NCJ Number
44143
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 57 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN-WINTER 1977) Pages: 56-62
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THREE MODELS OF PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT ARE DISTINGUISHED, PRISON REFORM PROGRAMS EXEMPLIFYING EACH MODE ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE BASIC OBJECTIVES OF DEMOCRATIC DECISIONMAKING IN PRISONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF DEMOCRATIZATION WITHIN PRISONS, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSIDER THE NATURE OF ISSUES UPON WHICH INMATES MAY NEGOTIATE, THE DEGREE TO WHICH AUTHORITIES REGARD NEGOTIATED DECISIONS AS BINDING, AND THE BASIC OBJECTIVES OF THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS. PARTICIPATORY MODELS MAY BE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR DEGREE OF REPRESENTATION (STRUCTURE) AND POWER (FUNCTION). THE TOKEN PARTICIPATION MODEL IS LIMITED IN SCOPE AND IS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE INMATE COUNCIL WHICH IS GRANTED LIMITED POWER AND AUTHORITY IN A SPECIFIC AREA. TYPICALLY, THE TOKEN MODEL TAKES THE FORM OF A TEMPORARY PROGRAM CREATED IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS. THE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL MODEL IS INSTITUTIONWIDE IN SCOPE BUT OFTEN INVOLVES MORE LIMITED POWER THAN THE TOKEN MODEL. INMATE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE SOME POWER TO ENFORCE ORDER AMONG INMATES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING INSTITUTIONAL RULES, BUT LITTLE REAL INFLUENCE IS EXERTED. THE FULL PARTICIPATION MODEL IS SIMILAR STRUCTURALLY TO THE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL MODEL BUT DIFFERS IN THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY SHARED BY INMATES WITH PRISON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO EXAMPLE OF THIS MODEL IN ITS PURE FORM, THE MUTUAL WELFARE LEAGUE INTRODUCED BY THOMAS OSBORNE IN 1913 APPROXIMATES THE MODEL. THE GOALS OF PRISON DEMOCRATIZATION HAVE BEEN VIEWED FROM MANAGEMENT AND REFORM PERSPECTIVES, BUT NOT FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF RADICAL AND POLITICIZED INMATES. IN NORTH AMERICA, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRISONERS' UNIONS HAS BEEN CONCURRENT WITH THE INABILITY OF INMATE ADVISORY COUNCILS TO EFFECT MEANINGFUL CHANGE. THE SAN FRANCISCO PRISONERS' UNION HAS CONCENTRATED ON THREE GOALS: ABOLITION OF THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE; ESTABLISHMENT OF WORKERS' RIGHTS; AND RESTORATION OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.