NCJ Number
57088
Journal
Law and Psychology Review Volume: 3 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 25-30
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FAILURE OF CORRECTIONAL REFORM TO ADDRESS THE MORAL AND IDEOLOGICAL CONTRADICTIONS UNDERLYING THE EXISTING APPROACH TO CORRECTIONS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THERE IS NEAR UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT THAT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING. IN TRUTH, FEW IF ANY FIRST-RATE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN TRIED. THE REHABILITATIVE MODEL IS BEING ABANDONED ONLY AS IT APPLIES TO CLIENTELE OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS--THOSE MOST LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED AS SUFFERING FROM UNTREATABLE CHARACTER DISORDERS (AS OPPOSED TO THE TREATABLE NEUROSES OF MIDDLE-CLASS OFFENDERS). GENUINE REFORM IN CORRECTIONS MAY PROVE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT A BASIC SHIFT IN SOCIETAL VIEWS TOWARD THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND THE PURPOSES OF CORRECTIONS. TO MAKE CORRECTIONS MORE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT TRANSFORMING THE PUNITIVE, SCAPE-GOATING IDEOLOGY OF THE SOCIETY WITHIN WHICH CORRECTIONS FUNCTIONS WOULD FURTHER INSURE THE ISOLATION OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS FROM SOCIETY AND WOULD DENY A TRUE REHABILITATIVE MODEL THE OPPORTUNITY OF CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY'S ATTEMPTS TO DEAL CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE PROBLEM OF SOCIAL DEVIANCE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY'S OUTLOOK ON CRIME AND CRIMINALS IS HINDERED BY SEVERAL IMPEDIMENTS: THE LACK OF AUTHENTIC PARTICIPATION ON THE PART OF OFFENDERS IN NEARLY ALL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATIVE CORRECTIONS MODELS, THE FAILURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GO BEYOND ITS PREOCCUPATION WITH CATEGORIZING BEHAVIOR AS CRIMINAL OR NONCRIMINAL TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE BEHAVIOR HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND SOCIETY'S CONTINUING IGNORANCE OF THE REALITIES OF CRIME AND CORRECTIONS, DUE IN PART TO INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO AUTHENTIC FEEDBACK. (LKM)