This research project aimed to investigate how the use of rehabilitative language and practices differ among governors’ political affiliations. The websites of various correctional facilities were used to observe the language the facility used to describe incarcerated individuals, the programs offered, and the facility itself. The websites also provided information on what programs were offered, and in some cases what these programs entailed; and some facilities included images of the building or staff. These various components were analyzed through content analysis which allowed for manifest and latent content to be analyzed. Analyzing manifest content was important to understand what programs were being offered to those within the facility. Further, manifest content was useful in assessing how those outside of the facility were able to remain in contact with those who were incarcerated (visiting hours, public transportation, directions, etc.). Latent content was more important to the deeper understanding of these facilities. Latent content was useful in assessing how the facilities felt about programs, incarcerated individuals, and the larger purpose of prison.
My analysis suggested that facilities in Democrat-led states offered more treatment services that reached a wider set of needs than facilities in Republican-led states. This included mental health treatments; facilities in Democrat-led states offered 49 programs while facilities in Republican-led states only offered 23 programs. Mental health problems are one of the factors that may contribute to an individual committing a crime, when viewed as an addiction this includes substance abuse (Dewey and Prohaska 2021, Giordano 2014). Substance addiction may lead one to incarceration simply from the use and reliance on drugs. One way to help rehabilitate incarcerated individuals is to provide programs that reduce factors that may increase one’s likelihood of committing a crime. This is why treatment programs are important to the rehabilitative process. Mental health treatments in correctional institutions may be the only time individuals are able to afford or find mental health treatment due to financial inequities (Wakefield 2022). The same may be true of substance abuse treatments.
My analysis showed that facilities in Democrat-led states attempted to create a sense of empathy more than facilities in Republican-led states. This finding is important as empathy is one way that a positive prison climate can be created. A positive prison climate is key to having successful rehabilitative programs. A support system and trust are built between staff and incarcerated individuals when there is a positive prison climate (Williams et al. 2019). Empathy can also be used to help those running the programs build stronger connections with incarcerated individuals. These connections create social capital that has been argued to improve both prison societies and overall society (Hawes 2017).
End Racial Profiling Feeder March by DC Protests. CC-BY-SA 2.0 Deed.
Finally, my analysis showed that facilities in Democrat-led states offered more religious services than facilities in Republican-led states. However, the facilities in the Democrat-led states offered more undefined religious programs, most often offering “religious services”. Some argue that rehabilitation is a process that involves the improvement and restructuring of one’s morals (Forsberg and Douglas 2022). Finding religion or reconnecting to religion is one way in which incarcerated individuals can improve and restructure their moral compasses. Further, this idea can be connected back to labeling theory and religion. Once someone commits a crime they are considered a “criminal”. However, in America, certain religious groups are dominant and are often seen as “pure” people. Incarcerated individuals who are able to turn to faith may be able to earn the label of “Christian man” or “Christian woman” and be seen as pure and changed by society. This can alter the transition that an incarcerated individual has back into society which is also part of the rehabilitative process (Forsberg and Douglas 2022).
These observations suggest that despite what the literature says, Republican and Democratic states have different approaches to the prison system. The facilities in Republican-led states were more focused on the punitive aspects of prison. They offered little programming that offered the chance for rehabilitation. When programs were offered in facilities in Republican-led states, they seemed performative. There was little information about the program and the program listing seemed more supplemental to the information about the facility. The facilities in Democrat-led states were more focused on the individuals. Programs offered in facilities in Democrat-led states covered a wider range of needs than in facilities in Republican-led states. These programs were often more focused on providing the incarcerated individual with support like mental health treatment, substance abuse treatments, connections to family, and job preparation. On the websites of facilities in Democrat-led states, program listings were the central focus of the site with information about the facility serving as supplemental.
Why do these differences exist?
It is not merely enough to say that there are differences in the correctional facilities of Democrat-led and Republican-led states. In order to fully understand these differences and address any issues that may be presented as a result of these differences, it must be understood why these differences may exist. One reason that these differences may exist is a result of party platforms and views. The National Democrat site directly addresses the problems within our criminal justice system, emphasizing its shortcomings and calling for reform (Democrats 2023). The National Republican site included no information on the criminal justice system. However, Republican views talked about the Republican belief in stricter sentencing (Republican Views 2023).
The difference in platforms is one reason there may be a difference in empathy and rehabilitation among correctional facility websites. Democrats see the criminal justice system as failing at its job, calling for reform to break the school-to-prison pipeline and more humane treatment of individuals (Democrats 2023). The Republican platform calls for the direct opposite, noting that there should be no parole for some convictions (Republican Views 2023). It is also important to note that economics may also play a role in the treatment of incarcerated individuals. Republicans have a platform that values economic success, but incarceration is expensive (Republican Views 2023). Tax dollars pay to run public facilities, this includes paying the food, water, heat, and other living expenses. When a facility offers individuals rehabilitative programs like mental health treatment, taxes pay those costs as well. Therefore, it makes sense that a group that values financial success and views incarcerated individuals as criminals would be against rehabilitative practices.
Left vs Right: US Political Spectrum byMkandlez. CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED.
Limitations and Future Research
Understanding the inner workings of our justice system is incredibly important, therefore more research needs to be done. Future studies should find a better way to look at how politics affect the prison system. In this study, governors were selected as they are responsible for appointing the secretary of corrections who sets the standards for the correctional facilities in that state. However, the governor’s political affiliation does not necessarily dictate the political affiliation of the secretary of corrections. Further, these secretaries may remain in their position after a new governor is elected. Future research should spend more time researching the offered programs. The time frame of this project did not allow for a deep dive into many of the programs offered as many were uncommon within the sample. However, it is important that the programs are fully understood to best talk about them. Finally, future research should explore how these programs do or do not function in the facility. It is possible that facilities have websites that come across as genuine with supportive programs that are not being implemented within the facility. It is also important to speak more directly with those in these programs to explore whether or not these programs are truly rehabilitative.
Future websites should do more than just content analysis. While this was helpful in understanding how correctional facilities present themselves, it does not show what is happening within the facilities. Interviews of both incarcerated individuals and facility staff would be a better way to evaluate what is truly happening beyond the websites. I would also suggest a form of observation however, I am not sure how feasible this would be.
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