CUTTING PRISON OVERCROWDING IN GREAT BRITAIN - SOURCES OF HELP AND HINDRANCE

• NCJ Number: 64146
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 10-21
• Author(s): M WRIGHT
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Council on Crime and Delinquency; UMI Dissertation Services; Institute for Scientific Information
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PRICE QUOTED FOR NCCD IS FOR SINGLE ISSUE

Annotation

A DISCUSSION OF PRISON REFORM IN GREAT BRITAIN FOCUSES ON THE PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS OF REFORM, BETTERING OF PRISON CONDITIONS, AND AS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND OTHER SUBSTITUTES FOR INCARCERATION.

Abstract

VARIED PROJECTS EXIST TO DEAL WITH CRIMINALS, BUT PUNITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD OFFENDERS PREVAIL AMONG MIDDLE-CLASS AND WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE. NEVERTHELESS, PRESSURE FOR LIBERAL CORRECTIONS REFORM PERSISTS, OFTEN COMING FROM WITHIN THE SYSTEM. INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE HOWARD LEAGUE AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CARE AND RESETTLEMENT OF OFFENDERS CONTINUE TO WORK FOR CORRECTIONAL REFORM. FORCES IMPEDING LIBERAL REFORM INCLUDE BOTH PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND THE WORKINGS AND FINANCES OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. COMMON REFORM GOALS INCLUDE SHORTER PRISON TERMS, ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR PETTY OFFENDERS TO MITIGATE PRISON CROWDING, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE HUMANE PRISON CONDITIONS. A RECENT LIBERAL REFORM IS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER, IN WHICH OFFENDERS PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR A SPECIFIED TIME IN HOSPITALS, YOUTH CLUBS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN LIEU OF A PRISON SENTENCE. WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE SENTENCES MAY INDICATE NEW ATTITUDES AMONG CITIZENS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)