NCJ Number
44332
Journal
Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 149-164
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT (INVOLVEMENT OF INMATES IN DECISIONMAKING) AS A CORRECTIONAL INTERVENTION TECHNIQUE IS SET FORTH.
Abstract
TRADITIONAL PRISON MANAGEMENT IS BASED ON AN AUTHORITARIAN REGIME WITH A RIGID HIERARCHY. INMATES OCCUPY THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE HIERARCHY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE INMATE SUBCULTURE, WITH ITS NEGATIVISM AND HOSTILITY TOWARD PRISON STAFF, IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS ORGANIZATIONAL SCHEME AND IS A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION WITHIN THE PRISON SETTING. PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS BASED ON THE NORMATIVE-COLLABORATIVE CHANGE STRATEGY, NEUTRALIZES THE EFFECTS OF THE INMATE SUBCULTURE BY REPLACING OPPOSITION BETWEEN STAFF AND INMATES WITH COALITION. THE PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT MODEL IS NOT WIDELY IMPLEMENTED DUE TO THE PERSONAL RISKS INVOLVED FOR REFORMERS WHOSE PROGRAMS CONTRADICT PUNITIVE AND RETRIBUTIVE VIEWS OF INCARCERATION. ALTHOUGH NOT A PANACEA FOR THE CRIME PROBLEM, PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT DOES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TENDENCIES TOWARD CONVENTIONAL NORMS, DRAWING INMATES INTO THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES, AND RESTORING DIGNITY AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. INMATES, PRISON STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS A RESULT. THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED, AND THE VALIDITY OF CLAIMS FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS STUDIED.