NCJ Number
19268
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1975) Pages: 149-162
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE CENTRAL THESIS OF THIS PAPER IS THAT ANY PRISON SYSTEM CAN BE DESCRIBED AND ANALYZED ACCORDING TO THE FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ITS INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS IN CORRECTION SHOULD TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE PRISON SYSTEM AS A CRUCIAL UNIT OF ANALYSIS. ALMOST EVERY STATE HAS A CENTRALIZED CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENT WITH JURISDICTION OVER A VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS RANGING FROM TRADITIONAL CUSTODIAL MAXIMUM-SECURITY WAREHOUSES TO COMMUNITY-BASED INNOVATIVE HALFWAY HOUSES AND TREATMENT CENTERS. HOW PRISONERS AND RESOURCES SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THESE INSTITUTIONS IS THE KEY PROBLEM. THREE TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED. THE 'HIERARCHICAL' SYSTEM IS BASED ON A HIGHLY ELABORATED PUNISHMENT-REWARD STRUCTURE THAT HOLDS OUT THE INCENTIVE OF MINIMUM-SECURITY LIVING CONDITIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR COOPERATION WITH ADMINISTRATION. IN THIS SYSTEM SOCIAL CONTROL IS SHIFTED FROM THE INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION TO THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. THE 'DIFFERENTIATED' SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE DELIVERY OF TREATMENT SERVICES, BUT IT REQUIRES A DEGREE OF AUTONOMY THAT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS CURRENTLY DO NOT ENJOY. FINALLY, THE 'AUTONOMOUS' SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF SMALL, FUNCTIONALLY INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS WITH HETEROGENEOUS POPULATIONS; THOUGH ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE OF LOW COST AND MORAL NEUTRALITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF CRIME, IT IS ALSO UNSTABLE BECAUSE THE TYPE OF INSTITUTION THAT EVOLVES DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE WARDEN AND THE NORMAL HISTORY OF THE PARTICULAR INSTITUTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)