NCJ Number
61655
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 81-85
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS MODERN PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT AND EXAMINES THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PENOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
PSYCHOLOGISTS CONSIDER PUNISHMENT AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR. IT MAY CAUSE A PERSON TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR AND THIS INCOMPATIBILITY MAY LEAD TO A FEAR RESPONSE WHICH THE PERSON THEN LEARNS TO AVOID. THUS, CURRENT RESEARCH ON PUNISHMENT HAS WIDE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. RESEARCH ON PUNISHMENT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MODELING. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT PARENTS AND ROLE MODELS OF POTENTIAL OFFENDERS BE ABIDING OR THAT THEY RECEIVE SWIFT AND APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT IF THEY ERR. RECENT CASES OF POLITICAL CRIME AND POLICE CORRUPTION AND BRUTALITY HAVE UNDERMINED THIS MODELING PROCESS. TWO POINTS ARE PARAMOUNT IN THE POLICE ROLE IN PUNISHMENT: THE POLICE SHOULD BE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH DETECTING AND APPREHENDING OFFENDERS, AND POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT USE DISCRETION TO DECIDE TO NOT APPREHEND OFFENDERS. COURTS SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IF PUNISHMENT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT MUST BE ADMINISTERED SOON AFTER THE UNDESIRED ACT AND BE GIVEN CONSISTENTLY. THUS, TRIAL AND SENTENCING SHOULD FOLLOW SWIFTLY AFTER APPREHENSION, AND PLEA BARGAINING SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED. IMPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTIONS ARE (1) CONFINING THE OFFENDER WITH OTHER OFFENDERS WILL NOT DECREASE ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR; (2) THE SENTENCE FOR AN OFFENSE MUST INVOLVE PUNISHMENT; (3) IF PEOPLE ARE TO CHANGE AS A RESULT OF PUNISHMENT, THEY MUST VIEW THE PUNISHMENT AS APPROPRIATE AND FAIR; (4) PUNISHMENT IS EFFECTIVE FOR HUMANS IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN SETTING UP THE RULE, AS IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)