NCJ Number
111881
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1986) Pages: 32-39
Date Published
1986
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Over the past 10 years, a series of studies have been conducted to evaluate the model prison at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, N.C.
Abstract
The program is based on a model proposed by Norval Morris that calls for voluntary self-help programs, predetermined length of stay, gradual testing of inmates' suitability for release, and a general pattern of life as similar as possible to that in the community. Overall, the results of this series of studies has been mixed. Results do, however, clearly demonstrate that a group of sophisticated and dangerous offenders can be successfully housed in an environment predicated on the concept of humane incarceration that includes an emphasis on individual rights and freedom. The Butner population, one that is usually very difficult to manage, functioned well under these conditions. When inmates were allowed to volunteer for programs, they participated in and completed more programs. Butner inmates also had fewer disciplinary problems and fewer assaults relative to those found in other institutions of the same security level. While followup studies of redivism and postrelease adjustment failed to show significant differences between Butner inmates and controls, results indicate that the model represents a viable philosphy of incarceration that results in a more positive prison environment and renders a difficult inmate population easier to manage. 2 tables, 13 footnotes, and 9 references.