NCJ Number
15421
Date Published
1972
Length
184 pages
Annotation
PROGRAM TO INCREASE CONTACTS BETWEEN INMATES AND STAFF, INMATE CONTACT WITH SOCIETY, AND CONTACT BETWEEN THE PRISON AND HIGHER-LEVEL CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
THIS INTERIM REPORT COVERS AN EXPERIMENT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER 1971. GENERALLY SPEAKING, ITS PURPOSE IS RESOCIALIZATION. PRISONERS APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM. THOSE SELECTED ARE MOSTLY INDIVIDUALS WITH NO HISTORY OF SERIOUS PERSONAL PROBLEMS. A VISITING CONSULTATIVE GROUP INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SWEDISH NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, AND THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH FOR THE PROJECT WAS SET UP. THE GROUP HAS COORDINATING AND ADVISORY FUNCTIONS. INMATE, STAFF, AND COMBINED MEETINGS TAKE PLACE AT WHICH CONDITIONS, REGULATIONS AND PRIVILEGES ARE DISCUSSED. THE INMATES SET UP THEIR OWN INMATE ADVISORY COUNCIL. INMATES' OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTACT WITH THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE WALLS HAVE BEEN INCREASED. REGULATIONS SUCH AS THOSE COVERING TIME OF LOCKING CELLS AT NIGHT AND WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHING IN THE PRISON HAVE BEEN RELAXED. UNDER THE PROGRAM, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STAFF AND INMATES HAS IMPROVED. INMATES' REQUESTS FOR MORE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE PRISON WERE MET BY STAFF DEMANDS FOR LESS DRUNKENNESS, MISUSE OF FURLOUGHS, AND SMUGGLING IN FORBIDDEN GOODS. THIS LED SOME INMATES TO BECOME STRONGLY CRITICAL OF OTHERS IN THE HOPE OF GETTING INCREASED PRIVILEGES THROUGH IMPROVED BEHAVIOR. A WEAKNESS OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE LONG DELAY BETWEEN THE PRISON'S PUTTING FORWARD A PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE AND ITS BEING APPROVED BY HIGHER AUTHORITY. --IN SWEDISH, WITH SUMMARY IN ENGLISH