REHABILITATION - WHAT PART OF CORRECTIONS?

• NCJ Number: 56718
• Editor(s): B BRADSHAW, P J ECK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 159 pages
• Grant Number(s): DS-77-E01-4307
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Texas Criminal Justice Council
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR CORRECTIONS - CREATIVE CONCEPTS FOR FUTURE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING - CONFERENCE HELD IN ALBUQUERQUE (NM), MAY 2-4, 1977 - CO-SPONSORED BY THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND INSTITUTE FOR URBAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON

Annotation

THESE PARAPHRASES OF REHABILITATION CONFERENCE ADDRESSES CONSTITUTE THE LAST OF A FIVE-VOLUME SET OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE CITIZEN EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

Abstract

ONE ADDRESS TRACES MAJOR TRENDS IN CORRECTIONS OVER THE LAST 300 YEARS, BRIEFLY DESCRIBING THREE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS--INSTITUTIONALIZATION (IMPRISONMENT), REHABILITATION IN A PRISON CONTEXT, AND DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION YOKED WITH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. JUDICIAL SENTENCING, PARTICULARLY IN NEW MEXICO, IS DISCUSSED, AND IT IS INDICATED THAT WHILE THE PUBLIC AND MANY LEGISLATORS URGE HARSHER PRISON SENTENCES, COURTS, REALIZING THE FUTILITY OF SUCH AN APPROACH IN REDUCING THE CRIME RATE, SHOULD OPT, WHEN POSSIBLE, FOR PROBATION OR SHORT PRISON TERMS. A STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOR JAIL AND PRISON INMATES IN VIRGINIA IS DESCRIBED, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR A NEW MEXICO INDIAN RESERVATION, ALONG WITH DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, ARE DISCUSSED. ANOTHER ADDRESS CRITIQUES EXTREME FORMS OF THE REHABILITATION MODEL MANIFESTED IN INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AND CONCLUDES THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A MODEL UNDERMINES THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPT OF JUSTICE WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME RATHER THAN THE PROBLEMS OF OFFENDERS. BLOCKS TO REHABILITATION IN A PRISON SETTING ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED, AND A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED REHABILITATION IS PROPOSED. ANOTHER ADDRESS PRESENTS A CRISIS INTERVENTION MODEL DESIGNED FOR HELPING EX-OFFENDERS AT CRITICAL POST-RELEASE PERIODS. A NEW DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW IN NEW MEXICO IS EXPLAINED, AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTIONS IN THE STATE ARE CONSIDERED. A REALISTIC APPROACH TO THE OPERATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS IS ADVOCATED, BOTH IN DEALING WITH CLIENTS AND GAINING SUPPORT AND FUNDING. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE INMATES IN GENERAL ARE CONSIDERED IN ONE ADDRESS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS IN NEW YORK STATE. A SERIES OF ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER ADDRESS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR SOME OF THE ADDRESSES.