NCJ Number
64895
Date Published
1978
Length
39 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNISHING ASSISTANCE TO WEST GERMAN CONVICTED OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
LEGALLY DEFINED TASKS OF CONVICTED OFFENDER ASSISTANCE INCLUDE INVESTIGATIVE AID AS REQUESTED BY THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS, PRISONER TREATMENT DURING IMPRISONMENT, AND ASSISTANCE UPON RELEASE OF INMATES (E.G., ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PREPARATION, AND SOCIAL GUIDANCE AFTER RELEASE). THESE WORK OBJECTIVES ARE DIFFICULT TO REALIZE BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL SHORTAGES, NEGATIVE PUBLIC OPINION, INCREASINGLY STRINGENT PRISON RULES AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, OUTMODED FACILITIES NOT CONDUCIVE TO TREATMENT, A LACK OF FINANCIAL MEANS FOR PRISONER TRAINING, AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR NEW TREATMENT METHODS AS WELL AS DIFFICULTIES IN DECIDING WHICH TREATMENT MODE IS MOST SUITABLE. DESPITE JUSTICE SYSTEM SCEPTICISM, VOLUNTEER WORKERS ARE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL IN RESOCIALIZATION WHEN THEY PROVIDE PERSONAL CONTACTS FOR PRISONERS FROM THE BEGINNING OF IMPRISONMENT THROUGH THE POSTRELEASE PERIOD. VOLUNTEERS MUST BE MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS RATHER THAN BY UTOPIAN MISSIONARY IDEALS, MUST UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR PRISON SECURITY MEASURES, AND MUST ATTEMPT TO FURTHER THE PRISONERS' LEGAL INTEGRATION. DUE TO THE INCREASED NUMBER OF SUSPENDED SENTENCES AND PAROLES, PROBATION OFFICERS ARE SO OVERLOADED THAT THEY CANNOT DEVOTE THE NECESSARY TIME TO EACH CASE; A GREATER NUMBER OF PROBATION OFFICERS WOULD SOLVE THE TREATMENT PROBLEM WHILE SAVING THE STATE THE COSTS OF PRISON CARE AND INCREASING PRISONER PRODUCTIVITY. AN INTERMEDIATE SOLUTION IS THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICERS. A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS INTEGRATING NEW PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT SPECIALTIES INTO THE PRISONER ASSISTANCE PROCESS. LAWYERS MUST TRY TO KEEP ABREAST OF SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS, AND FRICTION BETWEEN TREATMENT SPECIALISTS AND CUSTODIAL OFFICERS MUST BE OVERCOME. THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS TO CORRECTIONS WORK ARE THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE TESTING OF POSSIBILITIES FOR TREATMENT METHODS, AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND CORRECTIVE PLANNING. APPLICATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE PRINCIPLES CAN IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PRISONERS AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. VOLUNTARY SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE CITIZENS IS NEEDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)