TROUBLESHOOTER OR TROUBLEMAKER?

• NCJ Number: 65014
• Journal: Corrections Magazine Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 18-25
• Author(s): K KRAJICK
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Biography
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

ELLIS MACDOUGALL, REFORM CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IN FIVE STATES OVER THE PAST 28 YEARS, STIRS UP MUCH CONTROVERSY BUT HAS IMPROVED PRISON CONDITIONS IN MANY INSTANCES.

Abstract

MACDOUGALL BECAME INTERESTED IN PRISON REFORM IN 1948 WHILE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND GOT HIS FIRST CORRECTIONS JOB IN A BOY'S REFORMATORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED LEGISLATION FOR MORE HUMANE CONDITIONS IN ADULT PRISONS IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. THROUGH RAISING CITIZEN INTEREST AND BECAME THE STATE'S PRISON COMMISSIONER IN 1962. IN THAT POSITION HE ESTABLISHED THE STATE'S FIRST REAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PRERELEASE CENTERS, ATTACKED THE CHAIN-GANG SYSTEM, AND BEGAN SEGREGATING ADULT FROM YOUNG OFFENDERS. IN 1968, HE MOVED TO CONNECTICUT TO REORGANIZE THAT STATE'S CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. HERE HE CENTRALIZED THE SYSTEM, REDUCED CORRUPTION AND REGIMENTATION, AND EXPANDED WORK-RELEASE AND EDUCATION. SIMULTANEOUSLY, HOWEVER, HE CREATED CONTROVERSY BY CRITICIZING PRISON OFFICIALS AND RUNNING UP COSTS. IN 1971, HE BECAME GEORGIA'S PRISON SYSTEM REORGANIZER AND INSTITUTED REFORMS SIMILAR TO THOSE MADE IN HIS PAST WORK. BUT MUCH OF HIS WORK AND HIS PERSONAL TATICS MADE HIM ENEMIES, AND MANY OF HIS REFORMS WERE REVERSED AFTER HE RESIGNED IN 1974. AFTER WORK IN MISSISSIPPI, MACDOUGALL BECAME DIRECTOR OF ARIZONA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND HEAD OF THE NOTORIOUS ARIZONA STATE PRISON, HIS PRESENT POSITION. MACDOUGALL CLAIMS HIS THREE DECADES IN CORRECTIONS HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED HIS VIEWS ON CRIME AND CORRECTIONS, A BLEND OF THE LIBERAL AND HARDLINE. AMONG HIS ASSETS ARE ABILITY TO SELL A PROGRAM. HE CONTINUES TO ENDORSE REHABILITATION, NOW UNFASHIONABLE, AND CLAIMS PRISONS NEED BETTER ADMINISTRATION, PLANNING, STAFF TRAINING AND HIGHER EDUCATED STAFF, AND RESEARCH. WHILE HE BELIEVES IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, HE CLAIMS THAT MANY PRISONERS DO NOT BELONG IN PRISON BUT MAINLY NEED GUIDANCE. (PAP)