California Corrections Exam 1 Study Guide

• Exam 1 is on 2/13/2025, available from 9am to 11:59pm PST.
• The exam is remote and will be proctored via Canvas with Respondus, lasting for 2 hours once started.

Exam Basics

• The exam includes 20 multiple choice questions, each worth 2 points, in addition to 4 short answer questions with varying points assigned.
• Respondus must be enabled on Canvas.
• The exam is closed note.

Week 1 - California Corrections

• AB 109 (Public Safety Realignment Act) and its prompting are important.
• Also important is understanding the percentage capacity they were required to reduce down to, what populations were affected, and what jurisdiction housed those populations.
• What the impact of AB 109 on California corrections is another key concept.
• Familiarize yourself with 3-Strikes Law, Prop 47, Prop 57, and Prop 36 (2024).
• An important point is the impact of each of these propositions on California Corrections.

Week 2 - Prisons, Punishment, and Sentencing

• Corrections must be defined, including the difference between incarceration and corrections.
• Key concepts are what comprises corrections and Dr. Pappas' perspective on corrections' major purpose.
• Key info includes who manages corrections, who gets which sentence and the discrepancy between felonies and misdemeanors
• It is worth noting why most crimes do not result in imprisonment alongside the approximate percentage.
• Important facts are the 4 purposes of punishment and the ability to explain each, traditional Old World punishments (including the most common one before the Reform movement).
• Key factors are the 2 dimensions of sentencing guidelines and their basis, the 4 sentencing structures and the 2 methods for reducing sentences.

Week 3-4 - Jails

• Types of offenders primarily in jails, the 2 methods of pretrial release, controversies over bail, and factors that determine bail risk should be considered.
• Understanding plea bargains, factors influencing plea acceptance, their relation to social class, and associated problems is important.
• Pay specific attention to "special needs inmates" (examples), the 2 largest special needs populations in jails, and jails being the main facility for those with mental health needs.
• Relevant items include the "sequential intercept" model, benefits and purpose of a "podular jail", direct supervision definition, and 2 advantages of direct supervision jails.

Week 4 - Probation

• Key information to remember includes that probation is the most common form of supervision
• Take note of the definition of probation, key probation features, along with the functions (and descriptions) of a probation officer and the 3 types+examples of probation conditions.
• The biggest challenge faced by probation services including, concern, focus and operation are significant
• Probation termination methods (2 ways), California's recidivism definition, alternative ways to operationalize recidivism, and each agency's preferred recidivism definition are also relevant.

Week 5 - Intermediate Sanctions

• It is worth noting the main motivation and purpose of intermediate sanctions.
• Examples of intermediate sanctions, the biggest consequence to intermediate sanctions, and widening the net (explanation + problem) are crucial data points
• Focus on two of the four most common forms of intermediate sanctions in California and the consequence of ISP (e.g., Petersilia & Turner, 1993 findings).
• Relevant factors are the principle of interchangeability and day fines being an attractive intermediate sanction.

Readings

• Turner et al. (2015) main findings, which offender group has the largest reduction in recidivism and the smallest reduction.
• Taxman (2015) main findings and how probation monitoring can be enhanced are useful items to remember.

Guest Lectures

• Gabe Rosales' 4 pillars of the Californian Model, the biggest difference between those who succeed and those who don't, and what makes a Non-Designated Programming Facility Special.
• Mikaela Nielsen's points how incarcerated parents affect educational success, and how the effect differs between incarcerated fathers and mothers is relevant content
• It is important to know why there is a gap between who needs mental health and those who receive it.

Study guide for California Corrections Exam 1, covering AB 109, 3-Strikes Law, Prop 47, Prop 57, and Prop 36. Focus on the impact of AB 109 and each proposition on California corrections. Review corrections, prisons, punishment, and sentencing.