REFORM AND RETRIBUTION - PART 4 (FROM JUSTICE, 1976 SEE NCJ-66620)

• NCJ Number: 66624
• Author(s): M F HICKEY
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: Newsweek
• Publication Format: Informational Packet
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THE KIT CONTAINS 1 COLOR FILMSTRIP AND 1 AUDIOCASSETTE.

Annotation

THE FOURTH OF A FOUR-PART SERIES ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN THE U.S., THIS FILMSTRIP INVESTIGATES THE TROUBLED PRISON SYSTEM. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO REHABILITATION, RETRIBUTION, AND DETERENCE AS BASES FOR PUNISHMENT.

Abstract

THE EXAMPLES, THE CHARLES MANSON MASS MURDER AND THE ATTICA PRISON (NEW YORK) RIOT, ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE SOME OF THE FAILURES OF THE AMERICAN PRISON SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT, FOR INMATES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 30, NEITHER THE TYPE OF PRISON NOR THE LENGTH OF SENTENCE MAKES ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN REHABILITATION. BUT THE FAILURE OF AMERICAN PRISONS ONLY REFLECTS THE FAILURE OF OUR LARGER SOCIETY WHICH IS RIDDLED WITH INEQUITIES, FRUSTRATIONS, AND INJUSTICES. DUE TO CONDITIONS IN MOST PRISONS, THE ACT OF INCARCERATING A PERSON WILL PROBABLY IMPAIR WHATEVER POTENTIAL THE PERSON HAD FOR A CRIME-FREE FUTURE ADJUSTMENT. THE LONGER THE INDIVIDUAL REMAINS IN PRISON, THE MORE LIKELY HE OR SHE WILL DETERIORATE AND RETURN TO PRISON. THE U.S. HAS NEVER REALLY DECIDED THE PURPOSE OF ITS PRISONS--TO SERVE AS PUNISHMENT OR TO ACT AS A REHABILITATIVE FORCE. MANY OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT THE GOAL OF A JUST SOCIETY SHOULD BE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW (SAME PUNISHMENT FOR SAME OFFENSE FOR ALL PERSONS). THE KIT CONTAINS A COLOR FILMSTRIP AND AN AUDIO CASSETTE. FOR OTHER PARTS OF THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ 66620-23. (PRG)