PRISON REFORM - 'TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE'

• NCJ Number: 47849
• Author(s): H BURNS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: Southern Illinois University Ctr for the Study of Crime, Delinquency, and Corrections
• Sale Source: Southern Illinois University Ctr for the Study of Crime, Delinquency, and Corrections
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. WRITTEN FOR 'DISCOVERY,' V 8, N 2 (MAY 1977), A PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO COLLEGE OF LAW

Annotation

THE HISTORY AND CURRENT (1977) STATE OF PRISON REFORM, PURPOSES OF INCARCERATION, DANGERS POSED TO INMATES BY FELLOW INMATES AS A BARRIER TO REHABILITATION, AND THE PROBLEMS OF PRISON OVERCROWDING ARE CONSIDERED.

Abstract

CHANGES IN THE WAY SOCIETY TREATS ITS PRISONERS FROM 1970 TO THE PRESENT (1977) BRIEFLY SKETCHED. THE REFORMS EFFECTED BY OHIO AND ALABAMA AND THE PROPOSED REDUCTION IN POPULATION IN ONE OVERCROWDED NEW YORK CITY PRISON ARE DESCRIBED. THE SINGLE MOST URGENT PROBLEM IN PRISON REFORM IS IDENTIFIED AS OVERCROWDING, AND THE HUGE COSTS NECESSARY TO CORRECT IT. SEVERE OVERCROWDING OF PRISONS HAS FORCED SEVERAL STATES TO USE FACTORIES, WAREHOUSES, FORMER SCHOOLS, MOBILE HOMES, AND EVEN TENTS TO HOUSE PRISONERS. THE FOUR POSSIBLE PURPOSES OF PRISONS AND CORRECTIONS IN GENERAL ARE EXPLORED: (1) PUNISHMENT OR RETRIBUTION; (2) SECURITY OR ISOLATION OF DANGEROUS PERSONS FROM SOCIETY; (3) REPENTANCE; AND (4) REHABILITATION. THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PUNISHMENT OF PRISON IS SEEN AS THAT OF THE MIND, THE SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS AND ISOLATION AND THE LACK OF DIGNITY, CONCERN OR COMPASSION OF THOSE IN CHARGE TOWARD PRISONERS. UNFORTUNATELY, REHABILITATION SEEMS TO BE A MYTH, MERE RHETORIC, FOR TWO MAIN REASONS: (1) MEANINGFUL JOBS IN PRISON EXISTS FOR ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE INMATES, AND (2) PRISON AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT PROTECTED THE INMATE FROM ASSAULT BY FELLOW INMATES. NO ONE CAN BE REHABILITATED WHEN SURVIVAL IS AT STAKE. THE REALITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE PRISON MUST BE ADDRESSED AS THE FIRST PRIORITY BY THE ADMINISTRATION, BEFORE REHABILITATION CAN TAKE PLACE. THE PSYCHODYNAMICS OF ASSAULTIVE SEX OR EVEN THE THREAT OF ASSAULT IN THE SCHEME OF PRISON LIFE ARE EXPLORED. THE FIRST STEP IN DEALING WITH PRISON RAPE IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS EXISTENCE BY ADMINISTRATORS, WHO MUST ASSUME PREVENTIVE RESPONSIBILITY. INTRAMURAL DRUG TRAFFIC POSES AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM. THESE TWIN PROBLEMS OF SEXUAL PERVERSION AND DRUG ABUSE ARE DEEP-SEATED EVILS IN PRISON. FREEDOM FROM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL BRUTALITY IS A STANDARD BELOW WHICH NO CIVILIZED PENAL SYSTEM CAN PERMIT ITSELF TO FALL. SOME MEANS MUST BE FOUND TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE DONE BY PRISONERS TO FELLOW PRISONERS, AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS OF ANY WOULD-BE PRISON REFORMER. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DJM)