NCJ Number
50964
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 71-80
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO 200 INMATES OF CONNECTICUT'S MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON TO DETERMINE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD SENTENCING AND PAROLE POLICIES.
Abstract
FOLLOWING AN OVERVIEW OF WRITINGS ON THE SUBJECTS OF REHABILITATION AND PAROLE, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ONLY WHEN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE 'CONSUMER' OF THESE POLICIES IS UNDERSTOOD WILL THE TRUE IMPACT OF CORRECTIONS POLICY BE KNOWN. TO GAIN THIS 'CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE,' THE COMMISSION ON PAROLE EVALUATION TECHNIQUES AND REHABILITATION OF THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY SURVEYED 10 PERCENT OF THE INMATES AT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION AT SOMERS, CONN. THE RESULTING DATA ARE DISCUSSED IN GENERAL TERMS. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT ONLY ABOUT 2 PERCENT OF FELONS SERVE THEIR FULL TERMS; WHILE ABOUT 70 PERCENT ARE RELEASED THE FIRST TIME THEY APPEAR BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. THE IMPORTANCE OF PLEA BARGAINING IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT IN CONNECTICUT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1974 ONLY 4 PERCENT OF FELONY CASES WERE DISPOSED BY TRIAL. ONCE INMATES HAVE BARGAINED AWAY THEIR FREEDOM, HOWEVER, THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS HAVING LITTLE FURTHER CONTROL OVER THEIR SENTENCE. MOST DO NOT FEEL REHABILITATION CAN BE ACHIEVED IN PRISON. INSTEAD, THEY SEE THEMSELVES PLAYING THE 'PAROLE GAME.' PART OF THIS GAME INVOLVES PARTICIPATING IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPING JOB PROSPECTS TO IMPRESS THE PAROLE BOARD. NEARLY ALL FOUND INDETERMINATE SENTENCES A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION AND VIEWED THE PAROLE BOARD AS AN ADDITIONAL AGENT OF PUNISHMENT. REFORMS PROPOSED BY INMATES ARE DISCUSSED AND EVALUATED BRIEFLY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PAROLE DECISIONMAKING BE BASED ON A SET OF CRITERIA. REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)