NCJ Number
64317
Journal
CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 47-55
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL WORK WITH INMATES UNDER ALL TYPES OF CUSTODY (PRETRIAL, DURING TRIAL, AND POSTSENTENCING) IS STRESSED AS AN INDISPENSABLE PRECONDITION TO ALL INMATE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.
Abstract
CUSTODIAL DETENTION SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FOR ALL BUT A FEW TYPES OF OFFENDERS. COUNTERPRODUCTIVE INFLUENCES OF INCARCERATION ON INMATE REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION EFFORTS, WHICH ARE THE OFFICIAL GOALS OF MEXICAN PENAL LEGISLATION, MUST BE OFFSET. THE ONLY HOPE FOR INMATE REHABILITATION LIES IN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT. THE MEXICAN CRIMINAL CODE, AS REFORMED IN 1929, ALREADY REQUIRED A MANDATORY PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF BOTH THE SUSPECT AND THE PLAINTIFF IN CRIMINAL CASES. WHILE THIS PROVISION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL INMATE PROFILES, PREPARED AS AIDS TO PLANNING INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, ARE NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A PICTURE OF THE INMATES' SOCIOECONOMIC AND FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, WHICH ONLY TRAINED CRIMINOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORKERS CAN EFFECTIVELY COMPILE. ONLY 20 PERCENT OF ALL MEXICAN PRISONS INCLUDE SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILES OF INMATES IN THEIR INITIAL CLASSIFICATION; CRIMINOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORKERS MUST BE ADDED TO THE TEAMS OF PRISON PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND PHYSICIANS WHO PLAN THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUAL INMATES. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE AN INDISPENSABLE ELEMENT IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PRISON LIFE WITHIN THE LIMITS INHERENT IN A BAD SITUATION. THEIR TASKS ARE IDENTIFYING AND NEUTRALIZING CRIMINAL RINGLEADERS AND POTENTIAL TROUBLEMAKERS BY PERSUASION; DISCOVERING AND DEFUSING EXPLOSIVE SITUATIONS; DETECTING AND LIMITING WITHIN PRISON DRUG TRAFFICKING; PREPARING SOON-TO-BE-RELEASED INMATES FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO FREEDOM; AND CUSHIONING THE SHOCK OF UNACCUSTOMED FREEDOM (WHICH OFTEN AFFECTS NEWLY RELEASED INMATES WITH PHYSICAL SICKNESS SYMPTOMS AND MENTAL DISORIENTATIONS) BY ACTUALLY WALKING OUT WITH INMATES LEAVING THE PRISON BUILDING. OVERALL, THE ROLE OF CRIMINOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORKERS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS SO VITAL THAT IT MEANS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EX-OFFENDERS REJOINING THE MAINSTREAM OF WORK AND COMMUNITY LIFE, OR REPEATEDLY RETURNING TO PRISON AS HARDENED RECIDIVISTS. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)