NCJ Number
58811
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE CHANGE OF PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS, FROM BELIEF IN REHABILITATION TO A PREFERENCE FOR PUNITIVE MEASURES IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ON PRISONER REHABILITATION ARE SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY, ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN PRISONS ARE DANGEROUSLY OVERCROWDED, AND RESOURCES FOR EXTENSIVE TREATMENT ARE UNAVAILABLE. A PUNITIVE THEORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, APPLIED TO CORRECTIONS, MIGHT EFFECTIVELY PREVENT CRIME. IN PRACTICE, THE SYSTEM WOULD DEMAND THAT ANYONE CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS CRIME SPEND SOME TIME IN PRISON. IT IS FELT THAT THE USE OF DETERMINATE SENTENCES WOULD ENSURE ADEQUATE RETRIBUTION FOR MAJOR CRIMES AND WOULD PREVENT SUBJECTIVE FACTORS FROM AFFECTING THE SENTENCE. IRONICALLY, THE POLICY OF MANDATORY SENTENCING HAS BECOME POPULAR AT A TIME WHEN MANY PRISON SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO RELEASE PRISONERS FROM OVERCROWDED JAILS. SEVERAL COURT DECISIONS HAVE DECLARED PRISON CONDITIONS TO BE BARBARIC AND INHUMANE, AND MANY STATES HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES OF CONTINUED INCARCERATION WITHIN JUDICIAL GUIDELINES. THE HISTORY OF THE REHABILITATION MODEL IS PRESENTED FROM ITS INCEPTION AS A REFORM OVER PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT, TO ITS DECLINE AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE ATTICA AND RAHWAY PRISON RIOTS. ISSUES FACING PENOLOGISTS INCLUDED THE MANNER IN WHICH SENTENCING WILL BE CONDUCTED AND THE FUTURE USE OF PAROLE. FOOTNOTES AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED.