NCJ Number
64896
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORRECTIONS LAW AND CONVICTED OFFENDER ASSISTANCE IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CORRECTIONS LAW SERVES THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM OFFENDERS. SUCH PROTECTION CAN BE BEST ACHIEVED BY PREVENTING RECIDIVISM THROUGH ALTERATION OF THE PRISONERS' PREVIOUS LIFESTYLES, A GOAL OF CONVICTED OFFENDER ASSISTANCE. AS SUCCESSFUL PRISONER REHABILITATION IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH AID FROM THE PUBLIC, AN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS NEEDED TO ENLIGHTEN CITIZENS ABOUT THE SITUATION OF OFFENDERS. OFFENDERS' RIGHTS TO HUMAN DIGNITY AND TO PRISON LIVING CONDITIONS COMPARABLE TO THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE ARE GUARANTEED BY LAW. THESE GOALS ARE BEST ATTAINED THROUGH OPEN INSTITUTIONS WHICH PROMOTE OFFENDER CONTACTS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD, AS PROVIDED FOR IN CORRECTIONS LAW. SUCCESS OF SUCH MEASURES AS OUTSIDE WORK PROGRAMS, FURLOUGHS, AND LEAVE PRIVILEGES DEPENDS ON THE CAREFUL SCREENING OF PARTICIPANTS. OTHER POSSIBILITIES FOR OUTSIDE CONTACTS INCLUDE CORRESPONDENCE, VISITS, PACKAGES, AND TELEPHONE CALLS. PREPARATION FOR RELEASE SHOULD START AT THE BEGINNING OF INCARCERATION, AND THE CORRECTIONS FACILITIES ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO WORK WITH AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF RELEASE PROGRAMS. FURTHERMORE, THE PUBLIC IS TO BE REPRESENTED ON PRISON BOARDS, INCREASING POSSIBILITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE CITIZENS. CORRECTIONS AND PRISONER ASSISTANCE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS SEPARATE FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE AND OF SOCIETY. FURTHERMORE, TO SUPPLY TREATMENT AND INTEGRATION AID TO EACH PRISONER, BOTH PROFESSIONAL CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED. VOLUNTEER WORK WITH INMATES REQUIRES EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF PERSONS INVOLVED, INMATE COOPERATION, SUITABLE INSTITUTIONAL REGULATIONS, INSIGHT INTO INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SUCH WORK AND INTO THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP EXPECTED, WILLINGNESS TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT SITUATIONS, AND ADEQUATE TIME. THE INSTITUTIONAL STAFF MUST VIEW VOLUNTEERS AS INDEPENDENT COLLEAGUES, CONSTANTLY REVIEW CORRECTIONS OFFICER-VOLUNTEER-PRISONER RELATIONSHIPS, AND PERMIT PARTIAL PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN TREATMENT DECISIONMAKING. OBTAINING SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF VOLUNTEERS REMAINS A MAJOR PROBLEM. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)