NCJ Number
56380
Date Published
1976
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE ENGLISH ADVISORY COUNCIL'S REPORT ON THE CORRECTION SYSTEM'S HANDLING OF YOUNG ADULTS IS CRITIQUED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
PREPARED BY THE HOWARD LEAGUE FOR PENAL REFORM, THIS CRITIQUE PRAISES THE ADVISORY COUNCIL'S RECOGNITION THAT PROLONGED INCARCERATION DOES LITTLE TO REHABILITATE AND IN FACT, FREQUENTLY DOES REINFORCE CRIMINAL TENDENCIES; HOWEVER, WHILE THE COUNCIL DOES ADVOCATE INCREASED USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS, THE REPORT DOES HAVE SOME WEAKNESSES IN ITS PRACTICAL APPROACH FOR IMPLEMENTING ITS RECOMMENDED STRATEGY. SPECIFICALLY, THE HOWARD LEAGUE OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF SENTENCING, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, THE USE OF CUSTODY, THE NATURE OF PROBATION SUPERVISION, AND PLANNED SENTENCING. THE LEAGUE RECOMMENDS THAT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL ORDERS (SCOS) GENERALLY BE USED TO REPLACE DETENTION CENTER ORDERS AND SOME BORSTAL SENTENCES AND THAT FACTORS SUCH AS THE GRAVITY OF THE OFFENSE AND THE DETERRENCE OF OTHERS NOT BE OVERLY EMPHASIZED IN DETERMINING SENTENCES. IT IS FURTHER PROPOSED THAT A PERSON SHOULD NOT NORMALLY BE SUBJECT TO A CUSTODY AND CONTROL ORDER (CCO) BEFORE HE HAS HAD AN SCO, AND THAT HIS FIRST CCO SHOULD NOT BE FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN VERY SERIOUS OFFENSES. IN ORDER TO EFFECT THE NECESSARY TRANSFER OF RESOURCES FROM INSTITUTIONS TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FOR EACH REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL SENTENCES, A SUM EQUIVALENT TO THE AVERAGE COST OF SUCH SENTENCES SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE RELEVANT PROBATION SERVICE TO BE USED FOR PROJECTS DESIGNED FOR PARTICULAR CLIENTS' NEEDS. SUGGESTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF CORRECTIONS, INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND METHODS FOR SUPPLEMENTING TRADITIONAL CASEWORK TO PROVIDE MORE SUPERVISION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR DIFFICULT OFFENDERS ALSO ARE OFFERED. (RCB)