NCJ Number
65926
Date Published
1979
Length
147 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EVALUATES AND COMMENTS ON AN OFFICIAL HOME OFFICE REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF PRISON SERVICES IN BRITAIN; IT ASSESSES THE CAUSES OF INMATE AND OFFICER UNREST AND RECOMMENDS AMELIORATIVE MEASURES.
Abstract
THE OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS BLAMES OVERCROWDING AND ANTIQUATED BUILDINGS FOR THE FAILURE OF GOOD INTENTIONS ON THE PART OF THE PRISON SERVICE. WHILE RECOGNIZING THESE PHYSICAL SHORTCOMINGS, THIS REPORT ARGUES AGAINST THE EXPENDITURE OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES URGING INSTEAD A REAPPRAISAL OF THE TREATMENT AND TRAINING PHILOSOPHY OF CORRECTIONS AND A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO THIS APPROACH IN LOCAL AS WELL AS TRAINING PRISONS. DIFFICULTIES WITH HIGH-RISK PRISONERS ARE SEEN AS STEMMING FROM THE DECISION TO DISPERSE THEM AMONG SEVERAL MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISONS RATHER THAN CONCENTRATING THEM IN ONE OR TWO SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS. THIS REPORT ADVOCATES A RETURN TO A POLICY OF CONCENTRATION. SINCE THE PRESENT CORRECTIONS POLICY IS DOMINATED BY THE CONCEPT OF HUMANE CONTAINMENT RATHER THAN TREATMENT AND TRAINING, IT IS URGED THAT SPECIFIC, DETAILED STANDARDS BE FORMULATED AGAINST WHICH HUMANE CONTAINMENT MAY BE MEASURED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS. THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED IN THIS REPORT ARE AIMED AT A REORGANIZATION OF THE RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE PRISON DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMANE CONTAINMENT. TABULAR DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)