PRISON AND COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 41891
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 70 pages
• Corporate Author: Officio Stampa Dell'amministrazione Provinciale; University of Modena
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Country: Italy
• Note: NO 11 IN SERIES 'STUDI E DOCUMENTAZIONE' FOR SUMMARY TRANSLATION, SEE NCJ-50710.

Annotation

THE NATURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS AND WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS IN MODENA, ITALY, WERE DISCUSSED AT A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MODENA.

Abstract

SOCIAL AND CORRECTIONAL WORKERS, MAGISTRATES, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND LABOR COMMUNITIES DISCUSSED CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE LOCAL NETWORK OF SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES AND THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION IN THE MODENA DISTRICT, AND THE PROBLEMS OF OPENING PRISONS TO THE OUTSIDE AND OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE RESOCIALIZATION PROCESSES. MODENA IS THE SITE OF A 'WORKHOUSE,' WHICH IS AN INSTITUTION FOR PRECAUTIONARY DETENTION OF ADULTS, USUALLY VETERANS OF LONG-TERM INCARCERATION (I.E., MULTIRECIDIVISTS). IN PRINCIPLE, THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WERE TO HAVE BEEN ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PUNISHMENT; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BECOME SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES APPLIED AFTER REGULAR DETENTION. PRISONERS ASSIGNED TO THE WORKHOUSE AT MODENA HOLD JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY ON A WORK-RELEASE BASIS AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY INTERACTION AND SUPPORT. SINCE 1970, MORE THAN 500 INMATES HAVE BENEFITED FROM SUCH RESOCIALIZATION EFFORTS. AN AVERAGE OF 50 TO 60 INMATES ARE DAILY AT LIBERTY IN THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AROUND MODENA. ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY MISTRUST AND INMATE APATHY OFTEN HAVE TO BE OVERCOME BEFORE SUCH COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION INITIATIVES CAN PROCEED, THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS ARE ENCOURAGING AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE SYSTEMATIC TRANSFER OF MUCH OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC, AND PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC FUNCTIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL TO LOCAL SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS; (2) SECONDARY AND SOMETIMES TERTIARY PREVENTION EFFECTED BY DISTRICT SOCIAL AND HEALTH PERSONNEL WITH MEMBERS OF THE INMATES' NUCLEAR FAMILIES; AND (3) INTEGRATION OF HEALTH ASSISTANCE, MAINLY WITH REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, AND THE MENTALLY ILL. IT IS STRESSED THAT THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND QUALIFIED SPHERES OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN PENAL AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ARE THOSE PHASES IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING AND FOLLOWING DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION. (KBL)