NCJ Number
46632
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
JONATHAN EDWARD'S PHRASE 'THE TENDENCY OF GENERAL BENEVOLENCE TO PRODUCE JUSTICE' IS THE THEME USED AS SWEDEN'S BENEVOLENT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED.
Abstract
AFTER FIRST-HAND EXPOSURE TO THE SWEDISH CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT WHILE THE FIRST CONCERN OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS SAFE CUSTODY AND/OR SECURITY, IN SWEDEN SUCH CONSIDERATIONS COME ALONG AFTER AND ALMOST AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT TO AN ENUNCIATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PRISONER TO OBTAIN ALL THE SUPPORTS OF SOCIETY TO WHICH OTHER CITIZENS ARE ENTITLED. A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT IN THE SWEDISH PENOLOGICAL TEMPER IS THE APPARENT ACCEPTANCE BY THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY THAT A SWEDE CONVICTED OF A CRIME IS IN NO SENSE EXCISED FROM THE MORAL-SOCIAL FABRIC OF SOCIETY. A NUMBER OF NOTEWORTHY CONSEQUENCES FLOW FROM THIS ACCEPTANCE, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYMENT OF A LARGE MAJORITY OF INMATES AT PRODUCTIVE TASKS IN WORKSHOPS COMPARABLE IN MOST RESPECTS TO WORKING PLACES IN CIVILIAN LIFE, LESS FREQUENT IMPRISONMENT AND FOR RELATIVELY SHORT PERIODS, MAINTENANCE OF CONTACT WITH FAMILIES, THE USE OF OPPOSITE-SEX STAFF WORKING DIRECTLY WITH INMATES, INMATE PARTICIPATION IN INSTITUTIONAL GOVERNANCE, AND A MINIMUM OF MORALISTIC RESTRICTIONS ON VISITING PRIVILEGES. THE SWEDISH DIMINISHMENT OF HARSH AND BRUTAL PENAL PUNISHMENT IS BASED NOT SO MUCH ON THE BELIEF THAT RECIDIVISM IS THEREBY REDUCED (THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THAT OF OTHER SYSTEMS), BUT RATHER ON THE CONVICTION THAT A SOCIETY'S TREATMENT OF ITS OFFENDERS IS A MEASURE OF THE HUMANENESS OF THAT SOCIETY. (RCB)