NCJ Number
52218
Journal
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPECIAL ISSUE 1978) Pages: 55-60
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS SURVEY OF U.S. PRISONS BUILT SINCE 1970 SHOWS THAT THE RATE OF CONSTRUCTION HAS NOT SLOWED AND REPORTS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW PRISONS AND COMMUNITY REACTIONS TO THEM.
Abstract
IN 1967, A TASK FORCE REPORT CONCERNED WITH CORRECTIONS RECOMMENDED THAT SOME OF THE ISOLATING EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION BE REMOVED. THE INTENT AND PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS WERE EXTENDED TO MORE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS. SEVERAL DISADVANTAGES, HOWEVER, ACCRUE TO ISOLATED FACILITIES. WORK OR STUDY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INMATES TO FACILITATE REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY ARE CURTAILED IN PRISONS ISOLATED FROM EDUCATIONAL CENTERS AND WORK SITES. TEMPORARY WORK RELEASE ARRANGEMENTS USUALLY ARE TERMINATED UPON PAROLE OR DISCHARGE WHEN A PERSON RETURNS TO THE COMMUNITY. FEWER VISITORS COME TO ISOLATED INSTITUTIONS, THUS LIMITING CONTACTS THROUGH PERSONAL OR CONJUGAL VISITS, COMMUNITY GUESTS, DEBATING SOCIETIES AND SPORTS EVENTS. FIELD TRIPS AND HOME FURLOUGHS AS REWARDS BECOME MORE IMPRACTICAL, AND STAFF OFTEN ARE SELECTED FROM A RURAL POPULATION HAVING LITTLE IN COMMON WITH PRISONERS. THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS READINESS FOR RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY IS ABRIDGED TO THE EXTENT THAT TEMPORARY RELEASE PROGRAMS ARE UNAVAILABLE. A 1973 TASK FORCE REPORT CALLED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SMALLER PRISONS NEAR POPULATION CENTERS AND RECOMMENDED THAT CAUTION AND RESTRAINT BE EXERCISED IN FURTHER PRISON CONSTRUCTION. DATA OBTAINED FROM THE 1977 AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION'S DIRECTORY OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES AND THE U.S. POPULATION CENSUS SHOW THAT PRISONS BUILT DURING THE 1970'S TEND TO BE SMALLER AND TO BE BUILT IN MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS THAN THOSE BUILT EARLIER. THE DATA ALSO INDICATE THAT REGIONAL INCREASES IN TOTAL PRISON CAPACITY ARE CORRELATED INVERSELY WITH BOTH GENERAL AND BLACK POPULATION INCREASES. LOCATING PRISONS IN OR NEAR CITIES HAS EVOKED A MIXED COMMUNITY RESPONSE. THE MOST FREQUENTLY HEARD ARGUMENTS AGAINST LOCATING PRISONS IN OR NEAR COMMUNITIES INVOLVE SECURITY CONCERNS. SOME CITIZENS FEEL THAT OFFENDERS ON TEMPORARY RELEASE PROGRAMS WILL NOT LIVE UP TO COMMUNITY STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR. ANOTHER FEAR IS THAT A CORRECTIONAL CENTER WILL CAUSE SURROUNDING PROPERTY TO LOSE VALUE. CONVERSELY, MANY CONSIDER A NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO BE AN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF JOB OPENINGS AND THE STIMULATION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION IN THE COMMUNITY. REFERENCES AND DATA FROM THE 1977 SURVEY ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)