Is the custodial model most appropriate for organizing prisons that operate at different security levels?
When examining the historical context of treatment in a correctional setting, it must be seen through both domestic and international viewpoints. Under the domestic view, the United States primarily uses a custodial model, which focuses on using incapacitation as the method of retribution and deterrence.
In contrast, the international view, specifically Europe, uses the rehabilitation model. This model focuses on rehabilitating the person to become a productive member of society.
The United States of America is referred to as the land of the free, and while this notion certainly remains true in most aspects, it is important to consider that the United States has the largest population of individuals who have fundamentally been stripped of their freedom by the government.
The custodial model is based on the notion that criminals are incarcerated in order to incapacitate them from committing further crimes, which, as a result, protects society. This model is considered to be the most punitive, as it emphasizes security, discipline, and the subordination of the prisoner.