NCJ Number
14786
Date Published
1973
Length
96 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION PAPER ON THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRECTIONS CONTRIBUTIONS PRIOR TO SENTENCE ADMINISTRATION, AND REDUCTION OF RECURRENT CRIME LEVELS AND SERIOUSNESS.
Abstract
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MAJOR TRENDS WITHIN THE FIELD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN CANADA IS PROVIDED. SELECTED STATISTICS ON THE COST OF ADMINISTERING JUSTICE, CRIME RATES, SENTENCING RESULTS, AND THE APPARENT PROBLEMS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN. THE COMPONENTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS ARE DESCRIBED AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS ARE OUTLINED, DRAWING ON FEDERAL STATISTICS TO CHARACTERIZE THE OFFENDER POPULATION. TWO SUGGESTED STRATEGIES THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD FOLLOW ARE DISCUSSED, AND INCLUDE PREVENTING THE ENTRY OF INDIVIDUALS INTO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND, FAILING THAT, RESTRICTING THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE. A SERIES OF PRACTICES DESIGNED TO REDUCE CRIME AND RECIDIVISM THROUGH THE CORRECTIONAL FRAMEWORK ARE OUTLINED. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE ENSURING THE NECESSARY CONTROL OF OFFENDERS, DEALING WITH THE OFFENDER INDIVIDUALLY AND HUMANELY, DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND STRENGTHENING CORRECTIONS COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. IDEAS FOR FUTHER COORDINATED ADVANCES IN CORRECTIONS AND NEW DIRECTIONS WHICH SHOULD BE EXPLORED ARE ALSO EXAMINED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH