NCJ Number
159189
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 57 Issue: 6 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: 102-104
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reviews correctional growth and policy trends in the 1960's in the United States.
Abstract
In the early 1960's, what was later referred to as "community-based programming" emerged. Under this concept, outside citizen groups began to interact with inmates to provide services and experiences valuable for inmate rehabilitation. Corrections facility administrators began to look to community leaders to promote more programs and to help gain support for new legislation and larger budgets. Greater emphasis was given religious programming, as chapels were given their own space; new chapels were constructed so an inmate could sit in a distinctively religious setting to meditate or speak with a chaplain. Visiting and correspondence regulations were relaxed, as many institutions removed the screens, barriers, or telephones from visiting areas. The role of the correctional officer was upgraded to include participation in rehabilitative programming and inmate classification plans. The 1960's saw a trend toward indeterminate sentences, as efforts were made to relate parole release to the attainment of programs goals established at initial classification. Probation and parole caseloads were subjected to study, and cases were classified for intensive or minimum supervision requirements. Classification standards were developed to facilitate the setting and achievement of goals for education, vocational training, and social adjustment. Citizen and trade advisory groups became aware that institutions needed support for work-release and study-release programs. Other correctional programming trends were the development of corrections industries and the establishment of halfway houses.