NCJ Number
60175
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE MAJOR ISSUES REGARDING PENAL INSTITUTIONS RAISED AT THE 1975 CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL POLICY IN STRASBOURG ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
PARTICIPANTS ARE THE 18 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, FINLAND, ISRAEL, AND PRINCIPAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. DISCUSSION OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PENAL SYSTEM CLARIFIES THE NEED FOR A PENAL SYSTEM MORE IN KEEPING WITH MODERN SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES; CONCLUSIONS ON METHODS OF CHANGE FAVOR FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT ABRUPT REVISION. TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE PROBLEMS IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE POLICE; ACTIVITIES OF THE SWEDISH NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CRIME PREVENTION; LIMITATIONS OF REPRESSIVE ACTION; THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PENALTIES, WITH IMPRISONMENT APPLICABLE ONLY FOR HIGH SECURITY CASES OR WHERE REHABILITATION NEEDS TO PLACE IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT; NORMALIZATION OF PRISON LIFE ACCORDING TO ACCEPTED EUROPEAN PRISONERS' RIGHTS; AND THE NEED FOR POSTRELEASE PROGRAMS. CONFERENCE MEMBERS CONCUR IN (1) FAVORING EFFICIENCY AND REALISM BASED ON PRINCIPLES SUCH AS COST-EFFECTIVENESS; (2) HIGH PRIORITY FOR PREVENTIVE MEASURES, ESPECIALLY TO AID JUVENILES, COORDINATED BY AN OFFICIAL AGENCY; (3) REVISION OF SOCIAL REACTION TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, I.E., REEXAMINATION OF THE RELATIVE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIMES DEFINED BY LAW, DECRIMINALIZATION WHEN POSSIBLE, AND PREFERENCE FOR NONSTIGMATIZING PENALTIES; (4) ABANDOMENT OF THE MEDICAL MYTH IN NECESSARY CASES OF IMPRISONMENT, BUT WITHOUT DENIAL OF PRISONERS' BASIC RIGHTS; (5) DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS POSTRELEASE PROGRAMS; AND (6) COLLABORATION AMONG EUROPEAN NATIONS TO MINIMIZE DISPARITIES IN ANTICRIME ACTIONS. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THESE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS ARE PROMPTED BY THE HUMANISTIC SPIRIT OF SOCIAL DEFENSE. NOTES ARE FURNISHED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)