NCJ Number
65188
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS ON OFFENDERS ARE REPORTED AND IMPLICATIONS DRAWN.
Abstract
RESEARCH FINDINGS SHOW THAT CRIME TYPES AND CRIME RATES ARE RARELY AFFECTED BY ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, OR JUDICIAL, AND CORRECTIONAL POLICIES, ALTHOUGH SUCH POLICIES MAY DETERMINE WHICH INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS ARE SUBJECTED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSING. DATA SHOW THAT CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY GENERALLY LEADS TO THE ARREST, CONVICTION, AND IMPRISONMENT OF THOSE OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, INFERIOR EDUCATION, AND FEW JOB SKILLS. A NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE MOST DAMAGING ASPECT OF INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS IS THE REMOVAL OF OFFENDERS FROM FREE SOCIETY, FURTHER HAMPERING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP NORMATIVE SURVIVAL SKILLS IN THE REAL WORLD. SINCE EVALUATIVE RESEARCH GENERALLY SHOWS THAT NO CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT HAS A REGULAR AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM, COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE THE USE OF THE LEAST EXPENSIVE TREATMENT METHODS, NAMELY NONINSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. DATA INDICATE THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE NOW IMPRISONED ARE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE CITIZENRY. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A CONCERTED EFFECT TO STOP THE BUILDING OF PRISONS AND JAILS. IF THE FACILITIES ARE THERE, THEY WILL BE FILLED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)