NCJ Number
45323
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE, AND OPERATIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES ARE OUTLINED IN A PRESENTATION DIRECTED TO PARTICIPANTS IN AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR.
Abstract
THE PRESENTATION OPENS WITH A REVIEW OF ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THE ARGUMENT FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE TRADITIONAL USE OF LARGE INSTITUTIONS FOR GREAT NUMBERS OF OFFENDERS IS A MISTAKE, AND THAT COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES ARE USUALLY MORE HUMANE, LESS EXPENSIVE, AND AT LEAST AS EFFECTIVE FOR THE MAJORITY OF OFFENDERS. THE HISTORY OF CORRECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOCUSES ON TWO REVOLUTIONS: THE MOVEMENT IN THE LATE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES TO REPLACE EXILE, EXECUTION, AND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT WITH IMPRISONMENT; AND THE MOVEMENT IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES TO VIEW THE OFFENDER AS SICK RATHER THAN WICKED. THE POSSIBILITY THAT A THIRD REVOLUTION IS IN PROCESS IS NOTED. THAT REVOLUTION IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE BELIEF THAT SOCIETY ITSELF NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THAT THE PRESSURES EXERTED UPON THE OFFENDER BY HIS CULTURAL MILIEU NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. FOLLOWING THE HISTORICAL REVIEW, THE COMPONENTS AND STRUCTURE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; PAROLE; AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THE DISCUSSION TOUCHES ON THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EVIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM IS INEFFICIENT, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. FLOW CHARTS DEPICTING THE ADULT AND JUVENILE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)