NCJ Number
67922
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING BRITISH PRISONS ARE PRESENTED IN A STATEMENT BY THE HOWARD LEAGUE FOR PENAL REFORM TO THE INQUIRY INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM PRISON SERVICE.
Abstract
THE STATEMENT CONSISTS OF AN OVERVIEW OF PROBLEM AREAS IN BRITISH CORRECTIONS, TOGETHER WITH 27 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAIN TO THE FOLLOWING: EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS AS OPPOSED TO CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PRISONS; REDUCTION OF THE PRISON POPULATION THROUGH THE USE OF BORSTAL HOSTELS, PRERELEASE EMPLOYMENT, WORK RELEASE, HOME LEAVE, AND OTHER MEANS; RECONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN SENTENCING PRACTICES AND PRISON POLICIES; REDESIGN AND IMPROVED UTILIZATION OF PRISON FACILITIES; AND REVIEW OF SECURITY PRACTICES. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERN EMPHASIS ON 'DEFUSING' SITUATIONS AS A MEANS OF MAINTAINING CONTROL; ENFORCEMENT OF NECESSARY RULES, BUT WITH MINIMUM USE OF HEAVY PUNISHMENTS; REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF PRISONS; OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING WHILE IN PRISON; INMATE PARTICIPATION IN PRISON GOVERNANCE; CREATION OF A PRISON OMBUDSMAN OFFICE; AND IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAINING, JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AND PAY RATES FOR CUSTODIAL STAFF. ALSO INCLUDED ARE RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF BRITISH CORRECTIONS, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR LESS CENTRALIZATION AND GREATER LOCAL AUTONOMY. ACCOMPANYING THE STATEMENT ARE A DESCRIPTION OF THE HOWARD LEAGUE PROGRAM AND A LIST OF THE LEAGUE IS PUBLICATIONS.