NCJ Number
47956
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN/WINTER 1976) Pages: 28-31
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE WEST GERMAN PRISON SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED, AND A PLEA IS MADE FOR SIMILAR HUMANE TREATMENT IN THE U.S. THE SYSTEM INCARCERATES ONLY ABOUT 8 PERCENT OF THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIMES, USING 'DAY FINES' FOR THE REST.
Abstract
THE 11 STATES WHICH COMPRISE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY HAVE A TOTAL OF 174 PRISONS AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES USED FOR ALL PURPOSES. IN 1974, OUT OF A POPULATION OF 61 MILLION, ONLY 59,000 WERE PROCESSED THROUGH THE SYSTEM. BY WAY OF COMPARISON IN THE SAME YEAR, COOK COUNTY, ILL., WITH A POPULATION OF 7.1 MILLION, PROCESSED 50,000 ADULTS AND 9,500 JUVENILES THROUGH ITS PRISON SYSTEM. FEW PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES IN WEST GERMAN ACTUALLY SERVE PRISON TERMS. INSTEAD, A SYSTEM OF 'DAY FINES,' FINES WHICH FIX A PERCENTAGE OF THE OFFENDER'S WAGES FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME, IS USED. THIS NOT ONLY KEEPS THE OFFENDER GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, BUT ALSO INSURES THAT THE WEALTHY PAY THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE INDIGENT. THE INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES ARE LOCATED IN CITIES, SO IT IS EASY TO RECRUIT CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL. CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE 8 MONTHS OF TRAINING, MOSTLY IN HUMAN RELATIONS. THE FACILITIES AND THE KITCHEN ARE CLEAN, EACH PRISONER HAS AN INDIVIDUAL ROOM, AND MEDICAL CARE IS GOOD. NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF THE PRISONERS ARE EMPLOYED IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY ON WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS. PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS TRAIN THE INMATES AND PAY THEM AN AVERAGE OF $2.50 PER DAY. THE PRISONERS CONTRIBUTE TOWARD UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND MAY RECEIVE IT IF THEY CANNOT FIND A JOB UPON RELEASE. WEST GERMANY'S LIBERAL UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS ALSO HELP REDUCE SOCIAL CONDITIONS CAUSING CRIME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HANDLING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IS NOT UP TO THE SAME STANDARDS. HOWEVER, CHANGES ARE BEING PLANNED. A PLEA IS MADE FOR SIMILAR HUMANE, ECONOMICAL, AND SANE HANDLING OF OFFENDERS IN THE U.S. (GLR)