ANTI-REHABILITATION SCHOOL - FAD OR FIXTURE? (FROM CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION READER, 2ND ED., 1978, BY PETER R MAIDA AND JEANNE E FAUCETT - SEE NCJ-51362)

• NCJ Number: 51363
• Author(s): B L INGRAHAM; E ANDERSON; M EVANS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Maryland
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE CONTENDS THAT EMPIRICAL FINDINGS OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH HAVE HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON CHANGES IN THE REHABILITATION ELEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL IDEOLOGIES.

Abstract

MAJOR THEMES OF POSITIVIST CRIMINOLOGY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN THE 1970'S: (1) THAT CRIME IS A DISEASE RESULTING FROM INDIVIDUAL OR SOCIAL PATHOLOGY, (2) THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS CURABLE THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN BOTH COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS, (3) THAT SOCIETY ENJOYS THE RIGHT IN ITS OWN SELF-DEFENSE TO USE CRIMINAL LAW AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE OTHER MEASURES OF CIVIL AND SOCIAL CONTROL TO INTERVENE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED AS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN ORDER TO PREVENT CRIME, (4) THAT WITHIN BROAD AND UNCONFINING CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS, CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL AND OTHER CONTROL AGENTS SHOULD ENJOY BROAD DISCRETION IN SELECTING PERSONS REQUIRING TREATMENT AND IN DEVISING SUITABLE TREATMENT PLANS, AND (5) THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF ANY CRIMINAL OR OTHER CIVIL SANCTION IS REFORMATION OF THE ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL OFFENDER. IDEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE ANTIREHABILITATION SCHOOL OF THOUGHT CAN BE COLLECTED UNDER THE FOLLOWING HEADINGS: OVERCRIMINALIZATION, POSITIVISM IS OVERDETERMINISTIC, THE FALLACY OF MEDICAL MODEL OF CRIME AS A DISEASE, CRIMINAL DELINQUENT RIGHTS THAT CANNOT BE DENIED IN THE NAME OF BENEFICIENT TREATMENT, EXCESSIVE DISCRETION IN THE SELECTION AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, UNJUST ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGAINST CERTAIN MINORITIES, AND JUSTICE RATHER THAN CRIME PREVENTION AS THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE CRIMINAL SANCTIONING PROCESS. BECAUSE RESEARCH EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CORRECTIONAL EFFORTS HAS GENERALLY HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON SUBSEQUENT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, OTHER FACTORS MUST BE EXAMINED THAT MAY INFLUENCE CORRECTIONAL PHILOSOPHIES AND POLICIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRISIS OF LOWERED EXPECTATIONS. FACTORS STEMMING FROM ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND LEGAL ROOTS MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN EVALUATING SHIFTS IN CORRECTIONAL IDEOLOGIES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)