NCJ Number
53865
Date Published
1979
Length
23 pages
Annotation
ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS EXPRESSIVE OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
A BRIEF HISTORY OF APPROACHES TO CORRECTIONS AND THE INADEQUACIES INVOLVED IN EACH APPROACH ARE PRESENTED. THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN CORRECTIONS IN THE AREAS OF PERFORMANCE AS MEASURED BY REALISTIC AND EMPIRICALLY BASED STANDARDS AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS IS EMPHASIZED. WHILE RADICAL REDUCTIONS IN RECIDIVISM DEFINED AS THE CESSATION OF ALL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS CONSIDERED AN UNREALISTIC GOAL FOR CORRECTIONS, REDUCTIONS IN RECIDIVISM IN COMPARISON TO A BASELINE RATE AND A DECREASE IN THE DEGREE OF SEVERITY OF OFFENSES ARE CONSIDERED REALISTIC GOALS FOR CORRECTIONS. CORRECTIONS SHOULD AIM AT A REDUCTION IN INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN FAVOR OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, WITH INCARCERATION BEING RESERVED ONLY FOR FELONS DEEMED DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSES OF INCARCERATION ARE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM OFFENDERS' INJURIOUS ACTS, PROVIDE A DETERRENT EXAMPLE, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR INMATES. PRISONER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED TO STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE AMONG INMATES, CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENDERS FOR TREATMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PRERELEASE PROGRAMS ARE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN THE CORRECTIONAL APPROACH ESPOUSED. THE MODERNIZATION OF DEPARTMENTAL RECORD AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING PROGRAM RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DATA, CONSTITUTES A SPECIFIC GOAL. THE REFORMATION OF INDUSTRIAL WORK PROGRAMS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES, EXPAND MARKET DEVELOPMENT, AND TEACH THE WORK ETHIC OF NORMATIVE SOCIETY IS INCLUDED AS A GOAL. THE USE OF PRIVATE AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO A COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONS PROGRAM. IN THE AREA OF ADMINISTRATION, THE CREATION OF A CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY AND RESOURCE BASE FOR THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM IS RECOMMENDED. (RCB)