NCJ Number
12823
Date Published
1973
Length
107 pages
Annotation
ACTIVITIES, WORKSHOPS, SPEECHES, AND DECISIONS ON PROPOSED CORRECTIONAL STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS.
Abstract
THE REPORT INCLUDES A LIST OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, THE CONFERENCE AGENDA, A SUMMARY OF PROPOSED STANDARDS FOR CORRECTIONS BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS, THE TEXTS OF TWO OF THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS, ACTIVITIES OF THE WORKSHOP GROUPS, AND CONFERENCE ACTION AND COMMENTARY ON THE PROPOSED STANDARDS. IN THE FINAL GENERAL SESSION, DELEGATES CONCLUDED THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF CORRECTIONS IS TO PROTECT SOCIETY BY ISOLATING THE OFFENDER AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE SECONDARY CONSIDERATION WAS THE EFFICIENT AND ORDERLY ADMINISTRATION OF CORRECTIONS INSTITUTIONS. REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS AND CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF DETENTION TIME WAS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE BUT NOT TOTALLY FEASIBLE WITHIN THE SYSTEM'S LIMITED RESOURCES. IN CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED STANDARDS, THE DELEGATES EXPRESSED A STRONG PREFERENCE FOR CURRENT MONTANA LAW AND INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION RATHER THAN THE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. ONLY 25 OF THE 62 STANDARDS CONSIDERED WERE APPROVED WITHOUT MODIFICATION. THIRTEEN OF THOSE 25 WERE ACCEPTED BY VIRTUE OF AGREEMENT WITH CURRENT MONTANA LAW OR PROCEDURE. DELEGATES MODIFIED 27 OF THE NATIONAL STANDARDS AND REJECTED 10. IN TWENTY-ONE INSTANCES MONTANA LAW OR PROCEDURE WAS CITED AS BEING SUPERIOR TO THE NATIONALLY PROPOSED STANDARDS. IN REJECTING STANDARDS, THE DELEGATES MOST OFTEN CITED LIMITED RESOURCES OR LIMITED NEED. THE THEME THAT THE NATIONAL STANDARDS WERE TOO GRANDIOSE FOR A RURAL STATE WAS OFTEN MENTIONED. IN MOST INSTANCES THE DELEGATES FELT THAT MONTANA'S CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES ARE ADEQUATE TO MONTANA'S PROBLEM. THE EXCEPTIONS WERE THE NEED FOR INCREASED PROBATION AND PAROLE PERSONNEL AND FOR PERSONNEL AND FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CITY AND COUNTY JAILS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)