Final answer:
A count is a scheduled procedure within correctional facilities to ensure all inmates are accounted for, which is crucial given the high number of people incarcerated in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process you’re asking about is commonly known as a count. In the corrections system, a count is a scheduled tally of inmates in their housing units, and its primary purpose is to ensure that all inmates are accounted for and none have escaped. This procedure is part of the broader security measures within correctional facilities aiming to maintain order and prevent absconding.
Given the high incarceration rates in the United States and the sheer number of people under correctional supervision, such counts are critical to the functioning of prisons. With a reported 2.2 million people incarcerated by the late 2010s, regular inmate counts are a standard part of prison administration.