NCJ Number
52398
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 79-84
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FINNISH EXPERIENCE WITH USING PROBATION TO CONTROL OFFENDERS IS REVIEWED. IT IS ARGUED THAT MANDATORY SUPERVISION FOR RELEASED PRISONERS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AND THAT PROBATION BE USED AS PUNISHMENT, NOT TREATMENT.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF THE PRISON MOVEMENT IN SCANDANAVIA IS TRACED, FROM THE ORIGINAL HIGH HOPES FOR TREATMENT DURING INCARCERATION, THROUGH THE PERIOD OF DISENCHANTMENT, TO THE CURRENT FEELING THAT PRISON OUGHT TO BE ABOLISHED FOR ALL EXCEPT A FEW DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESENT PAROLE AND PROBATION SYSTEM WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME CYCLE, AND WILL FAIL IF THE TREATMENT, CONTROL, AND PUNISHMENT FUNCTIONS ARE COMBINED, AS THEY WERE IN THE PRISON SYSTEMS. AT PRESENT HIGH HOPES ARE HELD FOR THE 'TREATMENT' FUNCTION OF BOTH PROBATION AND PAROLE. HOWEVER, A FINNISH STUDY OF RELEASED PRISONERS SHOWED THAT PAROLE HAD NO EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM RATES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE PAROLE FUNCTION IS MERELY ADDITIONAL PUNISHMENT. A FINNISH STATE COMMITTEE ON PROBATION AND PAROLE, WHICH PUBLISHED ITS PROPOSALS IN 1972, RECOMMENDED THAT MANDATORY SUPERVISION BE ABOLISHED FOR PAROLED PRISONERS AND THAT PROBATION BE USED AS PUNISHMENT FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AND OTHERS FOR WHOM A SANCTION GREATER THAN A FINE IS NEEDED. SUCH NONCUSTODIAL CONTROL IS CALLED ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE FOR JUVENILES WHO DO NOT HAVE JOBS. IN FINLAND PAROLE IS CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE AND IS PRIMARILY ORIENTED TOWARD CONTROL. THIS SYSTEM IS CALLED AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WHEN A CONVICT IS RELEASED, THE POLICE ASSUME WHATEVER CONTROL FUNCTION IS NEEDED AND SOCIAL AGENCIES ASSUME WHATEVER AID AND REHABILITATION FUNCTIONS ARE NEEDED. SERVICE AND CONTROL ARE CALLED CONTRADICTORY, AND WHEN SOCIETY TRIES TO COMBINE THEM, THE RESULTING INSTITUTION NEITHER SERVES NOR CONTROLS. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)