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PAPER ON THE TREATMENT IN PRISON OF STRONGLY CRIMINALLY INCLINED YOUNG OFFENDERS

NCJ Number
14836
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1970
Length
56 pages
Annotation
BROAD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS UP TO 24 YEARS OLD IN WEST GERMAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
THE RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTED FROM A CONFERENCE OF THE DEUTSCHE VEREINIGUNG FUER JUGENDGERICHTE UND JUGENDGERICHTSHILFE (GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND JUVENILE PRISON VOLUNTEER WORK). THE BASIC RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO GIVE PRECEDENCE TO THE GOAL OF RESOCIALIZATION. THIS WILL ENTAIL DEEMPHASIZING A SECURITY MENTALITY, PROVIDING MORE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO INMATES, DEVELOPING DECENTRALIZED, SMALL-SCALE FACILITIES, AND ALLOWING INMATES TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. EFFECTIVE METHODS OF INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT HAVE YET TO BE DEVELOPED. THE ASSOCIATION URGES INTENSIVE RESEARCH IN THIS AREA USING AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH, AND RECOMMENDS ESPECIALLY THE TECHNIQUES OF GROUP THERAPY. MINIMUM ESSENTIAL STEPS WHICH CAN BE TAKEN NOW INCLUDE A DIFFERENTIAL APPROACH TO INMATE TREATMENT, IMPROVED PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND FREE-TIME ACTIVITIES, PRERELEASE AND POST-RELEASE PROGRAMS, INMATE SHARING IN PLANNING AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUNG FEMALE INMATE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PRISON STAFF WORKERS, REDEFINING THEIR ROLE TO CONFORM TO THE GOAL OF RESOCIALIZATION, AND REORIENTING THE PROCESS OF STAFF SELECTION AND TRAINING. --IN GERMAN