NCJ Number
48936
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 1 8 Dated: (1978) Pages: 49-55
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
AN EMPIRICAL APPROACH TO CORRECTIONS REFORM, AS OPPOSED TO AN IDEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR REFORM, IS RECOMMENDED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS ARGUED THAT AN ATTITUDE OF EMPIRICISM AND PRAGMATIC FLESIBILITY MUST FINALLY DETERMINE REALISTIC GOALS AND METHODS OF REFORM, WHEREAS THE IMPOSITION OF UNTESTED IDEOLOGICAL VIEWS ON CORRECTIONS STRUCTURE AND PRACTICE CAN ONLY INTENSIFY THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, IT IS CHARGED THAT SENTIMENTAL IDEOLOGUES FREQUENTLY PERPETUATE AND DISSEMINATE MYTHS ABOUT THE SYSTEM. STATEMENTS INDICATING THAT PRISON LIFE IN ITSELF LOWERS INMATES' SELF ESTEEM AND THAT PUNISHMENT DOES NOT DETER CRIME ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INACCURATE.SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES HAVE SUFFICIENT DATA UPON WHICH REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS MAY BE AND IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF STIMULATION LEVELS MATCHED TO THE CHRONIC OR IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC PRISONERS. TO REDUCE INMATE STRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ARE RECOMMENDED AS THE ESSENCE OF A REWARD SYSTEM TO STIMULATE APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMS,LONG-TERM FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF OUTCOMES ARE ADVISED AS THE BASIS FOR GATHERING DATA UPON WHICH TO BASE SUBSEQUENT REFORM.FLEXIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONMAKING BASED ON SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS IS ALSO ADVISED.(RCB)