Department of Corrections in South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Corrections

The modern ideology of having inmates in prison is to help them develop a positive reinstitution of notions towards the society rather than inflicting more pain upon them through punitive charges, compromising human dignity. Reducing the chances of re-offending should be the prison’s goal today instead of making prisons the vilest places to live since this would transform them into human beings with anti-social attitudes when released to society after completing their prison term. South Caroline Department of Corrections knew this would burden the economy and hence, changed its prison management philosophies with law-abiding programs.

South Carolina Department of Corrections is the institute that is obligated to take corrective measures for the US State inmates. Twenty-one institutions for SCDC are distinguished into four levels of security: close security, medium security, minimum security, and community-based pre-release/work centers. Currently, there are more than 15,000 inmates accommodated within the facility.

The “Operations Behind Bars” program is the updated version of the “Scared Straight” program for at-risk youth and adults. A tour is organized for the selected target inmates to give them details about the actions that lead to criminal behaviors, familiarizing them with day-to-day life within incarceration and the impact it would have on them mentally and physically. It has a more genuine approach to molding the minds of the criminals with changed strategies for reducing recidivism rather than making them suffer from electric shocks or severe punitive tactics. This program aimed to make them less afraid of the criminal justice system and more aware that participation in this program would lead them to gain a positive attitude towards life.

The purpose of the pre-trial intervention program is to offer a substitute for first-time offenders to customary prosecution in the criminal justice system. It is expected that through such an intervention, the recidivism to crime would be lower for the first-time offenders as a second chance is given in this rehabilitation institute. Efforts are made to prevent the future potential for criminal behavior.

The activities included in this program are counseling and therapies to train the minds of first-time offenders to be positive rather than engage in negative actions. Community service is a part of the program for teaching about social welfare rather than imposing harm. With educational and vocational techniques, the participants are encouraged to make restitution to the sufferers so that the true meaning of social welfare is instilled into their minds. It is more of the psychological training that is granted to them with an opportunity of accurate recommendations to community agencies.

The rules for visits for the South Carolina Department of Correction (SCDC) inmates include one visit per day. Also, inmates can have four visitors at one time, in which one of the visitors could be an adult. Children of all ages have permission to visit the inmates; however, children above ten must have a government-issued photo identification card to visit their inmates.

The “Impact of Crime Program” within SCDC is a systematic classroom curriculum that directs the minds of inmates to think about how the victims might have felt if they were in their place. These lessons aim to make them realize how it would have felt to undergo the same pain and suffering when the offenders committed the crime. The classes were launched in 1985 with the help of the California Youth Authority to create an influence on juvenile offenders. The replication of the instructional curriculum has been carried out for more than 30 states in most of the CYA institutions. The offenders eligible for this program included juvenile lawbreakers, individuals under detention, incarceration, probation, diversion, violent and non-violent criminals, and offenders considered for reentry settings.

Some of the services given to victims of crime by SCDC include the special request of those victims registered with the agency. The request could encompass preventing their number from being dialed by the inmates, and they’re blocking them from doing so. Also, blocking the inmates from sending suspicious emails to the victims is included in the services from SCDC. Moreover, recent news cited a special addition of services that the crime victims could now access due to SCDC endeavors.

The crime victims could have direct connections with service providers on a national level that would assist them with their issues. The service has the significance that the victims should have access to any support they want for reliable and timely assistance. The statewide network of support is strengthened with the power of information across detention centers, prisons, and jails. Custody information is open to them to ensure receiving notifications through emails, calls, and text messages. A form of partnership has been created between SCDC and the Attorney of General’s Office to generate grants for expediting the process with updated systems.

SCDC has certified that maintaining social peace can only come through rehabilitative procedures carried out within the facility. By keeping in mind the humanitarian approach, the focus is on positively formulating a reasonable method for behavioral and psychological change. Extensive research has enabled SCDC to deduce that criminal intention is always not due to evil reasons. There could be economic or financial difficulties or troubles due to alcoholism, drug abuse, or psychological disorders. SCDC has come forward with a complete reform for removing injustices and discrimination while providing corrective actions to the offenders.