NCJ Number
110449
Date Published
1987
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Based on visits to 7 Dutch prisons and 8 remand centers that included interviews with the 15 institutional managers and prison officers in 9 facilities, this study discusses institutional management strategies and tactics.
Abstract
Three types of management strategies were identified: to change the organization, to change relations between staff and inmates, and to change inmates. Tactics for changing the organization are to align staff goals, integrate functions, and improve communication. The alignment of staff goals involves having regular meetings of staff at all levels to identify and monitor common goals. Teams of staff members having various institutional functions coordinate institutional activities to ensure the integration of functions. Improved communication involves regular interaction among staff members to discuss and monitor program progress. The strategy of changing relations between staff and inmates includes the tactics of altering the ground rules for inmate-staff interaction to minimize defensiveness and promote cooperation and joint inmate staff participation in programs. The strategy of changing inmates is generally promoted through the development of inmate personal insight into problems and needs and through the provision of work experience.