NCJ Number
58004
Date Published
1977
Length
82 pages
Annotation
THIS REVIEW OF MILITARY CODES, STUDIES, AND HISTORIES TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. ARMY'S CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1947 THROUGH VARIOUS REFORM EFFORTS OF THE 1970'S.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE ARMY'S AUTHORITY TO PUNISH OFFENDERS DATES BACK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLES OF WAR OF 1775, THE PRESENT UNIFIED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM BEGAN AFTER WORLD WAR II. BEFORE THAT TIME EACH INSTALLATION HAD HANDLED OFFENDERS DIFFERENTLY AND THERE WAS LITTLE UNIFORMITY IN EITHER CORRECTIONAL GOALS OR CORRECTIONAL STANDARDS. ARMY REGULATION 190-47, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE UNIFORM SYSTEM, SPECIFIED THAT THE GOAL WAS TO RETURN AS MANY OFFENDERS AS POSSIBLE TO MILITARY DUTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF A PUNITIVE DISCHARGE WAS PART OF THE SENTENCE, THEN THE OFFENDER SHOULD BE REHABILITATED BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO CIVILIAN LIFE. BY 1974 THIS UNIFIED SYSTEM HAD ABOUT 200 CONFINEMENT FACILITIES AROUND THE WORLD, OPERATED BY ABOUT 6,000 STAFF MEMBERS, INCARCERATING ABOUT 8,500 MILITARY PERSONNEL, AND COSTING IN EXCESS OF $6 MILLION. IT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH STUDY AND CRITICISM. DURING THE VIETNAM WAR THE SYSTEM WAS SEVERELY STRAINED WHEN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE INCREASED STEADILY. THE ARMY RESPONDED BY REOPENING THE U.S. ARMY RETRAINING BRIGADE AT FT. RILEY, KAN., AND RESTRUCTURING THE OPERATION OF THE U.S. DISCIPLINARY BARRACKS AT FT. LEAVENWORTH, KAN. THE SYSTEM ALSO INSTALLED PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH RACIAL PROBLEMS AND DRUG USE. TABLES PRESENT INMATE STATISTICS, COST DATA, AND PAROLE DATA FOR THE PERIOD 1971 TO 1977 WHILE AN APPENDIX PRESENTS EXTENSIVE REFERENCES. (GLR)