CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGIST IN A CHANGING WORLD- PERSPECTIVE 1980 - SITUATION IN POLAND (FROM TODAY'S PROBLEMS IN CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY - RESEARCH ON DIAGNOSIS AND ..., 1979, BY L BELIVEAU ET AL - SEE NCJ-65021)

• NCJ Number: 65032
• Author(s): S WALCZAK
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Universite de Montreal, Centre International de Criminologie Comparee; Institut Philippe Pinel de Montreal 12; Universite de Genes
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: French
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLISH CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IN PRISONS AND AS A COURT ASSISTANCE FUNCTION, IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY HAS BEEN MORE COMMONLY PRACTICED IN POLAND THAN IN OTHER SOVIET SATELLITES. IN PENITENTIARIES, CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY BEGINS WITH THE SELECTION OF INMATES WHO SHOW SIGNS OF MENTAL INSTABILITY. IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, FOUR SPECIAL AUTONOMOUS PRISON HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS; THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ATTEMPT TO ADJUST INMATES TO WORK SUITED TO THEIR PERSONALITIES. SINCE 1933, INMATES HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT MEASURES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AT FOUR CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGY CENTERS (SINCE 1958) AND THE SPECIAL OLESNICA PENITENTIARY (SINCE 1963), WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING AND TREATING MALE INMATES WHO HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES, AS WELL AS SUPPLYING ADVICE TO OTHER PENITENTIARIES. CLINICAL CRIMINOLOGISTS IN POLAND SEEK TO RESPOND TO THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE PENITENTIARIES AND COURTS. THE CRIMINAL CODE CONSIDERS THE INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF AN OFFENSE, WHEN VERIFIED BY AN EXPERT, GROUNDS FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT; SOCIALIST CRIMINOLOGY EMPHASIZES THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL FACTORS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS. CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH OFFENDERS UNDERGO OBLIGATORY PERSONALITY TESTS TO DETERMINE MENTAL COMPETENCE ARE DEFINED BY LAW. THE COURT IS EMPOWERED TO PRESCRIBE INDIVIDUAL PENITENTIARY TREATMENT MEASURES WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD WORK AND THE LEGAL ORDER, AND PREVENT RECIVIDISM. SELECTION GROUPS STAFFED BY PSYCHOLOGISTS AND TEACHERS SEEK TO EXAMINE MINORS' PERSONALITIES, TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS, AND TO RECOMMEND REHABILITATION MEASURES. PRETRIAL RELEASE HAS LONG BEEN USED FOR MINORS TO FACILITATE THROUGH SOCIAL INQUIRY BY THE JUVENILE POLICE AND REEDUCATION OF MINORS WITHIN THEIR FAMILY ENVIRONMENT PERSONALITY TESTING OF ADULTS USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN DETENTION AND IS NOT AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COURT SYSTEM. BECAUSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFTEN CONFUSING, FORMATION OF A SPECIAL COURT ADVISORY SERVICE IS PROPOSED AS A REMEDY. WHILE THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINOLOGIST IS EXPANDING IN BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE TREATMENT, THE NEED FOR SPECIALIZED CRIMINOLOGISTS EXCEEDS THE TRAINING POSSIBILITIES. NOTES ARE FURNISHED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)