NCJ Number
49182
Journal
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 31-38
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL INCAPACITATION OF OFFENDERS THROUGH RADIO TELEMETRY MONITORING, IMPLANTATION OF LONG-ACTING TRANQUILIZERS, OR OTHER APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS POINTED OUT THAT INCAPACITATION HAS BEEN A PART OF EACH OF THE VARIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR INCARCERATION: PUNISHMENT, DETERRENCE, AND REHABILITATION. BECAUSE EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT MANY OFFENDERS TEND TO RECIDIVATE, SOME HAVE PROPOSED THAT CRIME COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BY MAGNIFYING THE INCAPACITATION EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT THROUGH LONGER SENTENCES. HOWEVER, SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD REQUIRE SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER EXPENDITURES TO COVER THE COSTS OF INCREASED INSTITUTIONALIZATION. ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE OR ARE BEING DEVELOPED THAT COULD USE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE EITHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT PHYSICAL OR MENTAL INCAPACITATION. ONE METHOD WOULD EMPLOY RADIO TELEMETRY DEVICES WORN EXTERNALLY BY OR IMPLANTED IN OFFENDERS SO THAT THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES AND LOCATION IN THE COMMUNITY COULD BE MONITORED. OTHER APPROACHES WOULD USE BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY: DRUGS; PSYCHOSURGERY AND NEUROSURGERY; ELECTRONIC STIMULATION OF THE BRAIN; AND TEMPORARY CRIPPLING OR BLINDING. THE POTENTIALS AND LIMITATIONS OF THESE APPROACHES ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS ARGUED THAT, IN ADDITION TO BEING LESS COSTLY, TECHNOLOGICAL INCAPACITATION WOULD BE MORE HUMANE THAN THE EXISTING PRISON SYSTEM. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)