NCJ Number
8112
Date Published
1971
Length
84 pages
Annotation
TEXT ON PRISON CONDITIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONS, PREPARED FOR USE IN HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOMS.
Abstract
THE TEXTUAL MATERIALS REFLECT A VARIETY OF DIVERSE OPINIONS ON CORRECTIONAL GOALS, LIFE IN CONTEMPORARY PRISONS, AND THE ROLE OF PRISONS IN CRIME DETERRENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FORTUNE SOCIETY, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION OF EX-INMATES, CRITICIZES LIFE IN NEW YORK STATE'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THEIR REPORT IS BALANCED BY AN ARTICLE FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS WHICH POINTS OUT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRISON LIVING CONDITIONS. A MAJOR EMPHASIS OF THIS BOOK IS ON CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. DISCUSSION EXERCISES INCLUDED AFTER THE READINGS ARE NOT LABORIOUS WRITING ASSIGNMENTS. THEY ARE WRITTEN ONLY TO STIMULATE CLASS DISCUSSION AND CRITICAL THINKING. SOME EXERCISES DEAL WITH THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN STATEMENTS OF FACT, OPINION, AND BIAS. OTHERS PERMIT EXPERIMENTATION WITH THE CAPACITY TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF INFORMATION. FOR REVISED EDITION SEE NCJ-10839. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)