Different Types of Prisons for Adults, Essay Example

The four different types of prisons for adults include maximum security, close security, medium security, and minimum security facilities. Adult criminals will go to either of these four prison types depending on the type of crime they committed in addition to their past ability to follow the rules set in place in prison. Minimum security facilities have the lowest level of supervision and security features, while maximum security prisons have the most supervision and security features.

In maximum security prisons, all inmates have their own cells with individual sliding doors that are controlled remotely. This is done to ensure that these individuals will not harm other inmates or the prison staff. Prisoners are only released from their cells for one hour a day in most states and for 30 minutes in California. When they are released, they are still kept within the cell block. All maximum security inmates must be escorted by correctional officers during these transitions.

In close security prisons, one or two inmates are placed into the same cell. These cells are also remotely operated by a remote control system. Each cell is equipped with a toilet and sink that are shared by the individuals that are housed within it. All inmates are allowed to leave the cells for the purposes of work assignments or correctional programs and are occasionally allowed to exercise in the cell block under supervision. The fences that surround this type of prison are typically double and included barbed wire in addition to security watch towers to ensure that there are no escapes. Occasionally, these facilities have a lethal electric fence in the middle to prevent all escape incentives.

Individuals in medium security prisons share their quarters in a dormitory style setting, and are often able to keep some of their belongings on them in lockers for storage and protection. These individuals share all of their facilities, including toilets and sinks. At night, the dormitory facilities are locked and supervised by prison staff. The main goal of supervision is to ensure that the inmates are not able to leave the prison, and prison guards are less concerned with the activities of the inmates because it is likely that they pose minimal threat to one another. The perimeter of medium security prisons are also patrolled and there is a double fence to ensure that no one could enter or leave without the appropriate clearance.

Prisoners in minimum security prisons present little threat and are typically those who commit non-violent, white collar crimes. These individuals live in dormitories that are not very secure, but are patrolled by prison staff. These facilities also have communal toilets and sinks. The prison itself is surrounded by a single fence because it is very unlikely that these prisoners would attempt to escape. The prisoners are occasionally required or requested to perform community service tasks to compensate for the damage that they caused. Many of these prisons are located nearby to military bases so that the prisoners could provide labor to these camps. Many states have regulations in place that allow individuals in this type of prison to access the Internet. Overall, the main goal of this type of prison is to ensure that these individuals will not be able to gain the same luxuries they do in normal life, which they believe is enough punishment for this type of crime.