NCJ Number
7484
Journal
Villanova Law Review Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: (AUGUST 1971) Pages: 1055-1069
Date Published
1971
Length
15 pages
Annotation
COMMENTS ON THE ROLE OF THE PROSECUTOR IN INVESTIGATING PRISONERS' COMPLAINTS, NEW ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT, AND THE LEGISLATURE AS A SOURCE OF INMATE RIGHTS.
Abstract
THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA., PRESENTS A STATE PROSECUTOR'S PERSPECTIVE ON PRISONERS' RIGHTS LITIGATION. AMONG RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROSECUTORS TOWARDS PRISONERS, HE INCLUDES THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMES AGAINST PRISONERS BY OTHER INMATES, THE USE OF THE MANDAMUS POWER TO ENFORCE LEGISLATIVE DUTIES UPON PRISON ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE INVESTIGATION OF PRISON CONDITIONS. SEVERAL INNOVATIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE BEEN INITIATED BY THE PHILADELPHIA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, SUCH AS A PRE-INDICTMENT PROBATION PROGRAM FOR FIRST OFFENDER JUVENILES, ARE OUTLINED. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE LEGISLATURE, NOT THE COURTS, SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DETERMINING THE CONTENT OF REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS FOR PRISONERS. THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF WORKING PAPERS WHICH WERE DELIVERED AT A SYMPOSIUM ON PRISONER RIGHTS IN PENNSYLVANIA. FOR THE OTHER WORKING PAPERS, SEE NCJ-007481 THROUGH NCJ-007483 AND NCJ-007485 THROUGH NCJ-007487.