NCJ Number
54281
Journal
Southern Exposure Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 42-45,P 47-48
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF INSTITUTIONAL ABUSES WITHIN GEORGIA'S PRISON SYSTEM IS REVIEWED, ALONG WITH THE SEEMINGLY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS BASED ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION CONCEPTS.
Abstract
THE OFTEN BRUTAL CONDITIONS PREVALENT IN GEORGIA'S PRISONS AND LABOR CAMPS WENT RELATIVELY UNCHALLENGED UNTIL THE 1932 PUBLICATION OF 'I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A GEORGIA CHAIN GANG.' HOWEVER, DESPITE THE REFORMS THAT FOLLOWED (E.G., ABOLITION OF CHAIN GANG TACTICS, A MOVE TOWARD MORE COMPETENT PERSONNEL, AND SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF PENAL ADMINISTRATION), UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND REFORMERS CONTINUED TO CRITICIZE THE STATE'S PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE 1960'S. WITH JIMMY CARTER'S ELECTION AS GOVERNOR, THE SYSTEM'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL PENOLOGIST WAS APPOINTED, AND SOON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES CAME TO PERVADE THE REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS OF THE PRISON ADMINISTRATORS. WHILE LITTLE WAS DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE POOR CONDITIONS IN THE WORK CAMPS, SELECTED INSTITUTION-SCALE FACILITIES WERE ERECTED OR REMODELED TO ACCOMMODATE THE AIMS OF MODIFICATION INITIATIVES. THE NEWEST MAJOR PRISON IN THE STATE, THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION CENTER (GDDC) IN JACKSON, BECAME NOT A FACILITY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, BUT RATHER A STOREHOUSE FOR 'UNCONTROLLABLE' PRISONERS. THE FACILITY SOON BEGAN TO BE FILLED WITH THOSE PRISONERS INVOLVED IN PERIODIC PROTEST AGAINST THE INHUMANE CONDITIONS AT SELECTED PRISONS ACROSS THE STATE AND THOSE, LIKE NATION OF ISLAM MEMBERS, WHO WERE BY DEFINITION 'TROUBLEMAKERS.' WHILE IGNORING THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS UNDERLYING SUCH INMATE ACTIVISM, THE PRISON SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS LAUNCHED, WITH LEAA SUPPORT, NEW PROGRAMS FOR DEALING WITH SUCH 'INCORRIGIBLES.' SUCH TACTICS EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL INMATE LAW SUIT; IN JANUARY 1978, A JUDGE RULED THAT THE PROGRAM AT GDCC AMOUNTED TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)