NCJ Number
56528
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DEALS WITH THE LABELING OF OFFENDERS BY SOCIETY, STEREOTYPING AS A CONFINING PROCESS, AND THE GROUPING OF CLIENTS IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
TAKING THE WHOLE PERSON INTO CONSIDERATION GIVES A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM THAT RESULTING FROM DEALING WITH THE PERSON ONLY AS AN OFFENDER. BY FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE OFFENDER ASPECT OF THE PERSON, THAT PERSON CAN BE STIGMATIZED AND MANY REACTIONS EXHIBITED WILL BE REACTIVE IN NATURE IN RESPONSE TO STIGMATIZATION. FOR OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROBLEMS OF CONCEALMENT AND DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL LIFE EXIST. RELINQUISHING THE OFFENDER IDENTITY IS NOT EASY, SINCE SOCIETY GENERALLY CONTINUES TO FORCE THE STEREOTYPE IF THERE IS KNOWLEDGE OF A PERSON'S CRIMINAL PAST. TO BECOME A WHOLE PERSON WITH SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS TRANSCENDING THE OFFENDER LABEL MEANS RESISTING THE POWERFUL FORCES OF SUBMISSION THAT CAN KEEP AN INDIVIDUAL IN A STATE OF HELPLESSNESS. A TREATMENT PROGRAM ADDRESSING THE TOTAL GROWTH OF CLIENTS WILL SUPPORT A CONCERNED EFFORT IN SUCH AREAS AS PERSONHOOD, HETEROSEXUALITY, HOMOSEXUALITY, VENEREAL DISEASE, MASTURBATION, ABORTION, AND FAMILY PLANNING. OFFENDERS NEED COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER STAFF WHO ARE ABLE TO SEPARATE TRUTHS FROM MYTHS AND TO FREE THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF EACH PERSON. EXPECTATIONS AND CARING ARE KEY INGREDIENTS IN CHANGE ON THE PART OF CENTER STAFF. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)