NCJ Number
148445
Journal
Penological Information Bulletin Issue: 17 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 4-9
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The article argues that increasing the amount of contact among prisoners, staff, and the outside community does not decrease a prison's security and control.
Abstract
Prison directors often see the goals of maintaining control over inmates and of integrating them into their environment as conflicting; however, one must keep in mind that control and security are not the only goals of imprisonment in the United Kingdom. The requirement of executing justice also presupposes a humane treatment of prisoners which includes individual trust and respect. In this context, the key relationship is that between inmate and prison officer who must personally espouse and integrate the goals of security, control, and justice. This process ideally takes place when an officer is given responsibility for a small group of prisoners and when the inmates themselves participate to some extent in the day-to-day decision making. With the prison officer as mediator, the prisoner's relationship to society increases at the same time. To break the isolation of the prison within a community, prisoners should be imprisoned close to home, and the community (e.g., family, community volunteers, community professionals) should become more involved in the daily operations of the prison. Because of the enhanced self-respect and trust the prisoners experience, this approach can actually enhance a prison's security.