Besides communicable diseases, other problems that are facing corrections today and in the future include criminal recidivism, which pose an enormous social problem to society. A lethal predator such as serial killers and violent sexual offenders pose a particular problem not just in the free world but also inside prison cells. Currently, the US produces more serial killers than any other country. (Calderon, 2006) Most profilers say serial killers do not learn from mistakes in their previous killings. They feel no guilt, no remorse and have an attitude of total disdain towards their victims.
There’s a self-personality of importance that runs in all of them and demonstrates mental abnormality, usually a combination of sexual sadism and psychopaths. (Goyer, 2003). At the same time sex offenders are likely to be recidivists. Sex offenders are never cured completely and must watch for relapses. Some serious violent sex offenders are incurable. This is particularly disturbing when viewed in a prison setting intent on rehabilitating offenders for reentry outside. With no hope of ever rehabilitating, what would be the incentive to allow such inmates to socialize among others?
On top of the negative influence placed upon other inmates, there is also the risk factor of being victimized by other inmates for being the types of criminals that they are labeled. Most people are more concerned with the damage that serial killers and violent sex offenders would pose in any environment. According to Bass, Segregation and quarantine would be a partial answer to these factors for a combination of reasons. One reason would be the safety of others and the other is for their own safety.
Even if not quarantined, there is no real reason that having serial killers and violent sex offenders would produce any type of advantage to the prison inmates. Realistically, the majority of inmates will be due to be free in the real world. The negative influences of inmates with no hope of rehabilitation could only diminish the rehabilitation process and perhaps even provide a negative influence in learned behavior. However, it would be inhumane to disallow contact with the outside world even within prison cells. Quality of life needs to be better for everyone.
Work cited:
Emily Bass, (2000, January). Weighing the pros and cons of quarantine. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from: http://www. aidsinfonyc. org/hivplus/issue6/report/segre. html KC Goyer, (2003,February). HIV/Aids in Prison, Problems, Policies and Potentials. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from: http://www. iss. co. za/Pubs/Monographs/No79/Chap2. html John G. Bartlett et al, Correctional Medical Institute, (2000, 1st July). HIV in corrections. Retrieved May 11, 2008, from: http://www. cm-institute. org/hivin. htm Michelle Calderon (2006, 14th April) Retrieved May 11, 2008, from: http://www. anairhoads. org/calderon/corrissues. shtml