ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES TO THE NEW JERSEY CORRECTIONAL MASTER PLAN

• NCJ Number: 54181
• Author(s): J BENEDICT; I PILLER; J FRIEDMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: New Jersey Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RESPONSES OF CITIZENS, EDUCATORS, COURT AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL, AND GOVERNMENT PLANNERS TO NEW JERSEY'S CORRECTIONAL MASTER PLAN ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

IN MARCH 1977, NEW JERSEY INTRODUCED ITS CORRECTIONAL MASTER PLAN AT A 2-DAY STATEWIDE CONFERENCE AND ASKED THE 213 CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS TO ASSESS THE PLAN. THE 145 CONFEREES WHO COMPLETED THE PLAN ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ADEQUACY OF THE STATE'S EXISTING CORRECTIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES, THE CLARITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PLAN'S MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS. EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO SENTENCING AND PAROLE PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY (A MODIFIED 'JUST DESERTS' MODEL OF CORRECTIONS, USE OF FORMAL SENTENCING CRITERIA AND DETERMINATE SENTENCES, USE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF LEAST RESTRICTIVE DISPOSITION, REDUCTION OF PAROLE BOARD DISCRETION, REDUCTION OF RACIAL DISPARITY IN CORRECTIONS); A PLAN FOR INCREASING LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN CORRECTIONS; AND STATE BEDSPACE CONSTRUCTION TO ALLEVIATE PRISON OVERCROWDING. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE MASTER PLAN. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PLAN REPRESENTS A MAJOR CHANGE FROM EXISTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES, THREE-FOURTHS OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT THAT IMPLEMENTATION WAS FEASIBLE. RESPONDENTS EXPRESSED SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING PAROLE DECISIONMAKING. SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN WAS STRONGER AMONG EDUCATORS, PLANNERS, STATE CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL, AND CITIZEN GROUPS THAN AMONG PROBATION, PAROLE, COURTS, AND COUNTY CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL. NEARLY ALL PARTICIPANTS FOUND THE PLAN CLEAR, ANTICIPATED ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLAN BY THE JUDICIARY, AND JUDGED THE RECOMMENDATIONS ADMINISTRATIVELY FEASIBLE. HOWEVER, SOME RESPONDENTS SAW DIFFICULTIES IN GAINING LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND IN PROCURING THE FISCAL RESOURCES NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. SEE NCJ-54180 FOR THE MASTER PLAN. AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)