DESIRABILITY OF A CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN

• NCJ Number: 13165
• Author(s): T L FITZHARRIS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 132 pages
• Grant Number(s): CG-9041
• Sponsoring Agency: US Executive Office of the President
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Sale Source: University of California, Berkeley; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

NEED FOR AN IMPARTIAL OFFICIAL TO FACILITATE THE INVESTIGATIONS OF PRISONERS' GRIEVANCES AND THEREBY TO REDUCE FRUSTRATIONS AND TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN INMATES, PRISON STAFF, AND SOCIETY.

Abstract

A SUCCESSFUL OMBUDSMAN NEEDS INDEPENDENCE, IMPARTIALITY, EXPERTISE, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INVESTIGATIVE POWER TO SUCCEED. HE SHOULD NOT BE PAID BY THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM THAT HE SERVES, BUT BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. HE NEEDS TO BE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE AND TO HAVE COMPLETE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY. THE ADVANTAGES INCLUDE A CENTRAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION, A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FRIVOLOUS PRISONER PETITIONS TO THE COURTS, INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE WORKINGS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND PROTECTION OF THE PRISON STAFF FROM UNFOUNDED CHARGES AND ALLEGATIONS. PRISONERS WOULD BE ABLE TO VOICE THEIR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISALS. THE AUTHOR BASES HIS CONCLUSIONS PARTLY ON A REVIEW OF ESTABLISHED OMBUDSMAN OFFICES IN THIS COUNTRY AND ABROAD.