NCJ Number
12210
Date Published
1973
Length
218 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF NATIONWIDE STATE OF PRISONS, AND DISCUSSION OF REFORM PROGRAMS TO REALIGN RESPONSIBILITY, IMPROVE REHABILITATION, AND SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
Abstract
THE BASIC CONTENTION OF THIS BOOK IS THAT THERE ARE MANY INEXPENSIVE, LEGAL, AND MORE HUMANE WAYS OF DEALING WITH OFFENDERS THAN SENDING THEM TO PRISON. THE AUTHOR BEGINS WITH A GENERAL OVERVIEW AND DEFINITION OF THE STATUS OF PRISONS AND REFORM EFFORTS. HE THEN PROCEEDS TO EXAMINE THE PRECISE NATURE OF PRISON PROBLEMS AS RELATED TO THE PRISONS THEMSELVES, THE PRISON ESTABLISHMENT AND STAFF, THE PRISONERS, INCLUDING THE 'NEW BREED' OF RECENT YEARS, AND THE ISSUES OF MONEY, SEX AND POWER. IN A DISCUSSION OF JOBS AND EDUCATION, THE AUTHOR DETAILS A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FOR BASIC REFORM, AND CONCLUDES WITH A PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSITIONAL COMMUNITIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE 'PATTERN FOR REALITY.'