Managing Prison Population Growth, Delivering Effective Community-Based Corrections and Treating Drug-Related and Female Offenders (From UNAFEI Annual Report for 1999 and Resource Material Series No. 57, P 248-262, 2000)

• NCJ Number: 195944
• Author(s): Lawrence L. Motiuk
• Date Published: September 2001
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

This article provides background for the care, custody, control, and safe reintegration of offenders.

Abstract

Public opinion, staff, and offenders exert significant influence over the realization of correctional objectives. It is a commonly held notion that the growth of prison populations will continue in the future. Some recommendations in addressing the prison population in Canada are making greater use of diversion programs, increasing the use of charge screening, and testing innovative, traditional methods based on restoration and healing through Aboriginal justice and corrections pilot programs. The factors influencing the size of the prison population include crime rates, incarceration rates, sentence lengths, release policy and practice, offender population profile, and successful reintegration/recidivism. Offender reintegration can be defined as all activity and programming conducted to prepare an offender to return safely to the community as a law-abiding citizen. Reintegration levers include classifying initial security level, developing correctional plans, increasing program participation, improving program performance, and moderating segregation. Correctional treatment is effective in reducing criminal recidivism. The gradual and structured release of offenders is the safest and most effective strategy for the protection of society against new offenses. The risk management principles used in corrections are the assessment of risk, the sharing of information, the monitoring of activities, and an intervention, if deemed appropriate. Careful attention to dynamic risk assessment or problem identification and monitoring are the keys to successful community-based supervision and intervention. Offenders with drug abuse problems differ in terms of needs and response to treatment. The components of an effective drug abuse program for offenders include assessment, formal treatment, relapse prevention, and evaluation. Female offenders have different risk/need profiles with property, drug, and sex trade offenders most common in correctional systems. Clinical measures of capacity for relatedness and connection are important in determining treatment responsivity of a female offender. 34 references