NCJ Number
44553
Editor(s)
R J CROWLEY,
F KOPECKY
Date Published
1976
Length
80 pages
Annotation
PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE ON THE REFORM OF THE ILLINOIS CORRECTION SYSTEM ARE DETAILED. THE ISSUES IN POINT ARE DETERMINATE SENTENCING, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
THE THREE SEMINARS OF THIS CONFERENCE HAVE AS A FOCUS THE REHABILITATION OF THE OFFENDER, BUT EACH IS FROM A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT. THE FIRST SEMINAR APPROACHES THE QUESTION: 'TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ADOPT DETERMINATE SENTENCING TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE THAN AT PRESENT?' THE PRO ARGUMENT FOR THIS QUESTION DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DETERMINATE AND MANDATORY SENTENCING, AND CONCLUDES THAT DETERMINATE SENTENCING WOULD BE MUCH FAIRER THAN INDETERMINATE SENTENCING, WHERE LONG UNFAIR SENTENCES ARE GIVEN. THE CON ARGUMENT CLAIMS THAT DETERMINATE SENTENCING WOULD ACTUALLY CAUSE MORE INJUSTICES. THIS APPARENTLY UNSOLVABLE DEBATE IS SOMEWHAT RESOLVED IN THE ENSUING DISCUSSION, WHERE IT IS NOTED THAT THE ISSUE IS NUMBER OF YEARS AND THE FIXING OF THE DETERMINATE SENTENCE, NOT THE ACTUAL POLICY OF SENTENCING. THE SECOND QUESTION IS 'TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE STATE OF ILLINOIS EMPHASIZE BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN ITS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE THAN AT PRESENT?' THE GOAL OF PRISONS IS BEHAVIOR CHANGE, SINCE CRIMINALS ARE TO BE REHABILITATED AND REINTRODUCED TO SOCIETY, SO, AS THE PRO ARGUMENT CONTENDS, THEY ARE ALREADY USING A FORM OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE. BUT CERTAIN TYPES OF MODIFICATION MAY VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS. THEREFORE IT IS SUGGESTED THAT NEW EXPERIMENTAL METHODS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION BE MADE VOLUNTARY. THE CON SIDE COUNTERS THIS ARGUMENT BY SAYING THAT THIS MAY BE A THREAT TO THE RIGHTS AND WELL BEING OF THE PRISONER. THEY CITE THE FAILURE OF THE EXPERIMENT AT STATEVILLE PRISON IN JOLIET AS AN EXAMPLE. THE DISCUSSION CONCLUDES THAT THE REAL QUESTION IN POINT IS THE CHOICE OF ENTERING INTO THE PROGRAM. THE FINAL QUESTION DEBATED IS : 'TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ACCELERATE THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE THAN AT PRESENT?' ON THE PRO SIDE, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE RETREAT FROM COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS MUST BE SLOWED DOWN. THE PRESENT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS VIOLENT AND UNJUST, AND FINDINGS SHOW THAT COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE CHEAPER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL. THE PROBLEMS STATED BY THE CON SIDE INCLUDE CORRUPTION AND THE FACT THAT LOCAL POLICE ARE DIVERTING TOO MUCH TIME TO THE COMMUNITY HOUSES, AND THEIR INPUT EXCEEDS THE OUTPUT OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PAST THE POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURN. THE DISCUSSION WHICH FOLLOWED SUGGESTED THAT THE PEOPLE BE ASKED WHICH SYSTEM THEY PREFERRED, SINCE THEY WERE THE ONES MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE SYSTEM.