CORRECTIONS - A STRATEGY FOR CHANGE (FROM INCARCERATION BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS, 1977, BY P ECK AND G ENGLISH SEE NCJ-56694)

• NCJ Number: 56701
• Author(s): J WALLACE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CHANGE IN CORRECTIONS IS TRACED OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, AND A STRATEGY FOR FUTURE CHANGE IS OUTLINED.

Abstract

VIEWING CORRECTIONS OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS, CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: REVENGE, REFORM, REHABILITATION, AND REINTEGRATION. WHILE THE FOCUS IN SUCCESSIVE PERIODS HAS BEEN ON ONE OF THESE CONCERNS, THE OTHER THREE HAVE RETAINED SOME LEVEL OF EMPHASIS IN CORRECTIONAL OPERATIONS, CREATING CONFLICTS AND INCONSISTENCY AT EVERY STAGE OF CORRECTIONAL EVOLUTION. STILL, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS RAPID CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: AN INCREASE IN INMATE RIGHTS, JUDICIAL DECISIONS AIMED AT IMPROVING PRISON CONDITIONS, THE SEPARATION OF PAROLE BOARDS FROM PAROLE AGENCIES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PENAL CODES, THE REORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE REMOVAL OF STATUS OFFENSES FROM THE JURISDICTION OF JUVENILE COURTS. THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE PAST IN DEVISING A STRATEGY OF CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE ARE THE NEED TO (1) RECOGNIZE CORRECTIONS AS A NONSYSTEM, (2) USE CRISIS IN A POSITIVE WAY, (3) DETERMINE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CURRENT FINDINGS OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION, (4) DEFINE THE PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF CORRECTIONS, AND (5) HAVE EACH PROFESSIONAL AND CITIZEN ASK HIMSELF WHAT HE CAN DO PERSONALLY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE WITHIN HIS DOMAIN OF INFLUENCE. TO ACCEPT CORRECTIONS AS A NONSYSTEM FREES REFORMERS FROM THE ILLUSION THAT COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE CAN OCCUR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE FRAGMENTED NATURE OF THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM REQUIRES THAT VARIOUS OPERATIONS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONS FIELD BE TARGETED FOR CHANGE. ONE AREA OF CONCERN THAT COULD HAVE A BEARING ON MANY OTHER AREAS OF CORRECTIONS WOULD BE THE POSITING OF THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTIONS IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE, AS OPPOSED TO LOCAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS CHANGE ARE DISCUSSED. SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW CHANGE HAS OCCURRED THROUGH THE CREATIVE USE OF CRISES ARE PROVIDED, AND SOME IMPLICATIONS OF CURRENT CORRECTIONAL RESEARCH ARE MENTIONED. EXAMPLES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DETERMINING THE PRIMARY BUSINESS OF EACH ASPECT OF CORRECTIONS ARE ALSO PROVIDED, AND WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE EXERTION OF INDIVIDUAL INFLUENCE IS ALSO ILLUSTRATED. (RCB)