NCJ Number
65908
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 241-246
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF DEVISING AND IMPLEMENTING PRISON REFORMS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
PRISON REFORM FALTERS WHEN IT BECOMES SO ENAMORED WITH ITS THEORETICAL VISION OF AN IDEAL PRISON SYSTEM THAT THE AMBIGUITIES OF THE ENDS SOUGHT AND THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING CHANGES ARE IGNORED. CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINSTERING THE EXISTING PRISON SYSTEM ARE ASSUMED BY REFORMERS TO BE ENEMIES OF REFORM BECAUSE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CURRENT PERCEIVED INADEQUACIES OF THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MUST IMPLEMENT AND LIVE WITH THE PROBLEMS ATTENDING ANY CHANGE, THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSION OF CHANGE THEORIZED AS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PRISON SYSTEM. AN EXAMPLE OF A REFORM EFFORT THAT HAS SLOWED BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING PRISON ADMINSTRATION IS THE 'OPENING' OF PRISONS TO MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE INTEREST OF INCREASING INMATE CONTACT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF NORMATIVE LIVING. THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INCREASED VOLUME OF 'OUTSIDERS' INTO THE PRISON, HOWEVER, PRESENTS ADDITIONAL SECURITY PROBLEMS AND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED DRUG TRAFFICKING. UNIL THE COST INVOLVED CLEARLY IS WORTH THE BENEFIT DERIVED, PRISON PERSONNEL ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE REFORM EFFORT. REFORM IS LIKELY TO BOG DOWN OR CREATE A NEW SET OF DEBILITATING CIRCUMSTANCES UNLESS THE LOGISTICS OF IMPLEMENTATION ARE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND PERSONNEL THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN AND AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE. FURTHER, THE POLITICAL SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR REFORM INVOLVES CONVINCING THE COMMUNITY THAT THE REFORM ENVISIONED WILL PROVIDE A SAFER CLIMATE FOR THE CITIZEN, THE PRACTICAL CONCERN THAT MOTIVATES MOST RESIDENTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)