NCJ Number
66617
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 39-43
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ARGUES THAT THE U.S. SHOULD HAVE ONLY TWO KINDS OF PRISONS--SECURITY AND 'NO-SECURITY' PRISONS--AND THUS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE PRISONS.
Abstract
BECAUSE SECURITY IS NEEDED FOR ONLY SOME PRISONERS, THOSE INTENDING TO ESCAPE, CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING 'NO-SECURITY' PRISONS FOR INMATES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE SECURITY. VARIOUS DATA SHOW THAT ABOUT HALF THE PRISON POPULATION IS LIKELY TO OBEY A COURT ORDER FOR CONFINEMENT. THESE PRISONERS ARE RESTRAINED FROM ESCAPING NOT BY SECURITY PRECAUTIONS BUT BY THEIR CHOICE TO SERVE THEIR SENTENCE ACCORDING TO LAW. THIS PREFERENCE COULD BE STRENGTHENED IF PENALTIES FOR ESCAPING, AND FOR ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE, WERE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. PRISONERS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR NO-SECURITY PRISONS IF THEY HAVE VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED TO SERVE THEIR TIME AND/OR ARE ABLE TO FURNISH SECURITY, IF THEY ARE NONVIOLENT OR ELDERLY AND HAVE GIVEN NO INDICATION OF A PROPENSITY TO ESCAPE, IF THEY ARE SENTENCED TO SERVE A TERM SO SHORT AS TO MAKE IT UNLIKELY THAT THEY WILL WANT TO ESCAPE, OR IF THEY HAVE ONLY A SHORT TIME LEFT ON A LENGTHY SENTENCE DURING WHICH THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE. NO-SECURITY PRISONS MIGHT BE LOCATED IN RURAL AREAS AND NEED NOT DIFFER DRAMATICALLY FROM COLLEGE DORMS. TO BE PUNITIVE, THESE COST-SAVING INSTITUTIONS WOULD HAVE RULES, SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: PRISONERS COULD NOT LEAVE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD BE ABSENT, VISITS AND CORRESPONDENCE WOULD BE RESTRICTED, AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE. ALSO, LUXURY ITEMS (DESSERTS, CIGARETTES,) WOULD BE RATIONED, LIMITED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE, AND ONLY A LIMITED RANGE OF WORK OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE DETAILED, AND OBSTACLES TO INSTITUTING SUCH A PROGRAM ARE EXAMINED. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)