ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON - A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

• NCJ Number: 65143
• Author(s): J SOPER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 42 pages
• Corporate Author: National Moratorium on Prison Construction
• Sale Source: National Moratorium on Prison Construction
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION ARE DESCRIBED THAT ARE AS UNCOERCIVE AND RESTRICTIVE AS POSSIBLE, DO NOT EXPAND STAFF OR COSTS, RESPECT THE INDIVIDUAL, AND ARE CONCILIATORY. MOST ARE IN CALIFORNIA.

Abstract

THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE (USSC) PUT TOGETHER THIS SURVEY OF ALTERNATIVES ACTING ON THE BELIEF THAT PRISON IS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF PRISONERS ARE NOT DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY. UUSC DEVELOPED A LIST OF CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND THEN COLLECTED INFORMATION ON A NUMBER OF EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES. AMONG THE DESCRIBED ALTERNATIVES ARE DECRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES, INCLUDING OUTRIGHT DECRIMINALIZATION, RECLASSIFICATION, AND SUBSTITUTION OF NONCRIMINAL RESPONSES; USE OF MEDIATION/ARBITRATION CENTERS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES AND FOR ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY MORE CONTROL OVER INTERNAL AFFAIRS; AND ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL CENTERS, SUCH AS THE DELANCEY STREET FOUNDATION IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND OPERATION CROSSROADS IN ERIE, PA. PRETRIAL DIVERSIONARY ALTERNATIVES ARE CITATIONS AND SUMMONS, NONBAIL RELEASE (RELEASE ON OWN RECOGNIZANCE, THIRD-PARTY CUSTODY, SUPERVISED RELEASE) SUCH AS PRACTICED IN SEVERAL AREAS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND CLEARING HOLD SYSTEMS (DETAINERS) USING TRAINED COMMUNITY WORKERS. TRIAL ALTERNATIVES COULD INCLUDE WEEKEND AND NIGHT COURTS (CURRENT PRACTICE IN SAN FRANCISCO) FOR RELIEVING SOME COURT DELAY. AFTER-TRIAL SENTENCES INVOLVING LITTLE OR NO INCARCERATION ARE RESTITUTION AND FINES (E.G., THE 'EARN IT' PROGRAM IN QUINCY, MASS., SWEDEN'S DAY FINE PROGRAM), PROBATION, WORK/EDUCATION FURLOUGH PROGRAMS (EXAMPLES IN MISSISSIPPI AND BROOKLYN, N.Y.), SHORT DETERMINATE SENTENCES, HALFWAY HOUSES, AND PRERELEASE GUIDANCE CENTERS. POSTINCARCERATION ALTERNATIVES, WHICH COULD REDUCE THE CHANCE OF RECIDIVISM AND UNEMPLOYMENT, INCLUDE GATE MONEY, MINIMUM WAGE PAID TO WORKING PRISONERS, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND POSTPRISON SUPPORT SERVICES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (WJR)