NCJ Number
74765
Date Published
1980
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A summary of conference proceedings of the 51st International Seminar on the Treatment of Dangerous or Habitual Offenders focuses upon offender characteristics, sentencing practices, institutional treatment, and community corrections programs in Asian countries.
Abstract
Many Asian countries reported an increasing number of violent offenses such as murder and robbery. Each country participant also revealed that disruptive serious offenders were posing treats to the safety and discipline in correctional institutions. An analysis of sentencing practices in Asian countries identifies the substantial provisions for enhanced punishment of dangerous offenders in many Asian countries. Available measures include death, life imprisonment, indeterminate sentencing, restrictions on the use of the suspended sentence, and various forms of protective custody, such as preventive detention, corrective training and commitment to a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. The necessity of a systematic identification and classification scheme of dangerous of habitual offfenders emphasized by every country participant in order to facilitate effective treatment incarcerated offenders. Classification categories given varying importance by prison psychologists from country to country include the prior criminal record, family background, and personality characteristics. Institutional treatment programs for serious offenders in most Asian countries include not only the regular work and vocational programs accorded all prisoners, but also special treatment programs such as intensive guidance, religious education, psychotherapy or counseling. In several countries, the progressive stage system is adopted for dangerous or habitual offenders. Few grave prison disorders have been instigated by serious offenders within Asian prisons. Sanctions include reprimand, loss of privileges, demotion in grades or stages, separate confinement and reduction in food rations. Special institutions and segregated units for serious offenders are sometimes necessary for prisoner control. Most Asian countries had established only minimal community-based programs for treatment of dangerous offenders due to the shortage of funds and manpower. Increased correctional training, more predictive recidivist studies and development of standardized crime statistics are among the recommendations from the conference.