NCJ Number
30779
Date Published
1975
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR PROPOSES A LIMITED SET OF OBJECTIVES FOR PRISONS DEVOLVED FROM A SERIES OF PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING THE AUTHORS VIEW OF MAN AND LAW IN THE CONTEXT OF JUSTICE.
Abstract
TRANSITION FROM INDETERMINATE TO FLAT TIME SENTENCING IS URGED, AS WELL AS ABOLITION OF PAROLE. SENTENCING WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE AND PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD; WOULD BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW; AND WOULD BE REDUCIBLE ONLY ACCORDING TO A FIXED GOOD TIME ALLOWANCE. THE PRISON SENTENCE WOULD REPRESENT ONLY A DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY, NOT A MANDATE FOR REHABILITATION BY CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES. PARTICIPATION IN REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS WOULD, THEREFORE, BE VOLUNTARY. CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WOULD BE OF THREE TYPES, DEPENDING UPON THE DEGREE OF SECURITY REQUIRED; BUT IN NO CASE WOULD THE POPULATION OF ANY FACILITY EXCEED 300. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT INDIVIDUAL STATES WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO INSTITUTE SUCH REFORMS.