Funding challenges faced by state correctional facilities

The declining world economy in the recent past has led to a number of detrimental effects to the society. The economic situation has also had an effect on the correctional facilities available, some of which have faced enormous financial challenges. With the increasing prison population, it is possible to indicate that the situation is increasingly getting worse. The situation replicates itself in the San Quentin state prison, where the prison population is continually surpassing the bed capacity, which also means that other resources in the facility are under pressure resulting from the overcrowding (Freeman, 1999). The main financial challenge that the prisons are facing emanates from the budget cuts by the government, which has led to some of the correctional facilities to shut down their institutions. For this reason, the management in a number of the correctional facilities is considering the development of problem-solving skills that can take care of the new fiscal demands.

One of the reasons that determine the need for innovation in order to take care of the overcrowding is related to the safety provisions. It is possible to indicate that overcrowding leads to tensions among some of the prisoners, which is a factor that leads to the development of gangs in the institutions. These gangs are likely to compromise the security of the correctional facilities. As an initiative to supplement state funding, the management in San Quentin state prison has been able to collaborate with the Planting Justice organization for the development of an initiative that encourages some of the inmates to grow their own food through the Insight Gardening Program (Freeman, 1999).

Since the funding from the state is necessary for ensuring the sustenance of the inmates, which is inclusive of the provision of food, the initiative in consideration is necessary for ensuring that the inmates get enough and suitable food (Barclay, 2014). Apart from ensuring that the inmates get enough food for their use, the program is also an initiative that helps inmates in San Quentin rehabilitate and receive training in gardening. The onset of the program was in the year 2003. It is also possible to indicate that through the program the recidivism rate has reduced. Planting Justice indicates that the recidivism rate remains at ten percent, which is an indication that the program assists some of the participants to steer clear from crime once they get out of the facility (Barclay, 2014).

The management in the correctional facility uses several teams that ensure effective organization and control of the inmates in the facility. The first consideration by the management was to determine the security level of the inmates, after which it was possible to initiate the program from the wing with medium security. By acquiring assistance Planting Justice, the management was able to organize different teams that had different roles to play in ensuring the success of the program. There were teams that could provide the hands-on experience, which was necessary for improving the gardening skills of the inmates (Barclay, 2014). The management also considered the utilization of some of the therapists, who were vital for counseling the inmates participating in the program in order to change their mindset from criminal considerations to a more productive set up upon their release. Through effective coordination tactics, it was possible for the management in the facility to ensure that the inmates could develop their lives after prison, as well as the success of the program with the consideration of the looming budgetary challenges.

References

Barclay, E. (2014). Prison gardens help inmates grow their own food-and skills. Retrieved from: <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/01/12/261397333/prison-gardens-help-inmates-grow-their-own-food-and-skills>

Freeman, R. M. (1999). Correctional organization and management: Public policy challenges, behavior, and structure. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.