NCJ Number
49084
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 179-184
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
MAJOR ISSUES AND OBSTACLES IN COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL APPROACHES ARE IDENTIFIED AND A PROGNOSIS FOR THE FUTURE OF INNOVATIVE CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE SIMULATANEOUS MANDATES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND TO REHABILITATE AND REINTEGRATE THE OFFENDER POSE A CENTRAL DILEMMA IN CORRECTIONAL POLICY. THE CONTRADICTORY NATURE OF THESE DIRECTIVES IS MIRRORED IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHICH ESPOUSE REHABILITATION ON AN INTELLECTUAL LEVEL AND RETRIBUTION THROUGH LEGITIMIZED PUNISHMENTS ON THE EMOTIONAL LEVEL. INTIMATELY RELATED TO CONFLICTING OBJECTIVES SET FORTH FOR CORRECTIONS IS THE LACK OF CLEARLY ARTICULATED AIMS AND GOALS. COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES ARE PARTICULARLY PRONE TO VAGUENESS BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIALLY BROAD COMPASS, THE ABUNDANCE OF UNSYSTEMATIC VARIATION IN PROGRAM GOALS, PHILOSOPHIES, AND OPERATIONS, THE LACK OF PROGRAM STANDARDS, AND THE LACK OF EMPIRICALLY VALIDATED GUIDELINES. MOREOVER, AS WITH ANY INNOVATION, COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS MUST FACE BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES, RESISTANCE TO CHANGE RESULTING FROM ENTRENCHED TRADITIONS, THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES OF SUCCESS, AND DIFFICULTIES OF DESIGN AND PLANNING. THE LACK OF AN EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE BASE UPON WHICH TO BASE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESIGNS, COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF AN EVALUATIVE TRADITION WITHIN CORRECTIONS AND A LACK OF OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF PROGRAM EFFICACY, ALSO PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE. COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE AND COOPERATION ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. FRAGMENTATION AND MALDISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IN THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO BE OVERCOME. THE AVAILABILITY OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND A HIGH DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALIZATION ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL APPROACHES ARE TO MEET WITH BETTER SUCCESS THAN PREVIOUS REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS, GUIDING PRINCIPLES, GOALS, AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES WILL HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED AND A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATIVE ATTITUDE ENCOURAGING SOUND EXPERIMENTATION WILL BE REQUIRED. (JAP)