NCJ Number
105569
Journal
International Journal of the Sociology of Law Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1987) Pages: 39-60
Date Published
1987
Length
22 pages
Annotation
'Empiricism,' which draws conclusions from untheorized 'facts,' combined with 'globalism,' which overgeneralizes from the particular, produces the conclusion that nothing works ('impossibilism') when analyzing the effectiveness of decarceration and the development of alternatives to incarceration.
Abstract
'Empiricism' selects a random collection of 'facts' without a careful determination of whether all data bearing upon the phenomenon being analyzed have been considered. Regarding decarceration, empiricism observes the simultaneous expansion of community corrections and incarceration and uses one to explain the other. It uses similar techniques to indicate that the various diversion and deinstitutionalization strategies are not effective by using the criterion of associated recidivism. 'Globalism' ignores or blurs significant boundaries and divisions, generalizes from unrepresentative samples, universalizes from one nation, and adopts meta-theoretical futuristic scenarios. 'Impossibilism' in its hard form claims that 'nothing works,' and in its softer version claims that 'nothing works very well.' 'Empiricism,' 'globalism,' and 'impossibilism' applied to decarceration and community alternatives to incarceration have failed to note significant successes and identify the various factors bearing upon success and failure in this arena. This flawed reasoning has become the basis for the expansion of the prison systems in Britain and North America. 76 references.