NCJ Number
53037
Journal
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 10 Issue: 1&2 Dated: (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 23-29
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS OFFENDERS NEED BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER INMATES IS ADDRESSED, WITH REFERENCE TO AN ENGLISH PRISON'S EXPERIENCE WITH SUCH OFFENDERS.
Abstract
PRISON OFFICIALS GENERALLY TAKE THE VIEW THAT, AT ALL COSTS, OFFENDERS WITH HEINOUS BACKGROUNDS MUST NOT BE PERMITTED TO ESCAPE. THE PRESENCE OF SUCH OFFENDERS IN MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS CAN HAVE UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHER, LESS THREATENING INMATES, WHOSE DAILY ROUTINE IS RESTRICTED BY MEASURES DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS INMATES. THE LONG-TERM YOUNG PRISONERS' CENTRE AT WAKEFIELD PRISON IN YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, HOUSED YOUNG MEN WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES AND WHO WERE SERVING LONG (IN SOME CASES INDETERMINATE) SENTENCES. THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE DIVERSITY OF CHARACTER, PERSONALITY, AND BACKGROUND AMONG THESE INMATES. THIS WIDE DISSIMILARITY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN OTHER GROUPS OF OFFENDERS CONVICTED OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR OFFENSES BUT IS SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED BY PROPONENTS OF LEGISLATIVELY PRESCRIBED MANDATORY SENTENCES. SOME OF THE WAKEFIELD INMATES PRESENTED PROBLEMS (ESCAPE ATTEMPTS, ASSAULTS ON STAFF, ETC.), BUT A DEGREE OF SUCCESS WAS ACHIEVED WITH PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, FIELD TRIPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS NOT ONE OF A PERFECT THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY, BUT NEITHER WAS IT HARSHLY REPRESSIVE. AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WAS THE CAREFULLY CHOSEN STAFF. THE WAKEFIELD EXPERIENCE, TOGETHER WITH THE LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HUMAN BEINGS ACTUALLY CAN BE CHANGED, SUGGESTS THAT TREATMENT FOR DANGEROUS OFFENDERS DOES NOT NEED TO BE VERY DIFFERENT, GENERALLY, FROM THAT OF ANY OTHER TYPE OF OFFENDER IN PRISON. ALL INMATES SHOULD BE TREATED HUMANELY, TAUGHT TRADES, ENGAGED IN SOCIALLY USEFUL ACTIVITIES, REWARDED FOR WORK DONE, GIVEN THERAPY OR OTHER TREATMENT IF THEY VOLUNTEER FOR IT, PROVIDED WITH PROTECTION FROM HARM, AND PERMITTED TO SPEND THEIR TIME IN CAPTIVITY IN AS DIGNIFIED A MANNER AS POSSIBLE. (LKM)