NCJ Number
61007
Date Published
1978
Length
201 pages
Annotation
THE SYSTEMIC MODEL IS EXPLORED IN THIS DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AS A BASIS FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATING CRIME CONTROL.
Abstract
THE SYSTEMIC MODEL ASSERTS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM USES THREE CRIME CONTROL METHODS--PUNISHMENT, INCAPACITATION, AND TREATMENT. PLANNING AND EVALUATION SHOULD CONSIDER THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG THESE METHODS. THE SYSTEMIC MODEL IS ALSO LINKED WITH BROAD ISSUES OF SOCIAL CONTROL AND FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS. VIEWING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A NETWORK OF FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE THREE CONTROL METHODS AS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS, THE METHODS AS GOALS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON CRIME CONTROL ORGANIZATIONS AS GOALS IN ANY FORMAL ORGANIZATION. USING ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY, THE SYSTEMIC MODEL IS APPLIED TO A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON, FOCUSING ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CONTROL METHODS ARE PRISON GOALS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE INSTITUTION'S ORGANIZATION, STAFF RELATIONSHIPS, AND STAFF ROLES. ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT ALL METHODS ARE SECOND-LEVEL GOALS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OFFICIALLY MANDATED OR CONSIDERED HIGHLY IMPORTANT BY STAFF. IF VIEWED AS OFFICIAL MANDATES, THEY ARE NOT GIVEN AN ORDER OF PRIORITY. HOWEVER, WHEN PERCEIVED AS EXECUTIVE VIEWS AND STAFF PERCEPTIONS, SECURE CONFINEMENT (IMPLEMENTING PUNISHMENT AND INCAPACITATION) EMERGES AS THE PRIMARY PRISON GOAL. DAILY DECISIONMAKING, PRISON ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND STAFF ROLES ARE ALL BASED ON THIS PRIORITY. IF THE SYSTEMIC MODEL IS USED AS A CONCEPTUAL SCHEME AND EMPIRICAL TOOL IN PLANNING AND EVALUATING CRIME CONTROL, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS WILL BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD. APPENDIXES CONTAIN QUESTIONNAIRES GIVEN TO THE PRISON STAFF. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)