NCJ Number
64338
Date Published
1979
Length
168 pages
Annotation
SIGNIFICANT DANISH PRISON AND PROBATION ACTIVITIES ARE REPORTED FOR 1978.
Abstract
IN 1978, THE DANISH PRISON AND PROBATION SERVICES SUCCEEDED IN IMPLEMENTING MANY OF THE PLANS PREPARED IN PRECEDING YEARS. PROBATION RESOURCES HAVE BEEN DECENTRALIZED SO THAT PROBATION OFFICERS CAN BE STATIONED CLOSER TO OFFENDERS' ENVIRONMENTS. THE NEW LOCAL PROBATION OFFICES ARE STAFFED PRIMARILY BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL TRANSFERRED FROM CORRESPONDING FACILITIES AT THE PRISONS. IN THE FUTURE, THESE OFFICES WILL NOT CONFINE THEIR ACITIVITES TO OFFENDERS ON SUSPENDED SENTENCE AND PAROLE BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS SERVING A SENTENCE OF LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO LOCATE PRISONS IN AREAS CONVENIENT TO THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHICH THE INMATES HAVE COME. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, FOREIGN INMATES BEGAN, COMPLAINING THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS DANISH INMATES FOR SERVING IN OPEN INSTITUTIONS, MAKING FAMILY VISITS OUTSIDE THE PRISON, AND PARTICIPATING IN OTHER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. AS A RESULT OF A WORKING GROUP'S REPORT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN PRISON IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THESE INMATES SHOULD BE DEPORTED AFTER SERVING SEVEN-TWELFTHS OF THEIR PRISON SENTENCE. TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DEBATE ON THE ISSUE OF DRUG TRAFFIC AND VIOLENCE IN DANISH PRISONS. THE REPORT OF A WORKING GROUP ON THIS ISSUE IS TO BE PRESENTED IN 1979. INMATES' COMPLAINTS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN DECLINED IN 1978, AS DID THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE INMATES FOUND GROUNDS FOR CRITICISM. BECAUSE OF A MARKED RISE IN ILL HEALTH AMONG PRISON OFFICERS, A PROPOSAL IS UNDER STUDY FOR REDUCING THE OFFICER RETIREMENT AGE FROM 70 TO 63 YEARS. TABULAR DATA, GRAPHS, CHARTS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)