NCJ Number
48860
Date Published
1976
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS IS INTENDED AS A STUDENT WORKBOOK FOR TWO WORKSHOPS, ONE DEALS WITH THE THEORY AND PURPOSE OF IMPRISONMENT AND THE OTHER FOCUSES ON ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT.
Abstract
THIS WORKBOOK IS ONE OF FIVE INTENDED FOR A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND SOCIETY'S RESPONSES TO IT. MATERIAL FOR THE FIRST WORKSHOP CONSISTS OF EXERCISES AIMED AT MAKING STUDENTS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS SUCH AS: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PRISONS? WHY DO WE HAVE PRISONS? WHAT ARE WE ACCOMPLISHING THROUGH PRISONS? HOW IS PRISON VIEWED FROM THE PRISONER'S PERSPECTIVE? HOW DO WE CHANGE THE PRISON? IN THE EXERCISE OF THE SECOND WORKSHOP, SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS ACT AS COMMUNITY SENTENCING BOARD. EACH GROUP IS ASKED TO DEFINE THE CRIME FOR WHICH THE DEFENDANT IS CONVICTED AND THE DEFENDANT'S SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION. ACTING AS A COMMUNITY SENTENCING BOARD, THE GROUP IS ASKED TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE OFFENDER AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN DECIDING THE SENTENCE. THE GROUP IS FREE TO PRESCRIBE ANY COURSE OF ACTION DEEMED DESIRABLE WITHIN A BUDGET SPECIFIED AT $10,000 PER YEAR. THE SMALL GROUP SENTENCES ARE THEN DISCUSSED BY THE LARGE GROUP. (RCB)