NCJ Number
10539
Date Published
1973
Length
204 pages
Annotation
CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, ARCHITECTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS STUDY THE STATE OF THE ART IN CORRECTIONAL BUILDING, MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN.
Abstract
IN 1971, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAM COMPOSED OF A CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, ARCHITECTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS VISITED OVER 100 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO OBSERVE AND EVALUATE THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ART IN CORRECTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND FACILITIES. A WALKING TOUR OF EACH INSTITUTION WAS CONDUCTED AND HOUSING, TREATMENT, AND WORK SITUATIONS WERE OBSERVED. AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO RECORD THE OVERALL EFFECTS OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON STAFF, INMATES, AND THE PROGRAM. THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY ARE DOCUMENTED IN THIS BOOK. ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF MANY INSTITUTIONS ARE INCLUDED. CORRECTIONAL CENTERS OF VARIOUS DESIGN AND LOCATION ARE EVALUATED. THE DESIGN OF EXTERNAL BUILDINGS, COURTYARDS, GROUNDS, LIVING QUARTERS, SANITARY FACILITIES, DAYROOMS, AND ISOLATION UNITS ARE DESCRIBED AND OFTEN PICTURED. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT A MORATORIUM SHOULD BE CALLED ON ALL CORRECTIONAL CONSTRUCTION. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE NEEDED, HE ESTIMATED, MERELY TO REPLACE AND MODERNIZE EXISTING PRISON FACILITIES. HE ARGUES THAT PRISON CONSTRUCTION BE HALTED BECAUSE OF HIS BASIC DISAGREEMENT WITH THE TRADITIONAL ATTITUDE THAT INCARCERATION IS THE BEST RESPONSE TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THE PROPOSED INNOVATIONS ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE REINTEGRATION OF THE PRISONER INTO THE COMMUNITY IS THE GOAL OF CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS. THEREFORE, THE CRIMINAL CODE NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO ELIMINATE THE IMPRISONMENT OF VICTIMLESS OFFENDERS, THE JAIL POPULATION SHOULD BE REDUCED THROUGH BAIL REFORM AND SPEEDIER TRIALS, AND, ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, SUCH AS COMMUNITY TREATMENT FACILITIES, MUST BE CONSIDERED AND TRIED.