NCJ Number
49075
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: (1973) Pages: 3-8
Date Published
1973
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDER POPULATIONS ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY AND CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS MUST CHANGE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE. TODAY'S CRIMINALS ARE MORE ORIENTED TOWARD VIOLENCE AND DRUG USE THAN CRIMINALS IN THE PAST.
Abstract
A CHANGE IN CORRECTIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND REDESIGN OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS CALLED FOR TO MEET THE CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CRIMINAL POPULATIONS OF THE LATE-1970'S. THE NONVIOLENT AND DRUG-FREE OFFENDERS WHO DOMINATED PRISON POPULATIONS 1940-1970 ARE STILL A SUBSTANTIAL MINORITY. THEY COMPRISE THE BULK OF PAROLEES, PROBATIONERS, AND PRETRIAL RELEASEES. HOWEVER, THE HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE DRUG-USING OR DRUG-INVOLVED OFFENDER CALLS FOR REDESIGN OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS AND EXPERT PLACEMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES. THE SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN AFFLUENT SUBURB, A RURAL OR SMALL TOWN AREA, AND AN INNER CITY AREA ARE ANALYZED IN TERMS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR OFFENDERS, COMMUNITY ATTITUDES, AND SUITABILITY FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS. THE AFFLUENT SUBURB IS CALLED AN EXCELLENT CHOICE BECAUSE IT USUALLY CONTAINS STRONG SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT AND A SYMPATHETIC CITIZENRY. SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS ARE CALLED APPROPRIATE FOR TRADITIONAL APPROACHES, ESPECIALLY THOSE EMPHASIZING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND PERSONAL TIES. LARGE URBAN AREAS HAVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. URBAN COMMUNITIES HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT RESIDENTS ARE FEARFUL OF A CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVE WHICH THEY TEND TO VIEW AS A NEW SOURCE OF TENSION AND TROUBLE. EFFECTIVE, LARGE-SCALE SUPPORT SERVICES USUALLY DO NOT EXIST AND THE FEW THAT EXIST USUALLY HAVE MORE CLIENTS THAN CAN BE EFFECTIVELY HANDLED. HOWEVER, MOST OFFENDERS COME FROM INNERCITY AREAS AND ARE MORE EASILY REACHED THERE. PROBATION OFFICERS ARE CAUTIONED THAT NOT ALL OFFENDERS ARE OF THE SAME TYPE. APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS CAN BE DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE. THE CRY FOR MORE SEVERE SENTENCES SHOULD NOT STAMPEDE COURTS AND PROBATION INVESTIGATORS INTO RECOMMENDING HARSH SENTENCES FOR ALL OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, IT IS FOOLISH NOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE NEW AGGRESSIVE, DRUG-ORIENTED OFFENDER IS A CAUSE OF GREAT PUBLIC CONCERN. HANDLING SUCH OFFENDERS IS THE CORRECTIONS CHALLENGE OF TODAY. (GLR)