NCJ Number
52702
Date Published
1975
Length
302 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1975 CONFERENCE OF THE WEST GERMAN UNION FOR ASSISTANCE TO PRISONERS ON METHODS OF PREVENTING RECIDIVISM ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
ASSISTANCE TO PRISONERS AFTER RELEASE SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME USEFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IS VIEWED AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. THE NEED BOTH FOR BETTER TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICERS AND FOR COMPETENT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IS EMPHASIZED. REPORTS ON EACH OF 10 WORK GROUPS SHOW A FOCUS ON PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF PRISONER PROBLEMS; ASSISTANCE FOR CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS NOT SENTENCED TO PRISON TERMS; ASSISTANCE FOR DETAINEES DURING INVESTIGATION; AID FOR FAMILIES OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS; SEPARATION OF FUNCTIONS OR COOPERATION IN PRISONER ASSISTANCE; AID FROM PRIVATE ASSOCIATIONS; THE FUNCTION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE IN PRISON THERAPY; PROMOTION OF POSTRELEASE PROGRAMS; LIVING GROUPS OUTSIDE PRISON; AND GROUP WORK WITH RELEASED PRISONERS. A PRESENTATION ON THE JUDGE'S ROLE IN PRISONER ASSISTANCE INDICATES THAT THE LAW DOES NOT DEFINE RESOCIALIZATION OF THE PRISONER AS A GOAL FOR JUDGES AND THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT OF RESOCIALIZATION IS THEREFORE DEPENDENT ON THE PERSONALITY OF JUDGES AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, A SERIES OF EXAMPLES SHOWS THAT FOR RESOCIALIZATION EFFORTS LEGISLATORS MUST FOLLOW CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES WHILE CONSIDERING BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL SITUATION OF EACH OFFENDER AND THE FINANCES OF THE STATE. A MEMBERSHIP LIST OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS BY-LAWS, AS WELL AS NOTES FOR SEVERAL OF THE ARTICLES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)