NCJ Number
66136
Date Published
1977
Length
222 pages
Annotation
THE STUDY PRESENTS A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF PENAL DEVELOPMENT IN OKLAHOMA FROM 1907 TO 1967.
Abstract
IT BEGINS WITH THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1900'S ON THE ORIGIN OF THE PENAL SYSTEM AND TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SYSTEM TO 1967. THE PENITENTIARY AND REFORMATORY ARE STUDIED INDEPENDENTLY TO DETERMINE WHAT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FORCES SHAPED THEIR OPERATIONS. PENAL REFORM IN GENERAL IS EXAMINED TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE FORCES OF CHANGE AND CONTINUITY AND TO EXPLAIN THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE VARIOUS REFORM EFFORTS. FINALLY, THE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THE WORKER AND THE INMATE TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK FOR OR TO BE INCARCERATED IN OKLAHOMA'S PRISONS. THE STUDY FOUND THAT, THOUGH THE PRISONS WERE BUILT IN RESPONSE TO A SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENT, THE STATE NEVER VIEWED THE PENAL SYSTEM AS A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY DESIGNED TO REHABILITATE CONVICTED CRIMINALS. RATHER, THE PRISONS' PRIMARY VALUE TO THE STATE WAS THEIR PROFITMAKING POTENTIAL. THE STATE LEGISLATURE DELIBERATELY REFUSED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH STUDY AFTER STUDY CRITICIZED THE CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY, AND WASTE AND PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM. POLITICS DOMINATED THE OPERATION OF THE PRISONS THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD, WITH PATRONAGE HAVING A DISASTROUS EFFECT ON THE RECRUITMENT OF PERSONNEL AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONS. TO SUMMARIZE, THIS HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA'S PENAL SYSTEM INDICATES THAT THE IDEA OF PRISON REHABILITATION SERVICES AS PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)