NCJ Number
63229
Date Published
1979
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THIS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1978-79 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE CARE AND RESETTLEMENT OF OFFENDERS (NACRO) ACTIVITIES FOCUES ON BRITAIN'S PRISON PROBLEMS.
Abstract
TROUBLES IN THE PRISONS AS WELL AS A HOME OFFICE INQUIRY LED TO NEW AND INFORMED INTEREST BY THE MEDIA IN PENAL PROBLEMS. NACRO ASSISTED THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION PROCESS IN MANY WAYS, PROPOSING THAT IMPRISONMENT BE GIVEN A DIFFERENT ROLE IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. NACRO SUGGESTED THAT GROUPS SUCH AS THE MENTALLY ILL AND ALCOHOLIC BE REMOVED FROM PRISON GROUPS AND THAT THE PRISON SYSTEM BE MUCH SMALLER AND RUN BY A MORE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF. NACRO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT GREATER SENTENCING EFFICIENCY AT LOWER COST COULD BE ACHIEVED BY MORE USE OF FINES, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND PROBATION ORDERS. DURING THE YEAR, NACRO AND SEVERAL PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICES INCREASED SUCH SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS AS DAY TRAINING CENTERS, PROBATION HOSTELS, LANDLADY SCHEMES, ACCOMMODATION PROJECTS, WORKSHOPS, CLUBS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR OFFENDERS HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE LOCAL AND VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES NEED TO BE GIVEN A HOME OFFICE LEAD IF COMMUNITY FACILITIES ARE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT PART IN THE RESPONSE TO CRIME. THUS, IMMEDIATE PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO MAKING AVAILABLE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO STABILIZE EXISTING FACILITIES; VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS IN LOCAL COORDINATION OF SERVICES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED; THE RESOURCES OF GENERAL SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WORKING WITH OFFENDERS; AND COURTS SHOULD BE MADE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE. TABULAR DATA AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)