NCJ Number
64894
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE SHIFT IN EMPHASIS OF PRISONER ASSISTANCE WORK, ESPECIALLY BY THE WEST GERMAN ASSOCIATION FOR PRISONER ASSISTANCE, FROM HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES TO INITIATION OF CRIMINAL POLICY REFORM IS OUTLINED.
Abstract
SINCE 1952 THE PENAL SYSTEM HAS PARTIALLY ABANDONED PRISON TERMS IN FAVOR OF FINES AND PROBATION, HAS DEVELOPED PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSISTANCE, AND HAS ADOPTED NEW MEASURES FOR RESOCIALIZATION AND MONITORING OF PRISONERS, E.G., OPEN-DOOR IMPRISONMENT, FURLOUGHS, AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION. THE REFORMS HAVE CREATED NEW TASKS IN THE AREA OF PRISONER ASSISTANCE--E.G., A DEMAND FOR EX-PRISONER SUPERVISION OUTSIDE PRISONS AND FOR CULTIVATION OF OUTSIDE CONTACTS FOR PRISONERS--CAUSING PRISONER ASSISTANCE TO BECOME AN EXTENSION OF COURT ACTION. CONVERSELY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN IN PRISONER ASSISTANCE WORK HAVE LED TO REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL CODE. FROM HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, THE ASSOCIATION HAS PROGRESSED TO ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY RELEASED PRISONERS (STARTED IN THE SIXTIES), FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, AND OCCUPATIONAL COUNSELING, AS WELL AS PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT PRISONERS' SITUATIONS. PRESENT GOALS OF CRIMINAL LAW REFORM AND PRISONER ASSISTANCE GROUPS INCLUDE CONTINUATION OF WORK TOWARD SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF EX-OFFENDERS, IMPROVED SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RELEASED PRISONERS AND INDIVIDUALS-AT-RISK, BETTER COOPERATION IN PROGRAMS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PRISONS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL AND FINANCIAL CONSOLIDATION OF PRISONER ASSISTANCE. PROPOSED MEASURES ARE HIGHER WAGES, PRISONER SOCIAL INSURANCE, AND EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM OF INITIAL ASSISTANCE TO RELEASED PRISONERS. PROMPTNESS, CONTINUITY, AND LOCAL INITIATION OF ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK TO LESSEN PUBLIC REJECTION OF EX-OFFENDERS MUST BE EMPHASIZED. THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL PRISONER ASSISTANCE IN MODERN DEMOCRACIES IS THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF THE STATE AND SOCIETY. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)