Reintegration of Ex-Felons
Although the paradigms of public administration have undergone considerable scrutiny and some evolution, particularly over the past several decades, there is merit in considering the historical paradigms with respect to public administration as an academic and scientific discipline. Paradigm 2, The Principles of Administration, circa 1927 to 1937, serves as the springboard for this discussion. In Henry's words, "Thus the focus of the field -- its essential expertise in the form of administrative principles -- waxed [in the 1930s and early 1940s], while no one thought seriously about its focus. Indeed the locus of public administration was everywhere because principles were principles and administration was administration" (Henry, 1795, p. 380). By the time a decade had passed, Herb Simon had eschewed the traditional foundations of public administration and presented his own version of a new paradigm for the discipline. Simon seized on the idea that "there ought to be two kinds of public administrations working in harmony and reciprocal intellectual stimulation" (Henry, 1795, p. 381). One group of scholars would concern themselves with "a pure science of administration" that was informed by social psychology. A second and larger group of scholars would focus on "prescribing for public policy" (Simon cited in Henry, 1795, p. 381). In one fell swoop, by marrying the two organically reinforcing approaches "a pure science of administration" and "prescribing for public policy," Simon resurrected the unstylish and neglected field of political economy. "There does not appear to be any reason why these two developments in the field of public administration should not go side-by-side, for they in now way conflict or contradict" (Simon cited in Henry, 1795, p. 381). The idea that social psychology could be used to explain and inform administrative behavior was "foreign and discomfiting" to scholars both in public administration scholars and in political science. After all, if public administration were to be a pure science, then it would ostensibly be value free. To public administrators, this was like being untethered in outer space. They feared they were plummeting into an engineering mentality and that they would be severed from "their richest sources of inquiry: normative political theory, the concept of public interest, and the entire spectrum of human values" (Henry, 1795, p. 381). Moreover, the linkage to political theory was also an association with public policymaking -- the black box of public administration (Henry, 1795). It was sufficient, according to the public administration scholars of the day, to frame the inputs and outputs of public policymaking within the parent discipline of political science (Henry, 1795). One didn't really need to resort to social psychology to inform public administration when the political science was adequately concerned with the dynamics originating with the demos -- the polity or society -- that were the catalysts for social and political change (Henry, 1795).
Public policy enables the study and characterization of the transactions between policymakers, public administrators, and citizens / society (Hughs, 2003). Economists tend to use term public policy to refer to economic models and methods that are used in government (Hughs, 2003). Usage has broadened, however, and two approaches to public policy are commonly differentiated: Policy analysis and political public policy (Hughs, 2003). Those who practice policy analysis have tended to uphold and commit to the traditional models that rely on mathematical models and abstract statistics to inform decision-making and policy development (Hughs, 2003). Theorists interested in political public policy tend to focus on the outcomes or results of policy implementation (Hughs, 2003). For example, the results of public policy enacted through political influence and activity, and particularly in policy areas such as education, environment, health, and welfare (Hughs, 2003). Statistical methods and models are of less interest than outcomes, and from this, one can deduce that there is general dissatisfaction from the polity with regard to exaggerated concern with administrative process (Hughs, 2003). Public policy is central to the discussion in literature review that is located in the study of post-incarceration status of ex-felons in...
, et al., 2012). Systems approaches look towards the functional integration of different stakeholders and their goals towards a specific issue or path. What implications might a proposed solution have and to what groups? What is the functional relationship between groups of stakeholders and how can that be maximized. For returning felons, this approach looks at ways to construct programs that are utilitarian in context (the greatest good for the greatest
Ex Offenders The United States is regarded as having the world's highest incarceration rate. It has been estimated that the prisons are holding more than 2.3 million people as of now. Due to this reason, overcrowding is a significant issue in the prison system of the country. It is seen that for every hundred thousand population, there are seven hundred and forty eight inmates and this number is expected to increase.
The third conviction could serve as the third strike for California's anti-recidivism statute, thereby triggering a minimum 25-year sentence. Andrade was convicted of both counts of petty theft and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison. After exhausting his appeals in the California legal system, Andrade filed a petition for habeas corpus, arguing his sentence violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and
Juvenile Justice System Describe the Juvenile Justice System The juvenile justice system is not just one department or building in a government facilities part of town. The juvenile justice system (JJS) is a "network of agencies that deal with juveniles whose conduct has brought them in conflict with the law" (3rd judicial district). In fact the JJS is composed of these components: police, prosecutor, detention, court, probation, and juvenile corrections facilities. When police
Offenders Rehabilitation vs. punishment Changing philosophy Sentencing Creation of mandatory sentencing Punishment vs. rehabilitation as a goal High rates of recidivism Alternative sentencing methods Increasing size of the prison population F. Elimination of parole G. Failure to monitor released felons Release Prisoners released all the time Failure to prepare those prisoners for outside world Programs showing success Texas Chicago Need for similar programs A movie made in 1939 entitled They All Come Out makes the point that all prisoners are released one way or another, with most
" (Ibid.) Today, "Prisoner Reentry into Society" is considered to be a "key corrections issue." ("Prisoner Reentry'... ") Another key issue "Second Chances," was reinforced by President bush during 2004, when he noted: "America is the land of second chances, and when the gates of prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life. We must do right not only by the ex-offenders, but by their families, their victims,
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