CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THORBERG BE (SWITERZERLAND)

• NCJ Number: 68776
• Author(s): P BAUMANN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 312 pages
• Sale Source: Sauerlaender Ag
• Language: German
• Country: Switzerland
• Note: SERIES - SWISS CORRECTIONS, V 6

Annotation

THE FACILITIES OF THE THORBERG PRISON AS WELL AS THE ATTITUDES OF INMATES AND STAFF ARE DESCRIBED ON THE BASIS OF LONG-TERM RESEARCHER OBSERVATIONS, PRISON RECORDS, AND A SURVEY OF 121 INMATES AND 60 STAFF.

Abstract

AREAS CONSIDERED ARE THE PHYSICAL PLANT, THE THEORETICAL CONCEPT OF CORRECTIONS, CHARACTERISTICS OF PRISON PERSONNEL, AND INMATES, THE EVERYDAY OPERATION OF THE INSTITUTION AND ITS PROGRAMS, AND INMATE-INMATE AS WELL AS INMATE-STAFF RELATIONSHIPS. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE PRISON'S RESOCIALIZATION CONCEPT IS FOUNDED ON THE ATTRIBUTION OF DELINQUENCY TO LACK OF UPBRINGING, LAZINESS, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS. INSTITIUTIONAL DECISIONS ARE MADE BY ADMINISTRATORS WITHOUT CONSULTING EMPLOYEES, LEAVING THE LATTER SCEPTICAL ABOUT LIBERALIZATION ATTEMPTS. GUARDS SUFFER FROM INSECURITY BECAUSE OF TREATMENT-CUSTODY CONFLICTS, LOW STATUS, AND LACK OF RECOGNITION. PRISON LIFE IS STRICTLY REGIMENTED AND PRISONERS' ATTEMPTS TO RESIST THE ROLES IMPOSED ON THEM ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD. THE INMATES SUBMIT TO THE PRESSURE TO CONFORM TO PRISON RULES BECAUSE THEY ARE REWARDED: THIS MANIPULATIVE COOPERATION SYSTEM MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR STAFF TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND FOR INMATES TO SATISFY THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THE UNWRITTEN NORMS OF INMATE CULTURE STABILIZE THE TOTAL SYSTEM BUT ARE CONDUCIVE TO INMATE BLACK MARKETS. INMATES TEND TO BE MEMBERS OF THE LOWER CLASS WITH INSUFFICIENT EDUCATION. WORK PLAYS AN INORDINATE ROLE IN DISCIPLINE BUT IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE REAL MARKET SITUATION; WAGES ARE DETERMINED BY INMATE BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN BY THE REAL WORK ACCOMPLISHED. AS A RESULT OF INCARCERATION, INMATES TEND TO LOSE THEIR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. OUTSIDE CONTACTS CAN BE INTERRUPTED AT ANY TIME BY THE PRISON ADMINISTRATION AND ARE THUS USED AS A DISCIPLINARY INSTRUMENT, SO THAT SUCH TIES LOSE THEIR SOCIAL MEANING. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, NOTES, ILLUSTRATIONS, TABLES, AND APPENDIXES WITH DOCUMENTS ON THE PRISONS' ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMS ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN.