NCJ Number
63971
Journal
Deviance et societe Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 149-159
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT OF TREATMENT FOR PRISON INMATES AND REHABILITATION EXPECTATIONS ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE MEDICAL MODEL FOR PRISONER REHABILITATION ARE THE CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS IN DIFFERENT TREATMENT GROUPS, CONTINUED EVALUATION OF EACH PATIENT TO DETERMINE SUITABILITY FOR PAROLE, AND MAINTENANCE OF TREATMENT FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD. THEORETICALLY, EACH INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES HAS ITS OWN TREATMENT SYSTEM, BUT REHABILITATION HAS NEVER BEEN SERIOUSLY ATTEMPTED, AS THE DEARTH OF QUALIFIED TREATMENT STAFF INDICATES. REHABILITATION SHOULD BE ON A VOLUNTARY, NOT AN OBLIGATORY BASIS, AS THE PRESENT SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH INDETERMINATE SENTENCES APPLIED IN EUROPE, REDUCES THE CLINICAL WORKER-INMATE RELATIONSHIP TO A GAME IN WHICH THE INMATE MUST PROVE HIS BETTERMENT TO ATTAIN LIBERTY. FURTHERMORE, MOST CLINICAL WORKERS REFUSE TO TURN THEIR BACKS ON THE STATUS QUO WHICH FEEDS THEM. A RETURN TO A SYSTEM OF DETERMINATE SENTENCES APPLIED STRICTLY ACCORDING TO JURIDICAL CRITERIA WOULD TRANSFORM THE THERAPIST-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. SIMPLE EQUITY IS A MORE IMPORTANT PRISON GOAL AND TREATMENT, BUT INEQUITY, ARBITRARINESS, AND UNCERTAINTY ARE TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE AND THE SYSTEM OF FREEDOM THROUGH PAROLE. EXECUTING IMPRISONMENT IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE LAW MAY CONVINCE CERTAIN DELINQUENTS TO STAY WITHIN THE LAW THEMSELVES. IN THIS SENSE EQUITABLE JUSTICE IS THE BEST TREATMENT. REFERENCES ARE FURNISHED. --IN FRENCH.