NCJ Number
39511
Date Published
1977
Length
149 pages
Annotation
IN REALIZING A JUXTAPOSITION OF PURPOSE OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND POLICE FORCES, THE AUTHOR VIEWS THEIR COMMON PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND ALSO DESCRIBES VIOLENCE AS A PRODUCT OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
DESPITE THE NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS IN RECENT YEARS FOR AGENCIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD TO WORK TOGETHER ON SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS, ARCHAIC TENDENCIES TOWARD 'ISOLATIONISM' PERSIST. THIS PREDILECTION IS REFLECTED IN THE RESEARCH LITERATURE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES, WHICH SEEMS TO DEAL WITH THE POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES AS SEPARATE ENTITIES. THE AUTHOR OF THIS MONOGRAPH, HOWEVER, ADOPTS A DIFFERENT VIEW. IN REALIZING A JUXTAPOSITION OF PURPOSE OF THE AGENCIES, HE PROPOSES THAT THEY CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER'S EXPERIENCES WHILE RESEARCHING NEW METHODS OF REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF BOTH CLIENT AND STAFF VIOLENCE. HE CONTENDS THAT SUBSTANTIAL LINKS EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNCTIONS: THE POLICE ARE THE TENTACLES OF SOCIAL CONTROL, AND PRISONS ARE THE TEETH. THE TEXT ADDRESSES THEIR COMMON PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND ALSO DESCRIBES VIOLENCE AS A PRODUCT OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. PROBLEMS PARTICULAR TO EACH AGENCY ARE DISCUSSED, BEGINNING WITH A DISCUSSION OF TYPES OF VIOLENCE IN POLICE WORK. NOTED ARE CITIZEN VIEWS OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND METHODS FOR ITS REDUCTION. INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF PRISON VIOLENCE IS COMMENTARY ON INMATE ASSAULTS, INMATE SELF-INFLICTED VIOLENCE, AND ASSAULTS ON STAFF. THE FORMS VIOLENCE TAKES IN EACH ORGANIZATION AND FOR ITS CLIENTS AND STAFF ARE DESCRIBED. CONCLUDING THE TEXT IS A DISCUSSION OF INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS WHICH MAY REDUCE VIOLENCE FOR THE POLICE AND PRISONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)