NCJ Number
52989
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 58 Issue: 2, Dated: (AUTUMN-WINTER 1978) Pages: 43-51
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CONCERNS THAT MANDATE THE NEED FOR PENAL REFORM ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE ARE CONSIDERED, AND THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY OF CRIME IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
AT LEAST TWO MAJOR ISSUES JUSTIFY AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF THE NEED FOR PENAL REFORM AND POSSIBLE MEANS FOR IMPROVING PENAL SYSTEMS. ON ONE HAND, REPORTS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD INDICATE A CONTINUOUS RISE IN THE RATE OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY AND AN INABILITY TO CONTROL THAT RISE. ON THE OTHER HAND, SERIOUS QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION AND THE USE OF DETERRENCE AND/OR RETRIBUTION AS A BASIC GOAL OF PUNISHMENT. AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, POLITICAL AND/OR ECONOMIC STRUCTURES OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS MAY GENERATE DIFFERENTIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD PENAL REFORM. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL CRIMINOLOGISTS AND PENOLOGISTS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT DIFFERENT PENAL SYSTEMS, THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE RESEARCH DATA, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NATIONAL-LEVEL PENAL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS MAILED TO 83 COUNTRIES, REQUESTING INFORMATION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND OFFENDER REHABILITATION AND EMPHASIZING PENAL REFORM. ONLY 35 QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SUFFICIENTLY COMPLETE TO WARRANT ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON. THEY WERE RECEIVED FROM ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BARBADOS, BELGIUM, BOLIVIA, CANADA, CEYLON, COSTA RICA, CYPRUS, DENMARK, ECUADOR, EGYPT, ENGLAND, WEST GERMANY, ICELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAMAICA, JAPAN, KENYA, MALAYSIA, MEXICO, NEPAL, THE NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, NIGERIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SCOTLAND, SIERRE LEONE, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA, TAIWAN, AND THE UNITED STATES. IN MOST COUNTRIES, CRIME IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. NO ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ESTIMATE THE CRIME PROBLEM. HALF OR MORE OF THE VOLUME OF CRIME GOES UNREPORTED. SOME EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED TO FORECAST CRIME TRENDS FOR PLANNING, AND RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO SOME EXTENT. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR PENAL REFORM. THE DISCUSSION OF WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PENAL SYSTEM EMPHASIZES PREVENTIVE MEASURES (WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD) AND IMPROVEMENT OF PENAL CODES, COURTS, AND POLICE. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS SEEM TO HAVE THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT, OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. CORRECTIONAL MEASURES IMPLEMENTED IN MOST COUNTRIES INCLUDE PRISONS, PROBATION AND PAROLE, HALFWAY HOUSES, AND CAMPS. THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HAS HAD EITHER MODERATE OR LITTLE SUCCESS. SUPPORTING DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)