NCJ Number
79190
Date Published
1979
Length
146 pages
Annotation
The organizational structure of the Dutch corrections system and the life of prisoners during and after imprisonment are described on a popular level.
Abstract
The goal of the book is to present an accurate picture of what it is really like in Dutch prisons, for although one in two Dutch citizens commits some offense in a 2-year period, most never see the inside of a prison. Furthermore, newspapers present sensational stories without attempting to show the day-to-day realities of prisons. Presented here are the perspectives of a warden, prisoners, ex-convicts, a guard, and a social worker in exactly reproduced interview statements. Between the interview chapters are short expositions on the system of detention centers and prisons, on penalties developed since elimination of capital punishment, and on institutionalization with its psychological effects on prisoners. Also covered are failings of a system in which policy is imposed from above, limited attempts at protecting prisoners' rights, and the oppressive nature of prison structures. The special forced treatment institutions for prisoners with psychological disturbances or mental limitations and recent modifications in the laws governing involuntary treatment are characterized. Alternatives to imprisonment, including fines, social service, work camps, and compensation of damages are outlined. Finally, the postrelease problems of convicts, i.e., the punishment after the penalty, are portrayed. All of the participants in the prison system are viewed as human beings struggling to fill roles imposed on them by a weighty bureaucracy. New alternatives and individual problem resolution are needed in a society dominated by materialism, hedonism, and instant gratification. A bibliography is supplied.