NCJ Number
62518
Editor(s)
A M MARCUS
Date Published
1977
Length
55 pages
Annotation
A RECENT REPORT TO THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT BY A SUBCOMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL REFORM IN CANADA IS CRITIQUED.
Abstract
AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF RECENT INMATE RIOTS AND STRONG EXPRESSIONS OF INMATE GRIEVANCES, THE SUBCOMMITTEE EXAMINING THE CANADIAN PENAL SYSTEM BELIEVES THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE REFORM. THE MAIN THRUST OF THE REPORT IS TOWARD AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT INMATE RIGHTS WHILE PURSUING MORE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR GREATER NUMBERS OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS. THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS REFORM ORIENTATION, BUT THERE ARE ISSUES DESERVING MORE CONSIDERATION THAN THE SUBCOMMITTEE GAVE THEM. SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE (1) REGIONALISM VERSUS CENTRALIZATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CORRECTIONS; (2) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CORRECTIONS INSPECTORATE TO MONITOR AND INVESTIGATE PRISON CONDITIONS; (3) THE NEED FOR PENAL RESEARCH; (4) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALITY TRAINING SCHOOL FOR THE HIGHER ECHELON OF CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL; (5) THE INVOLVEMENT OF TRADE UNIONS IN INMATE WORK ENTERPRISES; (6) A POLICY FOR DEALING WITH DANGEROUS OFFENDERS; (7) THE RIGHTS AND STATUS OF THE CORRECTIONAL STAFF; (8) THE NEED FOR A SOPHISTICATED CRIMINOLOGICAL AND PENOLOGICAL CENSUS OF THE PRISON POPULATION TO DETERMINE WHICH INMATES SHOULD BE IN PRISON, AND WHICH INMATES SHOULD BE REDIRECTED INTO ALTERNATIVES; AND (9) WHETHER REDUCING PRISON SENTENCES IN GENERAL MIGHT BE BETTER THAN HAVING A PAROLE SYSTEM. THE CRITIQUE IS DISCUSSED BY THREE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS. (RCB)