RACIAL ISSUES IN PRISON PLANNING (FROM CA. DEPT. OF CORR. - REP. ON COLLQ. ON CORR. FACILITIES PLANNING, NOVEMBER 3-4, 1977, BY NORA HARLOW - SEE NCJ-46915)

• NCJ Number: 46928
• Author(s): J O BOONE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute; California State Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

PRISON REFORM IN CALIFORNIA IS DISCUSSED WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FACILITY AND PROGRAM DESIGN WHICH ENHANCES INMATE MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE. RACIAL ISSUES IN CORRECTIONS ARE DISCUSSED WITHIN THIS CONTEXT.

Abstract

A POSSIBLE FACTOR IN RECIDIVISM IS THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION THAT THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT OFFERS TO THE OFFENDER. IT IS AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH SUPPLIES BASIC NEEDS FOR SHELTER AND FOOD WHILE REQUIRING A MINIMUM OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. PRISON PLANNERS MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION NOT ONLY WHAT THE PRISON BRINGS TO ITS INMATES, BUT ALSO WHAT INMATES BRING TO THE PRISON. THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REPRESSION OF BLACKS FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES HAS GENERATED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISEASES WHICH MUST BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD BY PRISON PLANNERS IF ATTEMPTS AT PRISON REFORM ARE TO BE EFFECTIVE. PRISON PROGRAMS OUGHT TO MOTIVATE, AND PRISON DESIGN AND LOCATION SHOULD FACILITATE THAT MOTIVATION. THE CRUX OF THE RACIAL ISSUE BOTH WITHIN PRISONS AND IN THE EXTERNAL WORLD IS TO PROVIDE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY OF PROTECTION. A PRIMARY CONCERN OUGHT TO BE IN THE POLICY RATIONALE UNDERLYING A PARTICULAR CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM OR TOOL, WHETHER THAT PROGRAM OR TOOL EXISTS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OR WHETHER IT IS INSTRUMENTAL IN PRODUCING INMATE CHANGE. THE THRUST OF CORRECTIONAL REFORM LEGISLATION HAS BEEN IN THE DIRECTION OF INSURING GREATER RIGHTS, INCLUDING CIVIL RIGHTS, FOR PRISONERS. HOWEVER, IF SUCH LEGISLATION IS TO BE MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE, DETERMINED AND EARNEST IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS PROGRESSIVE OBJECTIVES WILL BE NECESSARY. THE CORRECTIONAL APPROACH OF PLACING OFFENDERS INTO ABNORMAL AND INADEQUATE PRISON ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPECTING THEIR REHABILITATION INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS NOT ONLY INEFFECTIVE BUT ALSO UNREALISTIC. THE REHABILITATIVE PROGRAM INITIATED AT THE LORTON REFORMATORY COMPLEX IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SET ASIDE THIS APPROACH. OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY WERE EXAMINED, AND ON THE BASIS OF COMMUNITY CONDITIONS A SELF-HELP SURVIVAL STRATEGY WAS OUTLINED EMPHASIZING MUTUAL INTERACTION AND INVOLVEMENT AMONG THE PRISON, THE INMATES, AND THE COMMUNITY. THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE IN PRISONS IS EXAMINED, AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT VIOLENCE DONE TO THE PRISONERS IN THE FORM OF UNFAIRNESS, ARBITRARINESS, AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION SPAWNS VIOLENCE IN THE INMATES. EFFECTIVE REFORM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE NOT ONLY THE AMELIORATION OF DEBILITATING PRISON CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO REMEDIATION OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS. WHILE PROGRAMS AND DESIGNS WITHIN CORRECTIONS MAY AIM TO PROVIDE HUMANE, MOTIVATING, AND JUST CONDITIONS, SUCH REFORM MAY FAIL UNTIL ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AND EQUAL. (JAP)