NCJ Number
58337
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
TWO CONFERENCES ON CORRECTIONS (LONG-TERM SENTENCES IN CANADA AND PRISON OVERCROWDING IN BRITAIN) ARE CITED AS ILLUSTRATIONS OF 'ETHICAL-EXPEDIENCY SLIPPAGE' IN PENAL PRACTICE.
Abstract
THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE SEEMED UNUSUAL IN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD CALLED TOGETHER ACADEMICS TO PASS ON THE BENEFITS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE TO THE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THE MEETING TOOK PLACE AFTER THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY STIPULATED LONG SENTENCES FOR MURDER. THE CONFERENCE WAS BEING USED TO LEGITIMATIZE AN ACTION THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN. THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE ILLUSTRATE HOW RESEARCHERS AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM INNOVATORS CAN DELUDE THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE BEING HUMANITARIAN AND PROGRESSIVE WHEN IN FACT THEIR HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS HAVE GIVEN WAY TO EXPEDIENCY. IN BRITAIN, THE PRISON GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION BROUGHT TOGETHER RESEARCHERS AND REFORMERS TO DISCUSS WITH ADMINISTRATORS THE PROBLEM OF PRISON OVERCROWDING. HERE IT WAS EVIDENT THAT PARTICIPANTS WERE CONCERNED NOT ABOUT THE ETHICS OF IMPRISONMENT, BUT SIMPLY ABOUT OVERCROWDING. THE TOTAL EXPEDIENCY OF THE GATHERING WAS CAPTURED IN ONE PARTICIPANT'S SUGGESTION THAT THE PRISON ADMISSION RATE SHOULD DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF A PRISONER'S SENTENCE SHOULD BE REMITTED FOR GOOD CONDUCT. THOSE WHO LOOK FORWARD TO THE ABOLITION OF IMPRISONMENT, AND NOT JUST TO MORE TINKERING, SHOULD BE MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT THE CONFERENCES THEY ATTEND AND SHOULD NOT LET CONFERENCE-GOING AND PAPER-READING MAKE SOMETHING ABSTRACT OUT OF THE INHUMANITIES OF PRISON LIFE. OTHERWISE, PRISONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE REGARDED AS PERMANENT INSTITUTIONAL FEATURES OF SOCIETY OCCASIONALLY IN NEED OF INTERNAL REFORM, LIKE SCHOOLS OR HOSPITALS, RATHER THAN AS AN INSTITUTION MORE AKIN TO SLAVERY THAT UNDERMINES ANY CLAIM TO CIVILIZATION. (LKM)