NONCORRECTIONAL PROGRAM ASPECTS FOR CONVICTED OFFENDERS THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM (FROM AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION - 108TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF CORRECTION, 1978 - SEE NCJ-59753)

• NCJ Number: 59757
• Author(s): R R LEVINSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE LARGE NUMBERS OF OFFENDERS WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS HOUSED IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS PRESENTS A DILEMMA TO ADMINISTRATORS WHO MUST STRIVE TO BALANCE SECURITY NEEDS AGAINST VITAL, HUMANE TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

Abstract

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF INMATE PROBLEMS IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH INMATES AND SOCIETY FOR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ASSURE THAT THEIR INMATES ARE PROVIDED PERSONAL SAFETY, A HUMANE ENVIRONMENT, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE. PROVIDING PERSONAL SECURITY FOR STAFF AND INMATES AND A HUMANE ENVIRONMENT ENTAIL BETTER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES RATHER THAN ADDITIONAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS. ATTAINING PERSONAL SAFETY FOR INMATES SHOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED AT THE COST OF SETTING UP A CLOSED, IMPERSONAL INSTITUTION. DEHUMANIZATION CAN BE AVOIDED BY ALLOWING INMATES PERSONAL FREEDOMS, SUCH AS THE RIGHT TO WEAR STREET CLOTHES AND BY BREAKING UP LARGE INSTITUTIONS INTO SMALLER FACILITIES. FINALLY, INMATES SHOULD NOT BE COERCED INTO PARTICIPATING IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS. CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS CAN ENHANCE INMATE PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS BY ADOPTING SUCH TECHNIQUES AS 'OPTION PROGRAMMING' WHICH ALLOWS INMATES TO DROP OUT OF PROGRAMS AFTER THEY HAVE ATTENDED FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.