PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM IN PENTENTIARY TREATMENT (FROM SYSTEMS OF TREATMENT AND PERSONNEL TRAINING IN PENITENTIARIES, 1978 - SEE NCJ-56258)

• NCJ Number: 56265
• Author(s): G R ECHEVERRIA
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations; Imprenta Nacional
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Costa Rica

Annotation

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PROGRESSIVE (GRADUAL) TREATMENT OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS, WITH SENTENCE TIME DIVIDED INTO STAGES COMMENSURATE WITH THE INMATE'S PROGRESS TOWARD REHABILITATION, ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THIS CONCEPT DATES TO THE 19TH CENTURY AND THE PIONEERING EFFORTS OF SPANISH AND IRISH PENOLOGISTS IS DESCRIBED UP TO ITS MOST RECENT APPLICATIONS IN COSTA RICA, ONE OF THE MOST PENOLOGICALLY ADVANCED COUNTRIES IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. INMATES ARE TRANSFERRED TO INCREASINGLY FREE AND RELAXED TREATMENT STAGES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EVALUATION OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS TOWARD REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION. AT EACH PROGRESSIVE STAGE THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND PREPARATION FOR RETURNING TO IT ARE INCREASED, SO THAT THEY ARE NOT RELEASED INTO A WORLD FROM WHICH THEY HAVE BECOME ESTRANGED. CRITICS OF THIS CONCEPT CITE ITS RIGIDITY, MECHANISTIC APPROACH, AND ITS FOSTERING OF HYPOCRISY (OR 'PRETENSE THERAPY') BY REWARDING SEEMING 'GOOD BEHAVIOR' WITH PROMOTION TO THE NEXT 'STAGE.' ALSO, THE EMPHASIS ON SOCIALIZATION AND INTERACTION WITH OTHERS HAS BEEN FAULTED FOR PRECLUDING TRULY INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT. THE LATTER OBJECTION IS INVALIDATED BY THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF GROUP TREATMENT, WITHIN WHICH INDIVIDUALIZATION EFFORTS ARE ALWAYS POSSIBLE. ALSO, PROGRESSIVE TREATMENT REQUIRES SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL AND ADEQUATE PHYSICAL FACILITIES, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ACCEPTANCE OF FORMER INMATES. COSTA RICA IS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING A REFORM OF ITS PENAL CODE AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND OPERATING A PILOT PROGRAM OF PROGRESSIVE OFFENDER TREATMENT IN MULTIPLE STAGES, WITH TWO-DIRECTIONAL VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL MOBILITY BETWEEN STAGES. THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT IS ALSO APPLIED TO SERIOUS OFFENDERS WITH VARIOUS STEPS WITHIN EACH STAGE (THE LATTER BEING MAXIMUM, MEDIUM, AND MINIMUM SECURITY) AND WITH POSSIBILITIES OF EVENTUAL RELEASE ALSO FOR SUCH INDIVIDUALS AFTER CAREFUL EVALUATION OF THEIR PROGRESS. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)