NCJ Number
44877
Date Published
1977
Length
268 pages
Annotation
THE TRADITIONAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CANADA'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN CORRECTIONS AND ITS UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES ARE EXAMINED AS A BASIS FOR THE CREATION OF AN INTEGRATED CANADIAN CORRECTIONS SERVICE.
Abstract
THE FOUR MAJOR TRENDS WHICH HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON CORRECTIONS -- GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CRIME; INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT CRIME; THE GROWTH OF THE CRIME RATE; AND CHANGES IN SOCIETY'S VIEWS OF CRIME -- ARE DISCUSSED. TRENDS WITHIN THE SYSTEM INCLUDE A GROWING COMMUNITY ORIENTATION; A GROWING DEMAND FOR GREATER INVOLVEMENT ON THE PART OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR; INCREASING COLLABORATION OF PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRECTIONAL POLICY; AND INCREASING RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MANPOWER PLANNING, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT. THE IMPLICATIONS OF ALL OF THESE TRENDS ARE EXAMINED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IN WHICH FEDERAL CORRECTIONS MUST OPERATE. PROPOSALS ARE PRESENTED FOR A NEW PHILOSOPHY, STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES, AND PRINCIPLES FOR FEDERAL CORRECTIONS, IN CONSIDERATION OF A NEED TO COORDINATE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES WITH OTHER CORRECTIONAL JURISDICTIONS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. A BRIEF HISTORY OF IMPRISONMENT AS A PENAL SANCTION IS PRESENTED. BASIC PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES FOR FEDERAL CORRECTIONS ARE SUMMARIZED, AND EACH IS DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY. THE PRINCIPLES ARE: THE OFFENDER IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR; THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT CONSTITUTES THE PUNISHMENT; THE COMMUNITY IS A RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPANT IN THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS; AND FEDERAL CORRECTIONS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE OFFENDER. OBJECTIVES OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM INCLUDE: MANAGING AND ADMINISTERING THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE COURT, PROVIDING PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST THE OFFENDER IN DEVELOPING AND ADOPTING MORE ACCEPTABLE CONDUCT NORMS, MANAGING THE REINTEGRATION OF THE OFFENDER INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN FEDERAL CORRECTIONS. THE ROLE OF FEDERAL CORRECTIONS IS RELATED TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND WAYS OF COORDINATING ACTIVITIES AND GOALS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND JURISDICTIONS ARE EXAMINED. FINALLY, THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF A PROPOSED CANADIAN CORRECTIONS SERVICE, TO INCORPORATE THE EXISTING CANADIAN PENITENTIARY SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL PAROLE SERVICE, IS OUTLINED. -- IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH.