LEGISLATING REHABILITATION (REHABILITATION - WHAT PART OF CORRECTIONS? 1977, BY BRENDA BRADSHAW AND PETER J ECK SEE NCJ-56718)

• NCJ Number: 56729
• Author(s): D LYON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE ARGUES FOR ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT AS BEING EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE, EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME THAN IMPRISONMENT, AND SUGGESTIONS ARE GIVEN.

Abstract

NEW MEXICO SHOULD MAXIMIZE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, AS THESE ARE FAR LESS EXPENSIVE, AND AS OR MORE EFFECTIVE, THAN LONG PERIODS OF INCARCERATION IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM. SOME ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION INCLUDE: (1) RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS, WHICH INVOLVES THE THE OFFENDER PAYING THE VICTIM FOR LOSSES INCURRED DUE TO THE CRIME, AS WELL AS PAYING FOR EXPENSES OF ARREST AND TRIAL; (2) THE USE OF FINES IN LIEU OF IMPRISONMENT; (3) EXPANDED USE OF CITATIONS AND SUMMONS INSTEAD OF PRETRIAL DETENTION; (4) GREATER RELIANCE OR DIVERSION PROJECTS TO MINIMIZE CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PREVENT RECIDIVISM; (5) EXPANDED USE OF PROBATION, WHOSE COSTS ARE ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF THOSE OF INCARCERATION, IS AT LEAST AS EFFECTIVE AS INCARCERATION IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM, AND OFTEN HAS A SUCCESS RATE AS HIGH AS 94 PERCENT; (6) EXPANSION OF PAROLE, WHICH WOULD, IN EFFECT, DEINSTITUTIONALIZE ALL BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS OFFENDERS; (7) INCREASEMENT OF HALFWAY HOUSES, WHICH WOULD OPERATE AT HIGH STANDARDS; (8) EXPANSION OF WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS, THEREBY ALLOWING PRISONERS TO HAVE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION; (9) EFFECTIVE POLICE TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, WHICH CAN HELP REDUCE CRIMES DERIVED FROM REPEATED ALTERCATIONS BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS AND ACQUAINTANCES; (10) DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMAL FORUMS, ENABLING COMMUNITY JUDGES TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PARTIES WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE FORMAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND (11) DECRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMLESS AND CONSENTUAL OFFENSES. EACH OF THESE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUIONALIZATION IS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED, WITH EXAMPLES OF EXISTING PROGRAMS FREQUENTLY CITED. IT IS THE TASK OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AND FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT. (RCB)