This is for a criminal justice class in regards to multiculturalism. Discuss the evolution of diversity in corrections systems. Why is it important for correctional agencies to incorporate cultural diversity into their staffs? Comments: Critical to any discussion about multiculturalism in state and federal corrections systems is a recognition of the diversity of the population that is typically incarcerated, any disproportionality with respect to populations of color, reasons for that disproportionality, means of correcting wrongs throughout all stages of the criminal justice process (including jails and prisons), and staffing imbalances amongst the professionals overseeing the incarcerated population. With respect to the single issue of segregated vs. unsegregated housing and controlling racially motivated violence, the authors conclude as follows: “Ultimately, jail and prison administrators need to strategically house inmates within facilities and recognize that cultural factors influence staff and inmate safety and well-being.” There is the issue of the adult person thrown into the corrections system who had never before had contact with the criminal justice system-what are the implications for the system in terms of addressing this “cultural” clash? What should be done, again in the name of maintaining order as well as safety, to address “cultural solidarity” among incarcerated populations, e.g., rival gangs of the same ethnicity? (Note that “pro-multiculturalism” programs seem to have a potential to help defuse animosities, particularly in terms of life after incarceration.) An observation of importance is that “…Black inmates [are] more likely than White inmates to engage in conflicts with other inmates and the staff. Blacks were also more likely than Whites to engage in conduct that attracted the attention of prison administrators. Racial biases on behalf of prison staff and administrators may contribute to the differential.” In addition, released Black inmates (“exmates”) were significantly more likely than released Whites to believe that they were subject to too much force by prison personnel; Whites, in fact, were more likely than Blacks to feel that they were treated “pretty good.” Whites also disagreed much more than Blacks or Hispanics “with the suggestion that prison officers treated them as if they were less than human.” Transgenders, gays, and Native Americans, in addition to Blacks and Hispanics, are all recognized as not being served as well by prison counseling services, which generally employs methods geared toward White middle-class values. Thus “prison officials must identify and adopt the most effective approach for each individual….” In the realm of after-release concerns, research shows that young Black males received harsher penalties for probation violations than Whites or Hispanics, even if they held a job during the time of the alleged violation. A seemingly obvious area of focus would be a recognition of cultural differences amongst those they supervise by probation/parole officers (who have significant discretion) in establishing the “supervisor-supervised” relationship. And, not surprisingly, a key area of focus is diversity amongst the corrections professionals running the institutions. In addition to some minorities being uninterested in being part of what they consider a racist system, there has been the challenge of developing a diverse workforce in the rural communities where many prisons are located. It is the case, though, that the appearance of people of color and women amongst the workforce of the corrections system has measurably increased over recent years-an major objective of corrections reform.
