FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS IN PENITENTIARY TREATMENT (FROM SYSTEMS OF TREATMENT AND PERSONNEL TRAINING IN PENITENTIARIES, 1978 - SEE NCJ-56257)

• NCJ Number: 56262
• Author(s): S G RAMIREZ
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations; Imprenta Nacional
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Costa Rica

Annotation

THE GOAL OF SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PROGRESSIVE TREATMENT METHODS INSIDE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS BY MEANS OF RADICAL ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION.

Abstract

PRISON LIFE IS BASED ON THE PARADOXICAL EXPECTATION THAT PERSONS CAN BE EDUCATED FOR FREEDOM IN A MILIEU WITHOUT FREEDOM. HOWEVER, OFFENDERS CAN RECEIVE PROGRESSIVE, PERSONALIZED, AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT TOWARD THE GOAL OF THEIR SOCIAL REINTEGRATION EVEN IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. IN SUCH AN INSTITUTION, THE INMATES' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST ARBITRARINESS. THE RIGIDITY OF INSTITUTIONAL LIFE IS MODIFIED BY FLEXIBLE APPROACHES, SUCH AS WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS AND REALISTIC AND ACCELERATED VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE THAT HELP TO MINIMIZE THE STULTIFYING EFFECTS OF THE MONOTONY OF PRISON LIFE, WHERE TIME SEEMS TO STOP. INMATES MUST ALSO BE TAUGHT TO PRESERVE OR TO RE-ACQUIRE SELF-RELIANCE AND DECISIONMAKING SKILLS, INSTEAD OF BEING ALLOWED TO FALL INTO A CHILDLIKE DEPENDENCE ON PRISON STAFF. POLITICAL PRISONERS, MOSTLY YOUNG, INTELLIGENT, VIGOROUS PEOPLE, OFFER A SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO THE PENAL SYSTEM OF A LIBERAL DEMOCRACY: SUCH VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCES MUST BE RESTORED TO SOCIETY THROUGH FRANK EXCHANGES AND IDEOLOGICAL DEBATES WITH COMPETENT CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS. FOREIGN INMATES, WHO REPRESENT AN INSOLVABLE PROBLEM OF RE-INTEGRATION (OR, RATHER, INTEGRATION) INTO AN ALIEN SOCIETY, SHOULD BE REPATRIATED (NOT NECESSARILY EXTRADITED) AS THE ONLY EXPEDIENT AND COMPASSIONATE SOLUTION. OTHER CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS TO BE RESOLVED ARE LACK OF FUNDS, POOR MANAGEMENT, GOVERNMENT INDIFFERENCE TOWARD INSTITUTIONS, LOW VISIBILITY OF INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE SURROUNDED BY COMMUNITY APATHY, AND INMATES' INABILITY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN MANAGING THEIR INSTITUTIONS FOR LACK OF POLITICAL POWER, INPUT, AND EXPERTISE. CORRECTIONAL REFORMS SHOULD BE THE OUTCOME OF RATIONAL, COMPREHENSIVE, LONG-RANGE PLANNING, NOT IRRATIONAL, PIECEMEAL, HASTY CONCESSIONS TO INMATES' UNREASONABLE DEMANDS IN THE AFTERMATH OF PRISON DISORDERS. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)