USES OF THE AMERICAN PRISON - POLITICAL THEORY AND PENAL PRACTICE

• NCJ Number: 14178
• Author(s): J SMITH; W FRIED
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 177 pages
• Sale Source: Lexington Books
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THEORY THAT THE CHANGING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THOSE IN POWER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DICTATING THE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES CRIME.

Abstract

THIS STUDY ATTEMPTS TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT PRODUCE CHANGES IN POLITICAL OBLIGATION, PRODUCE NEW THEORIES OF CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, AND AFFECT PENAL PRACTICES. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE STATE, IN AN EFFORT TO OBSCURE ITS POLITICAL OBLIGATIONS TO PUNISHMENT, HAS TURNED TO THE ASSUMPTION THAT CRIME IS A 'DISEASE', ADOPTING 'TREATMENT' OF OFFENDERS AS ITS MAJOR GOAL. HOWEVER, THIS HAS LED TO A NEED TO SHOW THAT OFFENDERS NEED TO BE REHABILITATED, THEREBY CAUSING A STRUCTURALLY PRODUCED INMATE IRRATIONALITY. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF A TEAM OF 'HELPING PROFESSIONALS' WITHIN THE PRISON ATTEMPTS TO ANALYZE THE GROUNDS OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE AND TO SHOW THAT IT MUST BE COERCIVE BEHIND PRISON WALLS. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE PRISON TURNED HOSPITAL AND THE WARDEN TURNED DOCTOR DO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF EITHER PRISON OR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ALPHABETICAL INDEX ARE INCLUDED.