NCJ Number
63112
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN BRITAIN'S PRISON SERVICE ARE BETWEEN THE PRISON DEPARTMENT AND PRISON STAFF AND BETWEEN PRISON STAFF AND THE PUBLIC.
Abstract
UNTIL 1963, WHILE THE PRISON COMMISSION WAS IN EXISTENCE, THE ATTITUDE OF HEADQUARTERS ON PRISON POLICY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION WAS CLEAR. NOW, WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND THE CONSEQUENT REGIONALIZATION OF ADMINISTRATION, THE VIEWS OF THE PRISON DEPARTMENT ARE LESS DISCERNIBLE. THIS PROBLEM OF COMMUNICATION HINDERS NOT ONLY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRESENT POLICY BUT ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIALOGUE BY WHICH FUTURE POLICY IS FORMULATED. THE RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN STAFF FRUSTRATION, REJECTION OF IDEALS OF TREATMENT, AND OPPOSITION TO PROPOSALS OF LIBERAL PENOLOGY. UNLESS THES LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE RESTORED, THE SUPPORT OF THE PRISON STAFF MIGHT WELL BE LOST WITH DETRIMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW POLICY. TO BEGIN, THE HEAD OFFICE SHOULD PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, A MORE VISIBLE SENSE OF DIRECTION, AND MORE DISCUSSION ON THE PRISON SYSTEM AS WELL AS MORE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN THE FIELD. THIS WILL ENCOURAGE PUBLIC DEBATES ABOUT THE PRISON SYSTEM AS WELL AS INCREASED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE MODERN PRISON ORGANIZATION. NOTES AND A DISCUSSION ARE APPENDED. (MJW)