NCJ Number
51587
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE FINNISH LABOR COLONIES AND THE SWEDISH EXPERIMENT AT TILLBERGA INSTITUTION ARE DESCRIBED. BOTH PROGRAMS PAY CONVICTED PRISONERS PREVAILING WAGE RATES AND TEACH BUDGETING AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL SKILLS.
Abstract
THE DESCRIPTIONS COVER: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS AND CONVENTIONAL SECURITY-ORIENTED INSTITUTION-BASED PROGRAMS, THE POPULATIONS SERVED, METHODS USED TO SELECT OFFENDERS, THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMS ON RECIDIVISM AND ON REINTEGRATION OF THE OFFENDER INTO SOCIETY, AND THE RELATIVE COST OF THE PROGRAM. FINNISH AUTHORITIES WERE ANXIOUS TO CORRECT AN IMPRESSION THAT THE 'LABOR CAMPS' WERE BASED ON THE SOVIET FORCED-LABOR MODEL. THIS SERIES OF SIX INSTITUTIONS IS BASED ON A MINIMUM SECURITY CONCEPT; THERE ARE FEW GUARDS, AND THE EMPHASIS IS ON PRODUCTIVE LABOR. AFTER SAVINGS AND DEDUCTIONS, EACH MAN HAS ABOUT $273 BIWEEKLY FOR HIS OWN USE. THE DEDUCTIONS COVER ROOM AND BOARD, SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY, TAXES, AND LAUNDRY AND MISCELLANEOUS FACILITY SERVICES. THE MEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO SAVE MOST OF THEIR WAGES FOR USE AFTER DISCHARGE. SWEDEN'S TILLBERGA FACILITY RESEMBLES A FACTORY WITH DORMATORY FACILITIES. AGAIN THE INMATE IS PAID PREVAILING WAGES, IS TAUGHT TO BUDGET FOR FAMILY SUPPORT AND OTHER NECESSITIES, AND IS ENCOURAGED TO SAVE. BOTH HAVE A WAITING LIST OF PRISONERS WHO WISH TO TRANSFER. MOST WHO ARE ACCEPTED ARE EITHER FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS OR THOSE CHARGED WITH LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE WORK ETHIC IS STRONG IN BOTH COUNTRIES AND BY ENCOURAGING PRODUCTIVE LABOR, REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY IS HASTENED. BOTH FACILITIES HAVE RECIDIVISM RATES OF ABOUT 13 PERCENT, SIMILAR TO THAT FOR ALL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE TWO COUNTRIES. BOTH COST FAR LESS TO MAINTAIN THAN CONVENTIONAL FACILITIES. THE APPLICABILITY OF SUCH A MODEL TO THE UNITED STATES IS DISCUSSED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)