NCJ Number
44272
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY POINTS OUT THE SHORTCOMINGS OF INCARCERATION AS A CRIME DETERRENT.
Abstract
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST 'PRISON AS PANACEA' RESTS ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS: (1) IMPRISONMENT AS A DETERRENT TO CRIME HAS BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST WITH ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS; (2) EMPHASIS ON IMPRISONMENT AND PUNISHMENT FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE INFLUENCE OF SUCH NEGATIVE SOCIETAL FACTORS AS UNEMPLOYMENT AND RACISM; (3) REHABILITATION, DESPITE ITS RECORD, DESERVES TO BE CONTINUED FOR WHATEVER BENEFITS IT MAY AFFORD CERTAIN OFFENDERS; AND (4) THE COSTS INVOLVED IN IMPRISONMENT ARE STAGGERING. SURVEY FINDINGS WHICH SHOW THAT MORE IMPRISONMENT SIMPLY MEANS MORE PRISONERS, NOT LESS CRIME, ARE CITED. IT IS URGED THAT COMPREHENSIVE CORRECTIONAL PLANNING, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF ALL COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO CONFINEMENT, TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PRISONS. COMMUNITY TREATMENT IS PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED FOR NONDANGEROUS OFFENDERS, WHO ARE SAID TO REPRESENT 30 TO 50 PERCENT OF THE INMATE POPULATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IMPRISONMENT BE MADE THE SENTENCE OF LAST RESORT, I.E., THE INFREQUENTLY USED ALTERNATIVE TO A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE PUBLIC'S ANXIETY CONCERNING CRIME, AND THE CONSEQUENT SUPPORT FOR GREATER USE OF INCARCERATION, IS SAID TO BE ATTRIBUTABLE IN PART TO THE OVERDRAMATIZATION OF CRIME BY THE PRESS AND BY TELEVISION.