NCJ Number
63849
Date Published
1979
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT TREND TOWARD NONCUSTODIAL ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON IN ORDER TO REDUCE PRISON POPULATIONS IS RESULTING IN INCREASED CRIME.
Abstract
PRISONS HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH OVERCROWDING, LIMITED FUNDS FOR BUILDING EXPANSION, STAFFING RESTRAINTS, AND THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT PRISONERS. THE DETERRENT VALUE OF PRISON HAS NOT BEEN PROVED CONCLUSIVELY, AND CRITICS NOW QUESTION THE NECESSITY OF IMPRISONMENT ITSELF. PUBLIC OPINION GENERALLY FAVORS IMPRISONMENT, BUT IS INFLUENTIAL ONLY WHEN SENTENCES ARE PUBLICIZED. LARGE INCREASES IN VIOLENT OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO RECIDIVISTS WHO NOW RECEIVE A NONCUSTODIAL SENTENCE INSTEAD OF PRISON. PENAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN ALTERING PRISONERS' BEHAVIOR, BUT THIS IS CAUSED IN PART BY OVERCROWDING AND PROBLEMS EX-PRISONERS ENCOUNTER WHEN RELEASED. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE UNWANTED SIDE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT INCLUDING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT, LOSS OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY CONTACTS, MALTREATMENT BY OTHER PRISONERS, ESTABLISHMENT OF CLOSE TIES WITH OTHER CRIMINALS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FOR THE PRISONER'S FAMILY. IF CRIME CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND OFFENDERS ARE NOT REMOVED FROM SOCIETY, WE, AS A NATION, WILL EITHER HAVE TO CHANGE EXISTING LAWS TO FAVOR THE POLICE, DRAMATICALLY INCREASE POLICE TO MATCH THE RISE IN CRIME, OR IMPRISON OFFENDERS. THEREFORE THE IMPRISONMENT OF CERTAIN OFFENDERS IS AN INTEGRAL REQUISITE OF A STABLE SOCIETY AND, IN THE ABSENCE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, IT REMAINS THE ONLY SENTENCE WHICH IS GUARANTEED TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF THE SENTENCERS--INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY, PUNISHMENT, AND SAFE STORAGE OF PRISONERS. A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (MJM)