NCJ Number
65061
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
ASPECTS OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT'S (AUSTRALIA) OPERATIONS NEEDING RESEARCH ARE IDENTIFIED, AND A GENERAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE CENTRAL ROLES OF THE PRISON SUPERINTENDENT AND THE PRISON OFFICERS SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY A STUDY OF THEIR TASKS, PROBLEMS WHICH THEY FACE, CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, AND APPROPRIATE ROLE EXPECTATIONS. THE EFFECTIVE CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES REQUIRES RESEARCH INTO THE RANGE OF INMATE PROGRAMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, THE TYPES OF INMATES FOR WHICH THEY ARE MOST SUITED, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR OBTAINING INMATE DATA NECESSARY FOR SECURITY AND PROGRAM ASSIGNMENTS. EVALUATION SCHEMES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PRERELEASE AND WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS. THE PAROLE BOARD SHOULD BE SUPPLIED WITH THE RESULTS OF A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE INFORMATION USED TO MAKE DECISIONS AND THE OUTCOME OF THE DECISIONS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF INMATE EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH PROGRAMS. INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY AGENCIES WORKING IN THE AREA OF AFTER-CARE. ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, NOTABLY PROBATION AND PAROLE, SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND INTERACTION WITH OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WHERE POSSIBLE, EVALUATION PROJECTS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITHIN AN EXPERIMENTAL FRAMEWORK. WHATEVER PARTICULAR RESEARCH METHOD IS USED, IT MUST BE BASED ON OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL, THE COLLECTION OF ADEQUATE RECORDS, AND THE WILLINGNESS OF SYSTEM PERSONNEL TO REVIEW THEIR TASKS AND PROCEDURES. (RCB)