CALIFORNIA - ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TASK FORCE ON PRISONER REHABILITATION - REPORT

• NCJ Number: 19799
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 60 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE OBSERVATIONS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE WHICH WAS FORMED TO INVESTIGATE EXISTING REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS AND TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST EFFECTUATE PRISONER REHABILITATION.

Abstract

THE TASK FORCE EXAMINED FOUR CRITICAL AREAS: IMPROVEMENT OF PRISONER SELF ESTEEM AND MOTIVATION; INCREASING POST INCARCERATION EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES; STRENGTHENING FAMILY AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS; AND IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY AND RELEVANCE OF PROGRAMS OF INSTRUCTION. THE TASK FORCE NOTED THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INMATES ARE HOSTILE TO REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES. THEY TEND TO SUBVERT THE BEST-INTENTIONED PROGRAMS, TO PREY UPON SUCH PROGRAMS, EXPLOITING AND MANIPULATING THEM TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. THE TASK FORCE ALSO NOTED THAT MOST CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT RESULTS BECAUSETHE INMATES MOST IN NEED OF REHABILITATION ARE ALSO THE LEAST MOTIVATED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN SUCH PROGRAMS. IN THIS CONTEXT, THEY CONCLUDE THAT VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OPERATING WITHIN THE PRISONS APPEAR INADEQUATE TO EITHER MOTIVATE OR PREPARE THE VAST MAJORITY OF INMATES FOR MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT UPON THEIR RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE TASK FORCE FOUND THAT REHABILITATION IS NOT SUCCEEDING IN THE STATE PRISONS. IN ORDER FOR REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS TO HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS, IT APPEARS THAT THE 'HARD' DECISION MUST BE MADE TO SEPARATE OUT AND TO ASSIGN A LOW PRIORITY OF REHABILITATIVE EFFORT TO INMATES REASONABLY IDENTIFIED AS NON-REHABILITATIVE. IT IS STATED THAT INCREASED EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO IDENTIFY AND MOTIVATE, THROUGH APPROPRIATE INCENTIVES, THOSE INMATES REASONABLY CAPABLE OF BENEFITING FROM REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE PRISONS. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO MADE CONCERNING THE UPGRADING OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, IMPROVEMENT OF JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAMS, AND PRODUCTION OF A MASTER PLAN FOR CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)