NCJ Number
57037
Journal
Crime and Social Justice Volume: 5 Dated: (SPRING-SUMMER 1976) Pages: 50-53
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE OF A PRISON COLLECTIVE IN MARION, ILL., IS TO ELEVATE POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS BY ONE-ON-ONE POLITICAL EDUCATION, INFILTRATION, AND POLITICIZATION.
Abstract
THE PRISON COLLECTIVE IS BASED ON THE NEED FOR A FORCE WHOSE IDEOLOGICAL CONCEPT SURPASSES THE NARROW-MINDED NATIONALISM AND REACTIONARY DESIRE TO IMITATE THE URBAN FORM OF GANGSTERISM. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THE COLLECTIVE IS TO LIBERATE OPPRESSED CLASSES OF SOCIETY. THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO SELF-CRITICISM, THE ELIMINATION OF LIBERALISM WITHIN SELF AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUP STUDY. CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE IS SELF-INITIATED AS A RESULT OF RECOGNIZING SOCIAL REALITIES, AND IS A REFLECTION OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PRIMARY METHOD OF MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IS THROUGH RAISING THE LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS. OVERALL, THE AIM OF THE COLLECTIVE IS TO CHANGE SOCIETY'S ATTITUDES THROUGH ANTIPRISON REFORMISM. STUDY GROUPS CONSTITUTE ONE WAY IN WHICH MASS POLITICIZATION CAN BE REALIZED AMONG THE PRISON POPULATION AND AMONG PERSONS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE PRISON STRUGGLE SITUATION. POLITICALLY-CONSCIOUS PRISONERS ARE CONCERNED WITH CONCRETE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FUNCTION OF PRISONS IN A CAPITALIST SOCIETY. THE BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PRISONS IS THAT THE MAIN ROLE OF PRISONS IS TO SERVE AS THE APEX OF SOCIAL COERCION WITHIN A CAPITALIST ECONOMY. IDEOLOGICAL CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY ARE APPLICABLE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY PRISON COLLECTIVE. (DEP)