PRISON - A PROBLEM TO SOLVE (FROM CUADERNOS PANAMENAS DE CRIMINOLOGIA, N 7, 1978)

• NCJ Number: 64451
• Author(s): O C PULIDO
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Universidad de Panama
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Panama
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE PROFILAXIA CRIMINAL, PARIS, FRANCE, APRIL 1977

Annotation

ALL TYPES OF POLITICAL REGIMES AGREE ON THE USELESSNESS OF PRISONS AS AN INSTRUMENT OF REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION AND ARE PAYING AT LEAST LIP SERVICE TO THE NEED FOR FINDING VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION.

Abstract

CORRECTIONAL REFORMS HAVE IMPROVED PRISON FACILITIES AND THE PHYSICAL TREATMENT OF INMATES IN MOST COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE DECLARED THEIR ESPOUSAL OF THE GOALS OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL SOCIAL REINTEGRATION UPON RELEASE. HOWEVER, WORLDWIDE INCREASES IN RECIDIVISM RATES PROVE THAT EVEN THE BEST-INTENTIONED CORRECTIONAL REFORMS, SHORT OF THE TOTAL ELIMINATION OF CURRENT PRISON SYSTEMS, ARE NOT WORKING. ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION MUST BE INTRODUCED WHICH DO NOT DEPRIVE OFFENDERS OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY AND, ABOVE ALL, DO NOT CUT THEM OFF FROM THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY INTO WHICH THEY MUST BE REINTEGRATED. SWEEPING CHANGES NOT ONLY IN CRIMINOLOGICAL AND PENOLOGICAL POLICIES, BUT ALSO IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD OFFENDERS, ARE NEEDED TO BRING ABOUT THE NEW TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WHICH ALONE CAN ENSURE THE TRUE PROTECTION OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. PRISONS ARE ARTIFICIALLY CREATED ENVIRONMENTS WHICH BREED SUBCULTURES AND STRAINED AND MUTUALLY CORRUPTING INMATE-STAFF RELATIONS AND ACHIEVE PRISONIZATION INSTEAD OF SOCIAL REINTEGRATION. THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF OFFENDERS MUST BE REPLACED WITH PROBATION, PAROLE, WORK AND STUDY RELEASES, MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, IN SUM, WITH ALL POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. A LIMITED NUMBER OF CERTIFIABLY INSANE AND OTHERWISE PROBLEMATIC OFFENDERS, WHOSE DANGEROUSNESS IS UNQUESTIONABLE, MUST BE TREATED IN SOME NEW AND IMAGINATIVE WAY, EVEN IF IT INVOLVES SOME RISK TO SOCIETY AT LARGE. SOCIAL SERVICES MUST BE EXPANDED AND IMPROVED TO INCLUDE PROGRAMS FOR DRUG ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, AND OTHER DEPENDENT ADULTS. THE EXTENSIVE USE OF PROBATION IN CALIFORNIA AS ALMOST TOTAL REPLACEMENT FOR OFFENDER INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS NOTED. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)