NCJ Number
49490
Journal
Revue penitentiaire et de droit penal Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/MARCH 1978) Pages: 79-86
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO PROBATIONERS, PAROLEES, AND RELEASEES IN THE CANTON OF BERN, SWITZERLAND, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ASSISTANCE TO CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS IN SWITZERLAND FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF EACH OF THE CONFEDERACY STATES OR CANTONS, AN ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND IN OTHER SECTORS OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION. THE SWISS PENAL CODE IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPT TO UTILIZE SENTENCES WITH AN EYE TO REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION, FOUNDED PRINCIPALLY ON 'PATRONAGE,' A COLLECTION OF ORGANIZED AND INTEGRATED ASSISTANCE MEASURES FOR CONVICTS AND THOSE IN DANGER OF DELINQUENCY. PATRONAGE IS DIRECTED TOWARD THE RECLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS--BOTH ADULTS AND JUVENILES--THROUGH MORAL AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE, NOTABLY BY PROCURING LODGING AND WORK FOR THEM. PATRONAGE APPLIES FOR SUSPENDED SENTENCES, FOR PAROLE, AND FOR RELEASED INMATES, AND THE SWISS PENAL CODE ASSURES PATRONAGE FOR ADULTS AND JUVENILES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 1965 BERN LAW ON NONPENAL ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES INVOLVING EDUCATION AND PLACEMENT, WHICH APPLIES WHENEVER A CASE DOES NOT GIVE RISE TO A CUSTODIAL DISPOSITION. A BUREAU OF PATRONAGE, EXERCISING DIVERSE DUTIES, NOMINATES A PATRON FOR EACH OFFENDER, A NONSPECIALIST WHO WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONVICT. AN EMPLOYMENT SEARCH IS CARRIED OUT BY THE BUREAU, USUALLY WITH THE HELP OF THE CANTON EMPLOYMENT AGENCY; EMPLOYERS OFTEN ASSUME THE ROLE OF PATRON. LONGSTANDING EXPERIENCE WITH THIS FORM OF REINTEGRATION HAS SHOWN THE REGIME TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION AND RESOCIALIZATION OF RELEASEES. --IN FRENCH. (KBL)