NCJ Number
56445
Journal
Howard Journal of Penology and Crime Prevention Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 44-53
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
COED CORRECTIONS ARE SAID TO REDUCE THE PAINS OF IMPRISONMENT, IMPROVE RELEASE ADJUSTMENT, AND RELIEVE THE OVERCROWDING OF SINGLE-SEX PRISONS. THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
THE EMERGENCE OF SEXUALLY INTEGRATED CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES IS RELATED TO RAPIDLY INCREASING CORRECTIONAL COSTS, A CHANGE IN EMPHASIS FROM PUNISHMENT TO REHABILITATION, AND CHANGING CRIME PATTERNS AMONG WOMEN. SEGREGATED INSTITUTIONS GENERALLY ALLOCATE MORE MONEY FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO THE MALE INSTITUTIONS; INTEGRATION SHOULD GIVE BETTER PROGRAM BALANCE. COED INSTITUTIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE AND ASSAULTS ASSOCIATED WITH PREDATORY HOMOSEXUALITY AND TO NORMALIZE THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT. THEY ALSO REDUCE INSTITUTIONAL COSTS THROUGH REALIZATION OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE. MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN THE RECRUITMENT OF APPROPRIATE AND SYMPATHETIC STAFF AND SELECTION OF INMATES. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL COED INSTITUTION TO HAVE A GOOD MALE-FEMALE RATIO BECAUSE ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THE U.S. PRISON POPULATION IS FEMALE. THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL CONTACT TO BE PERMITTED IS ALSO A SENSITIVE ISSUE. RESEARCH ON COED INSTITUTIONS HAS BEEN LIMITED BECAUSE VERY FEW HAVE BEEN SET UP, THESE FEW HAVE NOT BEEN RESEARCH AND DATA ORIENTED, AND MANY CONFOUNDING VARIABLES CONTAMINATE WHAT DATA ARE AVAILABLE. BECAUSE THE CONCEPT IS NEW, PHILOSOPHIES KEEP CHANGING AND DATA ARE COMPARABLE. GOOD RESEARCH IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS TREND CAN BE EVALUATED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 53833.