020. Exploring the impact of ethical leadership on job satisfaction and organizational commitment in public sector organizations: The mediating role of psychological empowerment. Review of Managerial Science, 14, pp.1405-1432.

Sarker, M.N.I., Wu, M., Alam, G.M. and Shouse, R.C., 2020. Retracted: Life in riverine islands in Bangladesh: Local adaptation strategies of climate vulnerable riverine island dwellers for livelihood resilience.

Satterthwaite, D., Archer, D., Colenbrander, S., Dodman, D., Hardoy, J., Mitlin, D. and Patel, S., 2020. Building resilience to climate change in informal settlements. One Earth, 2(2), pp.143-156.

Shamsuddin, S., 2020. Resilience resistance: The challenges and implications of urban resilience implementation. Cities, 103, p.102763.

Wynen, J., Boon, J., Kleizen, B. and Verhoest, K., 2020. How multiple organizational changes shape managerial support for innovative work behavior: Evidence from the Australian Public Service. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 40(3), pp.491-515.

Online

Government spending on prisons in the UK 2009-2022. 2023. Online. Available through <https://www.statista.com/statistics/298654/united-kingdom-uk-public-sector-expenditure-prisons/#:~:text=The%20United%20Kingdom%20spent%20approximately,compared%20to%20the%20previous%20year.>

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