NCJ Number
68285
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER SUMMARY IS PROVIDED OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM PRISON SERVICES.
Abstract
THE FIRST CHAPTER DESCRIBES THE BACKGROUND OF THE REPORT AND THE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH THE WORK WAS DONE. THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INQUIRY IS IDENTIFIED AS WIDESPREAD INDUSTRIAL UNREST IN THE PRISON SERVICE. CHAPTER TWO SUMMARIZES THE HISTORY OF PRISON ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER TO TRACE THE ROOTS OF MANY FEATURES OF CONTEMPORARY PRISON LIFE. A REVIEW OF THE NATURE OF THE PRISON POPULATION IN CHAPTER THREE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. THE FIRST EXAMINES THE PRISON POPULATION, INCLUDING THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS OF ALCOHOLICS, PETTY OFFENDERS AND THE MENTALLY ABNORMAL, LOOKS AT POPULATION FORECASTS AND INCLUDES SOME INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS. THE SECOND SURVEYS THE SCOPE FOR REDUCTION AND INCLUDES A CONSIDERATION OF REDIRECTION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONCUSTODIAL ALTERNATIVES, EXECUTIVE INTERVENTION AND SENTENCING, AND REMAND PRACTICES. CHAPTER FOUR CONTAINS A STATEMENT OF THE PHILOSOPHY THAT SHOULD GUIDE THE PRISON SERVICES IN THEIR WORK. ORGANIZATIONAL REFORMS EMBODYING A MORE DECENTRALIZED AND INDEPENDENT PRISONS BOARD ARE RECOMMENDED. MORE EFFICIENT USE OF PRISON PERSONNEL AND PLANNING FOR A NEW PRISON BUILDING PROGRAM ARE ALSO ADVOCATED. WIDENING THE ROLE OF PRISON OFFICERS IS RECOMMENDED THROUGH THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS, RATHER THAN UNDERTAKING MORE DEMANDING PENAL WORK OF A WELFARE NATURE. MORE AND BETTER TRAINING AT ALL PRISON PERSONNEL LEVELS, A MODEST INCREASE IN PAY, GREATER RECOGNITION OF PRISONER RIGHTS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN STAFF WORKING CONDITIONS ARE ALSO ADVOCATED IN THE REPORT.