NCJ Number
54616
Editor(s)
M R MONTILLA,
N HARLOW
Date Published
1979
Length
229 pages
Annotation
THE PAPERS IN THIS ANTHOLOGY ARE BY EXPERTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND ARCHITECTURE AND WERE PRESENTED AT A COLLOQUIUM ON PLANNING FOR CALIFORNIA STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
Abstract
AN EXCERPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' REPORT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE OUTLINING THE PRISON PLANNING PROBLEM IS FOLLOWED BY THE SUMMARIES AND THE FULL TEXT OF PARTICIPATING CONSULTANTS' PAPERS. THE CONSULTANTS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING, ITS ESSENTIAL STEPS, THE NEED FOR A SYSTEMS APPROACH, THE HIGH COSTS OF IMPROPER OR INADEQUATE PLANNING, AND THE NECESSITY OF DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN TO WHICH THE STATE IS COMMITTED AND WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOR BROAD REVIEW AND CRITICISM. CONSULTANTS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MANY OF THE CONSTRAINTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS WHICH INTERFERE WITH LONG-RANGE PLANNING ARE SYSTEM FRAGMENTATION AND COMPETITION RATHER THAN COOPERATION, PUBLIC PRESSURES FOR QUICK AND EASY SOLUTIONS, AND POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH DEMAND ONE OR ANOTHER RESPONSE. PLANNING STEPS SHOULD INCLUDE DESCRIBING EXISTING FACILITIES, DEFINING OBJECTIVES, IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS IN EXISTING FACILITIES, ASSESSING ALTERNATIVES, SELECTING PROPOSED COURSES OF ACTION, DEVELOPING A PLAN, AND CONSTANT EVALUATION OF THE PLAN. CORRECTIONAL STANDARDS CAN HELP PRISON PLANNERS BY ASSURING THAT A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES AND FUNCTIONS ARE PROVIDED, THAT A PROPER BALANCE OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS EXIST, AND THAT NEW APPROACHES IN MANAGING INMATES REMAIN WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. STANDARDS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THE NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF PRISONERS. PRISON DESIGN SHOULD REFLECT PLANNING IN TERMS OF RACIAL ISSUES, THE POTENTIAL FOR GANG VIOLENCE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DETERMINATE SENTENCING AND CUSTODY REPLACING INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AND REHABILITATION. PRISON PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCES IN OKLAHOMA AND FLORIDA ARE DESCRIBED. THE FINAL CHAPTERS SUMMARIZE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.