NCJ Number
53704
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPMENTS IN CORRECTONS ARE PREDICTED AND STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING A SHIFT IN EMPHASIS AWAY FROM IMPRISONMENT ARE SUGGESTED IN THE CLOSING CHAPTER FROM A BOOK ON ALTERNATIVES IN CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
ON THE BASIS OF THE BOOK'S EXAMINATION OF CORRECTIONAL INNOVATIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES, AND EUROPE, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CHIEF PREOCCUPATION IN CORRECTIONS IS LIKELY TO REMAIN THAT OF REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION. HOWEVER, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY WILL COMMIT ITSELF TO A SINGLE STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING SUCH A REDUCTION. AN OVERTLY EXPRESSED POLICY OF PRISON POPULATION REDUCTION IS POLITICALLY UNPALATABLE, AND NO ONE AGENCY--PRISON, PROBATION/PAROLE, POLICE, OR JUDICIARY--IS IN A POSITION TO COMMAND THE NECESSARY SUPPORT OF ALL THE OTHERS. NEVERTHELESS, CHANGE AND EVOLUTION ARE NOT NECESSARILY IMPOSSIBLE, AND EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES MUST BE PURSUED SIMULTANEOUSLY. FIVE APPROACHES TO BRINGING ABOUT A SHIFT IN EMPHASIS TOWARD NONCUSTODIAL MEANS OF DEALING WITH OFFENDERS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND OTHER WESTERN DEMOCRACIES ARE OUTLINED: (1) CLOSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS, (2) ENCOURAGING INVOLVEMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS, (3) COOPERATING WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT CAN PROVIDE SERVICES (HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, ETC.) TO OFFENDERS, (4) INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY INTERVENTION, AND (5) BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH IMPRISONMENT AND THOSE CONCERNED WITH SUPERVISION IN THE COMMUNITY (PRISONS AND PAROLE AGENCIES), PERHAPS BY CREATING A UNIFIED OFFENDER SERVICE. (LKM)