NCJ Number
40166
Editor(s)
M MORRIS
Date Published
1976
Length
208 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS OF THE DOCUMENT ADVOCATE THE ABOLITION OF PRISONS IN FAVOR OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR DEALING WITH CRIMINALS.
Abstract
AS ABOLITIONISTS, THEY MAINTAIN THAT THE PRISON INSTITUTION DOES NOT REDUCE CRIME, BUT RATHER, BREEDS IT. THEIR CAMPAIGN IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT PRISON PUNISHES INDIVIDUAL SCAPEGOATS BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CULTURALLY OR ECONOMICALLY INDUCED BEHAVIOR. THE ABOLITIONISTS FURTHER ARGUE THAT THE DEFINITION OF A CRIMINAL CONTAINS THE PREREQUISITE THAT HE BE OF A CERTAIN 'SUB-HUMAN' SPECIES, EXCLUDING AND SANCTIONING THOSE FROM THE MORE POWERFUL SECTORS OF SOCIETY. THEY ASSERT THAT THE OVERWHELMING PROPORTION OF THOSE ARRESTED, TRIED, CONVICTED, AND PRISONED ARE THE POOR, THE BLACKS, THE UNCONVENTIONALS, AND THE YOUNG - NATURAL SCAPEGOATS. IN THIS MANUAL, THE AUTHORS PRESENT THE STRUCTURE FOR THEIR ABOLITION CAMPAIGN. THE DEFINITION OF A CRIMINAL IS DISSECTED, AND THEORIES OF DETERRENCE ARE EXPLORED. ALSO DEALT WITH ARE ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING, THE MYTH OF REHABILITATION, AND PRISON PUNISHMENT AND ITS JUSTIFICATION. STRATEGIES FOR DECARCERATION ARE EXPLORED AND THE EFFECTS THE DISSOLUTION OF THE PRISON SYSTEM WOULD HAVE ON COMMUNITIES ARE CONSIDERED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOCUMENT DEALS WITH VICTIMIZATION AND RESTITUTION. THE AUTHORS INSIST THAT EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIMES WITH VICTIMS MUST BE DIRECTED TOWARD CHANGING SOCIAL CONDITIONS WHICH FOSTER CRIMINALITY AND BY EMPOWERING VICTIMS TO RESIST VICTIMIZATION. THEY PROPOSE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO THE CRIME PROBLEM THAT INVOLVE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TOWARD A NON-PRISON SYSTEM. THE ABOLITION OF PRISONS IS VIEWED AS A LONG RANGE GOAL, REQUIRING BUILDING A MOVEMENT SHAPED BY PRISONERS, EX-PRISONERS, AND THEIR ALLIES. THIS DOCUMENT FURNISHES AN IDEOLOGY AND A PLAN WITH WHICH ABOLITIONISTS CAN BEGIN TO DEMOLISH THE CONSTRUCTS OF PRISONS. (SNI ABSTRACT)...KAP