PRISON - THE ORGANIZATION OF DILEMMA (FROM PRISON STUDIES IN INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION AND CHANGE - SEE NCJ-02358)

• NCJ Number: 6958
• Author(s): J GALTUNG
• Date Published: 1961
• Length: 39 pages
• Corporate Author: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CHAPTER 3, P 107-145

Annotation

THE IRRELEVANCE OF PRISONS IN RESPECT TO 'LOGICO-MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION' IS DISCUSSED AND FOUR DILEMMAS WHICH ADD TO THE PROBLEM ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

Abstract

THE FIRST DILEMMA IS THE FACT THAT THE VICTIM IS USUALLY REMOVED FROM THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. CRIMINALS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMES, BUT ONLY INFREQUENTLY ARE THEY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING DEPRIVED VALUES TO VICTIMS. INSTEAD OF ANY RESTORATION OF VALUE TO THE VICTIM, INCARCERATION EMPHASIZES A DEPRIVATION OF VALUE FROM THE CRIMINAL. THE SECOND DILEMMA INVOLVES PRISON ROUTINE. WHILE PRISON ROUTINES AT REGULAR INTERVALS IS PREFERRED BY ADMINISTRATORS, REGULARITY MEANS PREDICTABILITY AND FOR THE PRISONER THIS TENDS TO ELONGATE HIS PERCEPTION OF TIME. THE THIRD DILEMMA IS THE FUNCTIONAL INCOMPATIBILITY OF RETRIBUTION AND TREATMENT WHICH REQUIRES CONTRADICTORY ROLES OF THE PRISONER - HE MUST BE BOTH PATIENT AND PRISONER. THE FOURTH DILEMMA RELATES TO DIFFERENTIAL DEFINITIONS OF THE PRISONER. UNDIFFERENTIATED TREATMENT IS USUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO REHABILITATION, BUT SEGREGATED TREATMENT ALWAYS IMPLIES SOME SORT OF RANKING AND MAY HAVE DYSFUNCTIONAL EFFECTS IF THERE ARE NO BUILT-IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOBILITY IN THE SYSTEM. (AUTHOR MODIFIED)