CORRECTIONS AND HUMAN DIGNITY (FROM INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS - SELECTED READINGS, 1978, BY GEORGE G KILLINGER AND PAUL F CROMWELL, JR - SEE NCJ-47802)

• NCJ Number: 47804
• Author(s): G KONOPKA
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: West Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: FROM GEORGIA JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS, V 3, N 1 (1974)

Annotation

WAYS IN WHICH PRISONS DEPRIVE INMATES OF THEIR SELF-RESPECT ARE DISCUSSED, AND GUIDELINES FOR REFORMS AIMED AT ASSURING HUMAN DIGNITY ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH REFERENCE TO THE WAYS IN WHICH ISRAELI PENAL PRACTICES HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE EXPERIENCES OF MANY ISRAELI CITIZENS, INCLUDING CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS, AS PRISONERS IN NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS. THE AUTHOR, HERSELF A VICTIM OF NAZI IMPRISONMENT, NOTES THAT HUMAN BEINGS DETERIORATE WHEN DENIED DIGNITY, AND THAT ONLY HIGHLY MOTIVATED PEOPLE CAN WITHSTAND AN ASSAULT ON THEIR DIGNITY. DENIAL OF SELF-RESPECT PRODUCES OR INCREASES HATE, WHICH IN TURN MAY BE DIRECTED AGAINST GUARDS, LESS POWERFUL INMATES, OR THE SELF, AS IN THE CASE OF SUICIDE. EXAMPLES OF THE TENDENCY OF PRISONS TO IGNORE HUMAN DIGNITY ARE CITED. THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ARE DISCUSSED: INVOLVING THE OFFENDER IN HIS OR HER OWN FATE; GIVING PRISONERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DECISIONMAKING; ACCEPTING THE NECESSITY OF RISK TAKING; PROVIDING EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE SELF-RESPECT AND SELF-CONFIDENCE; PROVIDING FOR SIGNIFICANT, POSITIVE HUMAN RELATIONS; AND RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND RELATING INMATE TREATMENT TO SOCIETAL REALITIES. ALL INMATE SERVICES MUST BE BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN NEED FOR SELF-RESPECT, DESIRE TO BELONG, AND CAPACITY TO CHANGE; OF HOPE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT AS MOTIVATING FACTORS; AND OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DECISIONMAKING AND RISK TAKING. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)