NCJ Number
35269
Journal
New England Journal on Prison Law Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1976) Pages: 139-154
Date Published
1976
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TIME SERVED IN PRISON (INCLUDING PAROLE ELIGIBILITY AND EARLY RELEASE) AND THE ISSUES OF INMATE CONTROL AND REHABILITATION.
Abstract
EXAMINED ARE THE USE OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AS A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE INCENTIVE FOR INMATE CONTROL AND PARTICIPATION IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRISON'S SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ON INMATE REHABILITATION. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE THE ISSUE OF INMATE MANAGEMENT VERSUS INMATE TREATMENT, THE VOLUNTARY/ INVOLUNTARY NATURE OF AN INMATE'S PARTICIPATION IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND THE ROLE OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN PRISON. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS AN INTEGRATION OF THE TWO PRISON OBJECTIVES OF CONTROL AND TREATMENT BY STRUCTURING THE ENVIRONMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE INMATE TO PARTICIPATE IN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT, WHILE PROVIDING NO NEGATIVE INCENTIVES FOR NON-PARTICIPATION. AT THE SAME TIME, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT WOULD BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH INMATE CONTROL, WITH NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS BEING USED WHEN NECESSARY FOR DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES.