Since the 1940's prisons have been organized by three models. These three models are the custodial model, the rehabilitation model, and the reintergration model. These three models have created three main goal that must be met by prison management to effectively run the prisons. These three goals are custody, working, and treating of all inmates. The effectiveness of how a prison runs weighs greatly on the shoulders of the correctional officers because they are in continuous close contact with the inmates.
Prisoner life can greatly differ depending upon how effectively a prison is managed. Prisoners serve their time as members of a subculture. These prisoners live by what is known as the inmate code. The inmate code teaches prisoners that in order to survive in prison, and not be at the bottom of the inmate social structure, they must not show any emotion, that they must be fearless against other inmates and staff. Prison life greatly reduces the access to many of the goods and services they once easily obtained in the outside world. To meet their needs for these things prisoners have such illegal drugs smuggled into them and for items such as peanut butter and soap they trade what they purchase thru the commisary store.
As a prisoner there are many programs and services that are offered. There are educational and vocational programs, industrial, and treatment programs. These programs are meant to help in maintaining order within the prison walls and rehabilitate a prisoner for release.
When it comes time for the release of an inmate it is done so by one of these five mechanisms used for release. The five mechanisms are discretionary, mandatory, probation, other conditional release, and expiration release. However parol boards are the main deciding factor of whether a prisoner gets released and what conditions they must meet if they are releasec