NCJ Number
46261
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
TO ASSIST IN THEIR REVIEW OF U.S. CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STAFFERS VISITED CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS IN DENMARK, THE NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, ENGLAND, AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IN LATE 1977.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIVE-NATION TOUR WAS THE IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS USED IN THESE COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT, MINIMIZE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT, IMPROVE OFFENDER EMPLOYABILITY, AND ADDRESS VARIOUS ISSUES OF INTEREST TO THE U.S. ENGLAND'S COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER PROGRAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION IS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. AIMED AT REDUCING PRISON OVERCROWDING WHILE INVOLVING OFFENDERS IN TASKS WHICH HELP CREATE A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, INDIVIDUALS 17 YEARS-OF-AGE OR OLDER WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES NORMALLY PUNISHED BY IMPRISONMENT RECEIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS. MOST HAVE COMMITTED PROPERTY OFFENSES, WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, ASSAULT, ARSON, AND WEAPONS CHARGES. BY ALLOWING OFFENDERS TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT, AND COMPLETE NONPAID SERVICE ORDER ASSIGNMENTS, THE STATE AVOIDS THE COSTS OF IMPRISONMENT AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE EXPENSE OF SUPPORTING DEPENDENTS AND PROVIDES SOURCES OF LABOR TO VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. A LISTING OF SUITABLE COMMUNITY-BASED WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND SUCCESS AND RECIDIVISM DATA ARE INCLUDED. THE USE OF DAY FINES IN SWEDEN, DENMARK, AND GERMANY TO EFFECT SIMILAR CUTS IN PRISON CONFINEMENT IS ALSO DISCUSSED. DAY FINES CAN BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS OR, IF UNPAID, CONVERTED DIRECTLY TO PRISON TIME. DESPITE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING, IMPRISONMENT REMAINS AN APPROPRIATE METHOD FOR DETERRING AND PUNISHING CERTAIN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, PROTECTING SOCIETY, AND REHABILITATING OFFENDERS. VARIOUS PROGRAMS AIMED AT MINIMIZING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT ARE OUTLINED. LIBERAL LEAVE AND VISITING POLICIES, OPEN PRISONS, AND INCREASED INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT ARE REVIEWED. IN ALL THE COUNTRIES VISITED, NATIONAL PRISON LAWS REQUIRE INMATES TO WORK OR TO ENROLL IN EDUCATION OR TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE OFFENDER EMPLOYABILITY. WORK PROGRAMS, BOTH IN AND OUT OF PRISON; APPLICABLE WAGE CONSIDERATIONS; VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC TRAINING; AND JOB SEARCH INFORMATION ARE BRIEFLY OUTLINED. COMMENTS ON INMATE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, FEMALE OFFENDERS, PRISON MEDICAL CARE, AND CORRECTIONAL STAFFS ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)