NCJ Number
62517
Editor(s)
A M MARCUS
Date Published
1977
Length
163 pages
Annotation
CRITICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE USE OF PRISONS IN A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM (WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON CANADA) ARE DISCUSSED IN A WORKSHOP IN AUGUST, 1977, SPONSORED BY THE WORLD FEDERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH.
Abstract
'THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM IN CRISIS,' 'VIOLENCE IN PRISON,' AND 'PRISON, SOCIETY, AND THE FUTURE' ARE THE TOPICS DISCUSSED BY THE PANELS, WITH PROVISION FOR DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PANEL MEMBERS AND WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS. A RECENT REPORT TO THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT BY A SUBCOMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL REFORM IN CANADA IS CRITIQUED BY ONE OF THE WORKSHOP SPEAKERS. CONSTRUCTED AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF RECENT INMATE RIOTS IN SOME CANADIAN PRISONS, THE REPORT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REFORMS WHICH WILL CHANGE THE INHUMANE AND DEBILITATING CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH MANY INMATES LIVE. THE PRINCIPAL THRUST OF THE REPORT IS COMMENDED, BUT CRITICAL CORRECTIONAL ISSUES NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED BY THE REPORT ARE NOTED. THE PANEL CONSIDERING VIOLENCE IN PRISON GENERALLY AGREED THAT ALTHOUGH MOST INMATES HAVE A PROPENSITY TOWARD VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BEFORE IMPRISONMENT, PRISON USUALLY PERPETUATES OR EVEN AGGRAVATES CONDITIONS TENDING TO STIMULATE VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION. THE TYPE OF CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND INMATE PROGRAMS THAT CAN COUNTER INMATES' DISPOSITIONS TOWARD VIOLENCE ARE DESCRIBED. THE PANEL DISCUSSING PRISON, SOCIETY, AND THE FUTURE PLACES LITTLE FAITH IN THE ABILITY OF THE PRISON TO ACCOMPLISH CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE IN INMATES' BEHAVIOR; HOWEVER, PUNITIVE DEMANDS FROM THE PUBLIC AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL ARE NOTED TO FAVOR THE CONTINUATION AND EVEN EXPANSION OF THE PRISON SYSTEM, ALBEIT WITH DETERMINATE RATHER THAN INDETERMINATE SENTENCES IMPOSED. THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS THAT THE USE OF IMPRISONMENT WILL DECREASE WHILE THE USE OF EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION WILL INCREASE. INMATE PROGRAMS AND THE TRAINING OF PRISON STAFF SHOULD BE SUCH THAT PRISON CONDITIONS ARE AS HEALTHFUL AS POSSIBLE. A LIST OF WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)