U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

US NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LAW OBSERVANCE AND ENFORCEMENT - REPORT NO 9 - REPORT ON PENAL INSTITUTIONS, PROBATION AND PAROLE

NCJ Number
44547
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1931
Length
350 pages
Annotation
A 1931 INQUIRY INTO THE THREE PRINCIPAL METHODS OF PENAL TREATMENT EMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF WRITING (IMPRISONMENT, PROBATION, AND PAROLE) IS PRESENTED.
Abstract

STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT ARE DRAWN CHIEFLY FROM OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS BY DEPARTMENTS OF FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. THE MATERIALS MOST GENERALLY USED WERE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF THE CENSUS; REPORTS OF SUCH OFFICIAL BODIES AS THE NEW YORK CRIME COMMISSION; REPORTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTION AND BOARDS OF PUBLIC WELFARE; 1931 ANNUAL OR BIENNIAL REPORTS PRISONS, PENITENTIARIES AND REFORMATORIES; THE PUBLISHED BOOKS OF RULES OF SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS; AND SEMIOFFICIAL STUDIES OF PRISON AND PROBATION ASSOCIATIONS. VARIOUS SURVEYS OF CONDITIONS IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS MADE BY THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PENAL INFORMATION WERE ALSO USED. THE REPORT STRESSES THE INADEQUACIES AND INEFFICIENCIES OF THE PRISON SYSTEM; RECOMMENDS WAGE INCENTIVES FOR PRISONERS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN PRISON, AND INDETERMINATE SENTENCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPER INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADEQUATE SYSTEM OF PAROLE; AND CONSIDERS PROBATION AS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE INDIVIDUALIZATION OF TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDER. THIS STUDY ALSO INCLUDES THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PENAL INSTITUTIONS, PROBATION AND PAROLE AND A REPORT ON POLICE JAILS AND VILLAGE LOCKUPS.