NCJ Number
94440
Date Published
1983
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The Commissioner of Hong Kong's Correctional Services compares Asian and European approaches to crime and punishment and suggests several amendments to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
Abstract
To protect the community and prevent crime, the deterrent objective of imprisonment must be maintained. A good correctional program cannot function unless it has a strong element of discipline for staff as well as prisoners. Correcting unlawful behavior is possible in a correctional program, and this function attracts the largest number of individuals to correctional work. While correctional programs are given high priority within correctional services in Asis, a 'do as you like' attitude will not be found because of the emphasis on deterrence. An example of this philosophy is an effective detention center program, for young people which consists of a custodial period, usually 4 months, followed by a 1-year period of compulsory supervision. Programs based on extended families have also proved highly successful. The United Nations Rules were introduced in 1955, and now amendments are needed. The rules on accommodation create worse conditions by ruling out two to a cell and their wording tends to accept overcrowding by allowing temporary overcrowding without stating time limits. Other revisions which would accommodate conditions in the Asian region are needed in standards governing clothing and bedding, medical services, detention of prisoners under sentence, classification, work and training programs, institutional personnel, and staff training. The Rules also should contain references to the need for public relations programs in corrections.