NCJ Number
14618
Date Published
1970
Length
242 pages
Annotation
OVERVIEW OF THE CONCEPT, A DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF INSTITUTIONS IN SEVEN WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AND GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING THE WEST GERMAN SYSTEM.
Abstract
CUSTODY (MASSREGELVOLLZUG) INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT (STRAFVOLLZUG) IS USED FOR NONOFFENDERS SUCH AS PROBLEM DRINKERS IN SWITZERLAND AND PSYCHOPATHS IN DENMARK. THE CONCEPTS OF MINIMUM AND MEDIUM SECURITY IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE COMPARED AND CONTRASTED, WITH SOME ATTENTION BEING DEVOTED TO VARIANT FORMS OF THE TWO. A BRIEF HISTORY OF CORRECTIONAL TRENDS LEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF REDUCED SECURITY IS PROVIDED, WITH COMMENTS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. THE CURRENT STATUS OF REDUCED SECURITY CORRECTIONS IN DENMARK, FINLAND, ENGLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND AND WEST GERMANY IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED, WITH INFORMATION GIVEN REGARDING INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS IN THOSE COUNTRIES. VARIOUS WAYS OF ARRANGING REDUCED SECURITY INSTITUTIONS ACCORDING TO TYPE ARE MENTIONED. FORMS OF ORGANIZATION, LOCATION, SIZE AND TYPES OF BUILDING ARE DISCUSSED. SUCH MATTERS AS SECURITY MEASURES, CRITERIA FOR SELECTING INMATES OF REDUCED SECURITY INSTITUTIONS, WORK DONE BY INMATES, CENSORSHIP, FREE TIME, CLOTHING AND DISCIPLINARY MEASURES ARE DESCRIBED. LAWS, DRAFT LEGISLATION AND REFORM PROPOSALS HAVING TO DO WITH EXPANDING THE USE OF REDUCED SECURITY CORRECTIONS IN WEST GERMANY AND AUSTRIA ARE CITED. WITH AN EYE TO EVALUATING THE DEGREE OF SUCESS, FACTS AND FIGURES ARE PROVIDED ON THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF INMATES OF REDUCED SECURITY INSTITUTIONS COMPARED WITH THE OVERALL TOTALS, ON TRANSFERS BACK TO MORE SECURE FROM LESS SECURE INSTITUTIONS, ON ESCAPES AND ATTEMPTED ESCAPES, ON COSTS AND ON RECIDIVISM. THE AUTHOR FINDS THE RESULTS GENERALLY ENCOURAGING, BUT HE RECOMMENDS EXTENSIVE ADDITIONAL EVALUATIVE RESEARCH. HE ALSO PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING AND OPERATING REDUCED SECURITY INSTITUTIONS IN WEST GERMANY IN THE FUTURE. --IN GERMAN.