INMATE SELF GOVERNMENT AND GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION - PRISON REFORM THROUGH INMATE PARTICIPATION (FROM PENOLOGY - THE EVOLUTION OF CORRECTIONS IN AMERICA, 2ND ED., 1979, BY GEORGE G KILLINGER ET AL - SEE NCJ-58769)

• NCJ Number: 58772
• Author(s): C A LINDQUIST
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: West Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ONE OF THE MAJOR STRUCTURAL DEFECTS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF PRISONS HAS BEEN THE RELUCTANCE OF ADMINISTRATORS TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE VALIDITY OF INMATE PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS.

Abstract

BY FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THE DAMAGE TO CORRECTIONAL GOALS RESULTING FROM THE ILLEGITIMATE TYPES OF CONTROLS PRISONERS ACTUALLY EXERCISE, ADMINSTRATORS PERPETUATE INSTITUTIONAL STAGNATION AND INJUSTICE. THE CONCEPT OF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BECAUSE OF THE VALID CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT INMATES CAN MAKE. ELEMENTS OF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT SHOULD INCLUDE ADVISORY INVOLVEMENT, REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVEMENT, INMATE UNIONS, AND DIRECT INVOLVEMENT. THROUGH COLLECTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN A DECISIONMAKING STRUCTURE PERCEIVED AS BEING LEGITIMATE, INMATES THEORETICALLY GOVERN THEMSELVES FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP. OPPONENTS OF INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT INCLUDE PRISON ADMINISTRATORS WHO SEE THIS SYSTEM AS UNDERMINING ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL. OTHERS CITE AS THEIR OBJECTIONS THE LACK OF INMATE CREDIBILITY, EXCESSIVE RELIANCE ON THE CONTINUED BENEVOLENCE OF THE INSTITUTION'S SUPERINTENDENT, DEFICIENCIES IN THE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM WHICH WILL ALLOW CONTROL TO BE EXERCISED BY A FEW INMATES, AND CONFUSION OVER THE GOALS TO BE ACHIEVED. DESPITE RESISTANCE TO REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVEMENT, CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT EXISTS FOR A LESS-INCLUSIVE TYPE OF INMATE PARTICIPATION, SPECIFICALLY FOR FORMAL PARTICIPATION IN THE RESOLUTION OF GRIEVANCES. HOWEVER, THE INMATES SHOULD PLAY A GREATER ROLE THAN MERELY PARTICIPATING IN SOME SORT OF GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION PROCESS. PARTICIPATION IN GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION WOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY SCHEME OF SELF-GOVERNMENT, BUT INMATE INVOLVEMENT SHOULD ADDITIONALLY ENCOMPASS BOTH INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT. (STB)