NCJ Number
56676
Editor(s)
I COLLORA,
D W DENTON,
G ENGLISH
Date Published
1977
Length
134 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST OF A FIVE-VOLUME SET ON CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS DEALING WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS, THIS VOLUME CONSIDERS THE SUBJECT OF 'PUNISHMENT,' AS CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS REPORTED ARE A CONFERENCE BY THE CENTER FOR SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND THE INSTITUTE OF URBAN STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON. THE ADDRESSES INCLUDE A CRITICAL OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH IDENTIFIES WEAKNESSES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE AREAS OF POLICING, BAIL PROSECUTION, DEFENSE, PLEA BARGAINING, TRIAL SENTENCING, REHABILITATION, AND EXCESSIVE CRIMINALIZATION. OTHER PRESENTATIONS EXAMINE THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION IS EXPLORED IN THE LIGHT OF PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIORAL LEARNING. PERPSECTIVES ON PUNISHMENT ARE STUDIED FROM THE CONTEXT OF VARIOUS CULTURES. SPECIFICALLY, THE CULTURAL INFLUENCES THAT AFFECT THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN'S VIEW OF PUNISHMENT WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED. CHARACTERISTICS OF BUREAUCRACIES IN GENERAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUREAUCRACIES IN PARTICULAR WHICH INFLUENCE THE CHANCES OF MAJOR REFORM ARE IDENTIFIED IN ONE ADDRESS. IN ANOTHER ADDRESS, AN EX-OFFENDER RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE TEXAS AND FEDERAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO INDICATE THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF PRISONIZATION, AND SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR REFORM. THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT ARE EXAMINED IN ANOTHER PRESENTATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEHAVIORAL LEARNING THEORY, AND CHANGES ARE PROPOSED TO AID THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOR THAT FACILITATES ACCEPTABLE ADJUSTMENT IN SOCIETY. THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS FOR SENTENCING ARE OUTLINED AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES DISCUSSED. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES ARE OFFERED IN THE LIGHT OF EFFORTS IN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE REDUCED THE PRISON POPULATION. DISCUSSIONS FOLLOWING EACH PRESENTATION ARE SUMMARIZED, AND REFERENCES ARE LISTED FOR SOME PRESENTATIONS. (RCB)