NCJ Number
60826
Editor(s)
H JUNG,
H G MEY,
H MUELLER-DIETZ,
K P ROTTHAUS
Date Published
1978
Length
62 pages
Annotation
THE PLAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR CRIMINAL LAW AND CORRECTIONS OF THE WEST GERMAN FEDERAL UNION FOR PRISONERS TO CREATE A BETTER SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AND TRAINING CORRECTIONS STAFF IS REPORTED.
Abstract
TREATMENT IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN INTERACTION PROCESS FOUNDED ON SOCIAL SCIENCE PRINCIPLES; SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT REQUIRES EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG STAFF AND PRISONERS, PARTICIPATION OF BOTH STAFF AND INMATES IN PRISON DECISIONMAKING, AND RELIEF OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS' ROLE CONFLICT. THE BEST POSSIBLE OFFICERS CAN BE OBTAINED BY USING SET CRITERIA FOR SELECTION, RECRUITING WITH APPROPRIATE ADVERTISING, DEVELOPING A STANDARD SELECTION PROCESS, AND CHECKING PREDICTED SUITABILITY AGAINST PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. IN TRAINING PROGRAMS AT ALL LEVELS, PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES ARE EMPHASIZED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS AND COMPETENCE IN PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE 2-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, WHICH LEADS TO A CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION, CONSISTS OF A 1-MONTH EXPLORATION OF THE PROFESSION, A 6-MONTH INTRODUCTORY COURSE, A 5-MONTH PRACTICAL TRAINING COURSE, A 1-MONTH EVALUATION SEMINAR, A SECOND 5-MONTH PRACTICAL TRAINING COURSE, AND A FINAL COURSE IN PREPARATION FOR THE EXAMINATION. TESTS ARE GIVEN IN THE INTRODUCTORY COURSE AND IN THE SECOND PRACTICAL TRAINING COURSE TO EVALUATE SUITABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE PRACTICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. SELECTION PROCEDURES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WORKSHOP OFFICERS AND MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS, AS WELL AS FOR HIGH-LEVEL CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FOLLOW THE SAME GENERAL PATTERN WITH SOME VARIATIONS. PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF OTHER PROFESSIONS WORKING IN THE CORRECTIONS AREA ARE LIMITED TO A 1-MONTH FIELD EXPLORATION COURSE AND 5 MONTHS OF THEORY. DEVELOPMENT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES FOR ALL SPECIALTIES, INSTITUTION OF CORRECTIONS SCHOOLS IN EACH STATE AND CORRECTIONS ACADEMIES TO TRAIN ADVANCED-LEVEL WORKERS AND CORRECTIONS SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND REFORM OF CORRECTIONS INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE TRAINING MODIFICATIONS MEANINGFUL ARE RECOMMENDED. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY ARRANGED BY TOPICS IS PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)