NCJ Number
28241
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR CRITICIZES THE USE OF THE CLINICAL, MEDICAL ANALOGUE - 'TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS' - TO REFER TO THE DISPOSITION OR PUNISHMENT OF THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES.
Abstract
HE CONTENDS THAT USE OF THIS RATIONALE CARRIES THE IMPLICATION THAT BEHAVIOR CONTROL TECHNIQUES, USUALLY CONCEIVED WITHIN A MEDICAL OR SEMI-MEDICAL FRAMEWORK, OFFER THE PROPER APPROACH TO DEALING WITH CRIMINAL OFFENDERS WITHOUT THE EXISTENCE OF DOCUMENTED SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS CLINICAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS - THE PATUXENT INSTITUTION FOR 'DEFECTIVE DELINQUENTS' IN JESSUP, MARYLAND - IS EXAMINED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PATUXENT'S CLAIMS OF SUCCESS (LOW RECIDIVISM RATES) FOR ITS INDETERMINATE SENTENCE AND THREE-YEAR PROBATION PERIOD ARE BASED ON DISSIMILAR CRITERIA OF COMPARISON, AND THAT, IN REALITY ITS SEVEN PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE DOES NOT DIFFER SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THAT OF OTHER KINDS OF DETENTION FACILITIES. THE AUTHOR ALSO EXAMINES SOME OF THE MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF USING A 'MEDICAL MODEL' FOR THE DISPOSITION OF OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT RUDIMENTARY ABILITY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIALLY VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS. IN ADDITION, HE CONSIDERS SOME ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT AND COPING WITH VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.