What is the difference between a criminal that's in a maximum security prison and a minimum security prison?
961498
Good god.   I have never seen so many "probably," "maybe," or "most likely" answers in one place in awhile.\n\nMy husband has been in federal prison for 26 years so please allow me to shed some authenticity on the subject.    The convictions on specific crimes do determine where they start out, such as a U.S. Penitentiary, like Leavenworth.  \n\nBut over time, some can wind up at a Medium or a Minimum.   IF they live long enough, they can be released to a camp before going home.    Camp is still a controlled environment.\n\nYou were not give accurate descriptions at all of the various levels, including the Wikipedia response.   \n\nMy husband was convicted on less than four ounces of cocaine, and got 41 years, thanks to RICO back in the 80's.  Due to his age and health, he  is currently at a Minimum.   He has been in prisons in Kansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Florida.   Go figure.   He is currently 700 miles away from any family, one way.   He is 65 years old, with health problems, and has been thoroughly screwed over by the parole board (long story).    We have been trying to get THAT straightened out for four years now.   \n\nMinimums are not Cupcake Facilities.   Minimums are enclosed by razor wire, they are patrolled internally and externally, and the guys are told when to get up, when to eat, when they can go outside, when they have to come inside, when they have to go to bed.    Visitors have to be on a list, and go through metal detectors, and at least three interior doors to get to the visiting room. \n\nThere is one doctor for the 2000 men at his facility.   I knew a young man that got gangraped and died from his injuries there, and an elderly diabetic who died in his wheelchair outside the med unit waiting for help.    Miniums are no picnic.   \n\nUnlike TV shows (I Hate Prison Break!), the guys do not discuss their crimes.    Child molesters keep their mouths shut, and gangsta wannabees brag to enhance their reputation.   You can't believe anything the inmates tell you, period, so no one really knows what anyone is in there for, unless it makes the news.   \n\n If you check out my husband's web site, you will see that he was not a white-collar criminal, as someone else stated.  There are white-collar criminals there, like income tax evasion or embezzling, but I would guestimate that 90% of the inmates in federal prison are there on drug-related charges (thanks to our politicians and their "get tough on crime" mandatory minimums  - 5 years for one joint).  \n\nThere are a lot of men and women who have no business in prison, but the power to decide cases on individual points has been taken away from judges, by the politicians and their laws.    Those laws always impress voters, until someone in their family gets in trouble.   Then they find out that once those doors slam, that's it.   The kid who died after being gang-raped was only in there for a three-year drug sentence, not a death sentence.   I met his parents and they will never get over it.\n\nThere are Cupcake prisons, for Martha and the politicians, but regular folks will never see one of those.  \n\nFor the most part, the documentaries you see on PBS are more accurate about current prison life, in any of the prisons.   Prison is hell on earth, with camp being Purgatory.   They are not intended to rehab, but are warehouses, to keep the "bad" people away from the "good" people.    \n\nHope this gives you more accurate info.
1163024
Neither. They are both criminals. I have used good old common sense: I don't vote!
240351
if he is in prison, I could accurately say he has a criminal background without even looking anything up - stay away - he's not in prison because he is a nice guy or a victim of the system - he's in prison because he commit a crime - however, you could check out some idaho government and courthouse websites as a start
799091
First off I think it depends on the seriousiness of the crime. If it is something like a robbery where no one was hurt then no they can go into a juvenile facility. I work in the state of California and we have CYA which is like prison for kiddies. It's not the same as going into Juvenile Hall or a somewhere like that. They get out of there and they are on parole. The thing with the law especially out here in a California and in most states it really depends on the circumstances of the crime. I met a minor who is 16 and is sentenced to doing 35 to life for a crime that he did commit but was at the scene of it. The sad part is that he can't do his time until he turns 18. So again based on the circumstances. I did an internship with probation and one of the things they look at for juveniles before the decide where they are going to go is the background, some of these kids come from a bad background with molestation, abuse, rape, all sorts of things and based on that information they have to chose what is best for the juvenile and where they might get the best help. It's easy to throw someone in jail/prison but it really doesn't do anything. And most people come out of jail/prison as better criminals. \n\nI have a degree in Criminal Justice and one thing we were constantly learning was what works and what doesn't work. Programs that are around today that are used to deter crime and a lot of them don't work. But again I say it is all under the circumstances, if it was a henious crime I would say yes, but if not they might be able to find help somewhere other than jail/prison. \n\nI don't want to include my name but I want to work with at risk juveniles, right now I'm a child care counselor at a residential facility for substance abusers.
374775
Armed robbery is a FELONY, and FELONS are usually sentenced with several years of incarceration, it does not matter how much was taken. Crimes with guns have harsher penalties than others.
298444
People get locked up for both.  There are more "small things" committed than "bigger things."  That is to say, that more purse snatchings are committed than murders or child molestations.  So when 20% (for example) of all purse snatchers are locked up, and 99% (for example) of all murderers are locked up, the smaller percentage is actually a larger number, yet it *appears* that the more serious offenders are treated more leniently.  In reality, however, this is not the case.\n\nAnd of course the media reports only the more serious cases.  The media doesn't talk about the 99% of all murders and child molesters that *are* imprisoned.  They only make an issue out of the 1% who aren't.  That exacerbates the misperception.\n\nAlso, to craphiststudent:  don't believe what you see on CSI.  It's fiction, not real life.  \n\nThere is no statute of limitations for murder.  And the statutes of limitations for more serious offenses are longer than those for less serious offenses.
123938
I think jails are too soft. The only ones they prevent from re-offending are the lifers.\n\nIf jail meant solitary confinement, 2 cold meals a day & exercise being limited to push-ups in the cell, I bet re-offenders would be practically non existent.\n\nOh sure, it would breach the prisoners' human rights - BOO F**KING HOO - What about the human rights of the victims of criminals? What about the rest of us? Shouldn't the right to live in a safe society be classed as a human right?
563960
The designation of crimes as Class A or B misdemeanors is pretty arbitrary, the main difference is in punishment:\nClass A is punished more then Class B\nExamples Of Class A include: Dog Fighting, False Alarm or Report, Abuse of Corpse etc etc\nExamples Of Class B include: Failure to Identify, False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit, Issuance of Bad Check etc etc \nThere are also Class C Misdemeanors for really minor offenses like: Illegal Recruitment of an Athlete, Assault in a fight by mutual agreement, etc etc.\nJust look it up in the Penal Code if you want to know what crime is which class(link in the source area)\n\nTex. Penal Code § 12.21 (2005):\nAn individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by: \n(1) a fine not to exceed $ 4,000; \n(2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or \n(3) both such fine and confinement.\nWhile, Tex. Penal Code § 12.22 (2005) says:\n§ 12.22. Class B Misdemeanor\n\n\nAn individual adjudged guilty of a Class B misdemeanor shall be punished by: \n(1) a fine not to exceed $ 2,000; \n(2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; or \n(3) both such fine and confinement.
108464
Everything depends on how serious the crime is and where the person is incarcerated.\n\nObviously, murderers don't have the same privleges as check forgers, but they have the same rights.
207653
I'm not sure if it is or isn't. BUT it SHOULDN'T be. If ya can't do the time, don't do the crime. They put themselves there by their own actions. They should not be released early because of some overcrowding. Make the prisons bigger if the crowding is that bad. There are alot of people who have been murdered, raped, robbed, assaulted, all at the hands of some of these thugs. And we are going to be concerned about some over crowding. Doesn't that make you ask some questions. Like if the overcrowding was that bad then WHY pray tell are these criminals still doing things that send them to prison? Think about it. Prison can't be that bad huh? I believe that people in prison actually live better than the average citizen. They have medical, while a lot of citizens can't afford it. They have three hot meals a day while many citizens don't. They have a roof over their head while alot of homeless people don't. So they can't smoke and or drink alcohol, SO WHAT. TOO BAD TOUGH. They have some over crowding TOUGH LIVE WITH IT.
800485
This is different with different prisoners in different prisons in different states. No easy answers here, but my brother-in-law(a prison guard) used to say the recreation privileges(TV, books, weight lifting) they received was the only way to control and keep guards safer.  He also said there were those who shouldn't have been there although we'd like to believe our justice system is fair. He was especially concerned with the younger prisoners. You might try searching the internet for a local prison and see what information you can find-there's usually lots! \n\nFor instance try "federal prison privilege".
35241
No. The typical Federal prison doesn't have any more "perks" than a state prison.  The only differance between the two is the crime that was commited.
799066
The penal code establishes the punishment for burglary, and generally includes a low term, mid-term or high term.  The judge picks which sentence to impose at sentencing based on the presence/absence of mitigating and aggravating factors.  This applies to any adult convicted of burglary. So a person does not get a longer sentence just because he/she is younger. However, age of the person can be a mitigating factor that could result in getting the lower term.  The only time where you would really see a longer sentence due to age is when a young person is given a life term.  Burglary, generally speaking, is not a life in prison case.  Beware of 3 strikes laws though.
938357
Many criminals are capable of reform, just not under our current system which does not emphasize it.  Our current system is a punishment system, and we care not enough about rehabilitating them.  In our current system, the crooks go in with a mild understanding of their crime, but come out with master's degrees in being a more effective criminal.
362009
I am not an expert, and not looking to do research right this minute, but my best guess is that you are referring to the problems people who have been released from placed like correctional institutions have re-entering society.\n\nAlthough most of us think of prison as a miserable place, as do the people in it, after being there for many years, it becomes home.  Prisoners develop a sense of security from the daily routine.  Much like with small children, they get comfort from knowing exactly what will happen when.  When to eat, what will be served, when to sleep, when to shower, etc.  There is no worry about jobs, bills, etc. either.\n\nSo even though it would seem like getting out of prison would be the BEST thing imaginable, for people who have been living that regimented lifestyle for many years, they often have a great deal of difficult adjusting to life on the outside.  Even though they were prisoners, which we think of as "hard" criminals, they often become very scared and depressed and overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life.  Where will I work, where will I LIVE, what will I eat, what will I drive, will I be able to handle all the responsibility.\n\nThe longer someone was institutionalized, the harder this change is.  Some need help from psychologists, and some, who have been in for the majority of their lives, never learn to cope.  That is often why they commit crimes and return.  Partly because they can't handle the freedom, and partly because the want to return to the "safety" of prison.\n\nThis may apply on different levels to different types of "institutions," but I have most commonly heard it discussed in reference to prison.
1073864
usually the difference is  in the level of professionalism. a security officer is usually sworn in just like a police officer and has the power to arrest someone violating the state laws on the property he/she is working. most professional officers are usually certified and qualified to carry a firearm if needed. when i was active duty military i used to work part time  as a security officer. i worked night clubs and upscale restaurants. i did arrest people and escorted employees when they went to the bank to deposit thousands of dollars. the security industry has gotten a bad rep for being a laid back industry full of incompetent wanna bee cops. the real truth is that many retired cops run and work in the security industry now because it is very lucrative if you know what you are doing and have the right clientele!
1108109
Prisons are money making machines for the owners!  The states pay private prison managers a whole bunch of money.   Judges even own interests in restitution centers. What better way to keep 100% occupancy of their business. Isn't that a huge conflict of interest???\n\nIt is time for a huge revamp of our worthless prison system. \n\nThe basic premise of prison is to restrict freedom.  Currently they are nothing more than a holding tank.\n\nIf the inmate will be released at some point in their life it is better for society to get them headed towards managing freedom than a sudden release from a high security institution.  That is a recipe for failure. \n\nEmpowering an inmate through earning increased freedom woujld help reinforce the benefit of making postive choices. \n\nThere are many types of freedom restrictions:\n\nDeath row \nMaximum security - with no parole\n\nEventual Freedom:\n\nMaximum security - with parole\nSolitary confinement\nMinimum security\nJail\n(Convert abandoned military bases for low risk felons, youthful offenders, non violent crimes, rather than put them in with hardened criminals)\nWork release centers\nRestitution centers (how many judges invest in these and sentence people to them to keep them full?)\nForest camps\nRehab center\nHouse arrest\nTreatment centers\n\nMore freedom:\n\nAnkle bracelet monitoring\nParole from prison where they must meet with their parole officer\nProbation from jail where they must meet with their probation officer\n3rd Party Custodian\nRandom drug testing\nLose drivers license\nBreathalyzer installed on vehicle\n\nThe inmate enters prison at the highest level of freedom restriction the crime designates, determined by the type of crime.  \n\nBased on a set of personal needs and goals, the inmate can complete certain sets of requirements and move towards more freedom in graduated steps.  If they fight or break rules, they are sent back to the highest level of freedom restriction to start over. \n\nSome goals should be obtaining a GED, increasing SAT scores, entering college, higher education, work skills, community work within a prison (teaching someone to read, tutoring another inmate to get their GED), learning and applying anger management techniques, learning about domestic violence, revealing their early childhood trauma, learning to cry, feel human emotions.