What separates the United States, and other democracies, from totalitarian nations is that our leaders must follow the rule of law just like the rest of us. This rule of law is also what makes our correctional systems different from those in many other countries – correctional workers are guided by laws, whether it be statutory or common law, and not by the political influences and impulses of government leaders. However, these laws are not set in stone, they are constantly changing based on court decisions and the public’s view of decency. This course will take a look at the
evolution of correctional law, where it is today, and look at where it might be headed.