Justice

Out of the choices I had, I wanted to write a paper on a correctional facility. I feel that is a major part of our CJC system. I wanted to know more about what the overall goal is behind correction facilities, not only for our safety but for the rehabilitation aspect and get to see what our taxes go to. I originally planned to go on a tour at the Jefferson county facility, but when I spoke with officer high who does the tours he told me most walk troughs, I would need more then a month advance notice, since they usually do only group tours. He explained to me I can call the Denver County jail and get their website and do a virtual tour over the internet. I got to see pictures of the actual rooms, inmates and get the history behind the jail. I figured that was a better jail to choose because I have had a personal experience going to that jail to visit someone before. Therefore my paper is a combination of research, virtual tour and my personal experience of that facility.

As for the history, The Denver County jail is located on 10500 e. Smith rd. It was built in 1956 and is the largest jail in Colorado. It averages about 1900 inmates, which to me looks like there are way more inmates then that in there. I also learned there is a difference between jails and prisons. Jails are a kind of like holding place for the inmates with long term sentences to go to prison. But the Denver county jail also takes short term sentences they just stay at that facility to do their time. For the rehabilitation part the jail offers many programs for people to help them when they are released like: educations courses, religious activities and counseling for different charges.

As for the virtual tour, the pictures I got to see were of the jail infirmary, the administration segregation room, the minimum security dorms, the outdoors yard, and the maximum security building. I noticed all these rooms were mainly made of metal and concrete everywhere, however they provide the basic necessities to live. The minimum security inmates stay in a dorm like room. There are many bunk beds lined up in one large room. They eat, sleep, have a bathroom area, use the phones, and can watch TV all in that room. The maximum building was more like what we see on TV. Each inmate is in a little metal cell with maybe one other inmate and a toilet behind bars. They call the maximum security the lock down areas. They are constructed in rows above rows of cells, nothing like the minimum dorm. They have to come out of their cells and down to the table area to eat. The most noticeable part was the outdoor area. It was kind of small for all those inmates. It had wire all around, of course so no one can escape, and an open area to just sit or play ball. In the pictures I saw of the inmates they all had the same suits. Al though each department has a different color. They said it's to know who is in what category of security.

The only area I didn't get to see picture