NCJ Number
110450
Date Published
1987
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Structured interviews with 28 correctional officers in Dutch prisons and remand centers solicits their opinions and attitudes toward the importance and success of changes in the Dutch prison system during the past 10-15 years.
Abstract
The changes are grouped into the general areas of organization and staff duties, inmates' rights and amenities, and altered sentence conditions. Under organization and staff duties, the changes discussed with the respondents focus on motivating inmates to cooperate, making staff responsible for inmates' welfare, organizing staff in teams, cooperating with other professionals who serve inmates, and requiring staff to lead inmate group activities. Changes in the area of inmates' rights and amenities address longer inmate visits, unlimited correspondence, inmate interviews with journalists, visits by outside groups, radio and television in the cells, establishment of a complaints commission, inmates' wearing of their own clothes, and inmate committees and newspapers. Issues regarding altered sentence conditions are reduction of the working day, increased inmate time out of cells, and help for staff in adjusting to change. Overall the officers support the major changes that have occurred in the prison system and find job satisfaction within the existing regime, although opinions vary as to the degree of success achieved by various changes. 1 table, 1 figure.