ENGLISH BOARD OF VISITORS - LAY OUTSIDERS AS INSPECTORS AND DECISIONMAKERS IN PRISON

• NCJ Number: 39370
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 24-27
• Author(s): N P COHEN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE ENGLISH BOARDS OF VISITORS; ON THE ONE HAND, THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE; ON THE OTHER, THIS TYPE OF COMMUNITY CONTROL MAY BE BENEFICIAL.

Abstract

EACH CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS A BOARD OF VISITORS ASSIGNED TO IT. THESE BOARDS ARE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE EXCEPT THAT ONE MEMBER MUST BE A MAGISTRATE. THE BOARDS TEND TO BE COMPOSED OF THE WEALTHIER, PROFESSIONAL CLASSES. BOARDS MAY VISIT THEIR INSTITUTION AT ANY TIME, UNANNOUNCED. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT REGULARLY, HOWEVER. THEY EXERCISE DISCRETIONARY POWERS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FORMS OF INMATE PUNISHMENT (SOME OF WHICH MUST ALWAYS BE CLEARED BY THE BOARD) AND INSPECTIONS. THE MAJOR CONTROVERSY OVER THE BOARDS IS WHETHER THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY INDEPENDENT OF THE HOME OFFICE TO PERFORM THEIR MANY FUNCTIONS....PO