NCJ Number
41871
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE ARTICLE EXPLORES ISSUES RELATING TO PENOLOGY REFORM, CALLING FOR A NEW ANALYSIS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE HUMANIZATION OF PRISONS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR PRESCRIBES SIMILAR CORRECTIONAL APPROACHES FOR THE OUTSIDE SOCIETY AS WELL AS THE INSIDE PRISON SOCIETY; OUTSIDE THE PRISON SYSTEM, HE CONSIDERS ELEMENTS IN THE CRIME THAT GO BEYOND THE OFFENDER AND HIS ACTIONS (VICTIMS, SITUATIONS, ENVIRONMENT, AND THE LAW ITSELF), WHILE WITHIN THE PENAL SYSTEM, HE URGES A BROADER PERSPECTIVE INCLUDING THE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE, DECISION PROCESSES, CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL, AND ARCHITECTURE, AS WELL AS THE INMATE HIMSELF. THE CRIMINAL MUST BE SEEN IN RELATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE ACT IS EMBEDDED, WHETHER THE CONFINED SOCIETY OF PRISON OR THE LARGER FREE SOCIETY. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS DEALING WITH CRIME AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM -- NOT AS 'SICKNESS' OR 'SEPARATE UNCONNECTED EVENTS WHICH ARE DUE TO INDIVIDUAL WICKEDNESS'. HE FURTHER RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE PENAL SYSTEM'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE TAXPAYING COMMUNITY. THE DATA IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT, THE PHILOSOPHY UNCLEAR, AND THE LANGUAGE DISHONEST. UNFORTUNATELY, RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONCERNED MORE WITH 'PATCHING UP HOLES' IN THE SYSTEM, ONLY TO MAKE NEW ONES IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO. A NEED IS EXPRESSED FOR BETTER ANALYSIS, MORE FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, AND MORE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO PROPOSE ALTERNATIVES AND ATTRACT SUPPORTING FUNDS.