NCJ Number
80047
Journal
Justitiele verkenningen Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 49-70
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The article describes the needs of imprisoned offenders and possibilities for in-prison rehabilitation and assistance programs in the Netherlands, using the 'Consulting Hour' program at Breda prison an an example.
Abstract
The incarcerated offender has no contact with the outside world, has no idea how long he will have to stay in prison or who is deciding about his fate, and has no opportunity to ask questions about personal or material problems. To remedy such problems and to meet legally mandated demands for resocialization of offenders, professional providers of social assistance are to be employed by prisons as part of the regular staff. Frequently, however, such providers of assistance are caught in a conflict between rehabilitation and custody goals of the institution, and among the differing interests of administration, guards, and prisoners. As part of the treatment staff in the prison organization, probation parole-rehabilitation officers in general service must assure the continuity of rehabilitation efforts before, during and after imprisonment. In practice, the role of social work in prison is not yet clearly defined, and most prisons lack the financial resources to employ parole-rehabilitation officers as well as social workers. An alternative solution is to bring in social assistance organizations from outside the prison. The consulting hour program of Breda prison provides for counseling sessions by outside social workers and a representative of the prison treatment administration. Inmates may come in with their practical problems during consulting hours; at the same time, inmates' underlying personal problems are assessed. Referrals are also made to outside rehabilitation and assistance organizations, especially for such matters as drug treatment. The social worker is in a position to interpret the inmates' problems to the administration, thereby serving as a bridge, and to initiate outreach efforts among inmates. It is concluded that prisons must decide whether social assistance is to come from inside or outside the prison, that prison providers of assistance must learn to deal with the treatment-custody conflict, that articulation of rehabilitation efforts is essential, and that the extent to which social workers should become involved in crisis intervention and outreach efforts must be defined. In addition, efforts must be undertaken to provide material assistance to inmates, and the role of the parole-rehabilitation officer must be more clearly defined. A 13-item bibliography and a figure are furnished.