NCJ Number
62520
Editor(s)
A M MARCUS
Date Published
1977
Length
43 pages
Annotation
A WORKSHOP PANEL COMPOSED OF A CRIMINOLOGIST, POLITICIAN, AND A PSYCHIATRIST DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF PRISONS IN 1977 AND IN FUTURE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CANADIAN CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.
Abstract
PUBLIC OPINION SUPPORTED BY MANY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS AND CRIMINOLOGISTS DISPARAGES THE ABILITY OF PRISONS TO RECTIFY THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OF INMATES. AT THE SAME TIME, A PUNITIVE ATTITUDE IS INCREASING WHICH SEEKS MORE AND LONGER PRISON TERMS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PRISON IS A DEADENING AND DESTRUCTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR INMATES, AS LONG AS SOCIETY DEMANDS PRISONS AS A PUNITIVE RESPONSE TO CRIME, EVERY ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO MODIFY THE BEHAVIOR OF INMATES TO CONFORM TO ACCEPTED SOCIAL NORMS UPON RELEASE. PRISON TERMS, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE BASED UPON PROGRESS TOWARD REHABILITATION GOALS. IF THE FUTURE IN CORRECTIONS IS TO TAKE US WHERE WE HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN, ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON SHOULD INCREASE WHILE THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS IMPRISONED SHOULD DECREASE. ALTHOUGH SOCIETY'S URGE TO PUNISH THOSE WHO VIOLATE ITS STANDARDS WILL PROBABLY NOT DIMINISH, NEW FORMS OF PUNISHMENT CAN BE DEVISED WHICH OFFER A BETTER HOPE THAN PRISONS OF A CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE IN THE OFFENDER. A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THE FUTURE WILL BE THE IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. AN IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS THE SELECTION AND TRAINING OF A CORRECTIONAL STAFF THAT CAN MANAGE AND RELATE TO INMATES SO THAT ANTAGONISMS DO NOT UNNECESSARILY DEVELOP AND THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT CAN BE AS HUMANE AND CONDUCIVE TO REHABILITATION AS IS POSSIBLE. DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE PANELISTS AND WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ARE PRESENTED. (RCB)