NCJ Number
26487
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY/JUNE 1975) Pages: 3-7
Date Published
1975
Length
19 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF THE TOP PRISON ADMINISTRATORS IN THE 50 STATES, D.C., AND THE BUREAU OF PRISONS ON THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF PROGRAMS TO REHABILITATE INMATES AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF AMERICA'S TOP PRISON ADMINISTRATORS REJECT THE ARGUMENT THAT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DO NOT WORK. IN A NATIONAL SURVEY BY CORRECTIONS MAGAZINE, INITIATED LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO A STUDY BY DR. ROBERT MARTINSON AND REMARKS BY FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM SAXBE AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS, 63 PER CENT OF THE PRISON OFFICIALS SAY THAT SOME REHABILITATION PROGRAMS CAN CHANGE INMATE BEHAVIOR FOR THE BETTER. AN ADDITIONAL 14 PER CENT MAINTAIN THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY SCRAPPING THE IDEA OF REHABILITATION. THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE GROWING MOVEMENT TO DECLARE THE CONCEPT OF REHABILITATION DEFUNCT HAS FEW SUPPORTERS AMONG THE NATION'S PRISON ADMINISTRATORS. THE SURVEY ALSO FINDS THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. NOT ONLY DO THE GREAT MAJORITY (ABOUT 90 PER CENT) SAY THAT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE, BUT 78 PER CENT SAY THAT SUCH PROGRAMS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PROGRAMS IN INSTITUTIONS, AT LEAST FOR CERTAIN OFFENDERS. MANY ADMINISTRATORS FEAR THAT CORRECTIONS ARE ABOUT TO BE THE VICTIM OF A CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH. THEY ARE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT LOSING PROGRAMS THEY HAVE STRUGGLED MANY YEARS TO LAUNCH. SOME SAY THAT THE REACTION HAS ALREADY SET IN. THEY CITE SHARP INCREASES IN COMMITMENTS OF OFFENDERS TO PRISON AND IN REVOCATIONS OF PROBATION AND PAROLE. ONE OF THE LARGEST HURDLES, THEY SAY, IS THAT RECIDIVISM RATES DO NOT MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INMATE PROGRAMS, YET THOSE RATES ARE USED AS THE SOLE CRITERION FOR DETERMINING SUCCESS OR FAILURE. ALTHOUGH THE ADMINISTRATORS THEMSELVES ARE DIVIDED IN THEIR OPINIONS CONCERNING REHABILITATION OF ADULT OFFENDERS, NEARLY ALL OF THEM INDICATE THAT SUCH PROGRAMS DO HAVE AN EFFECT ON JUVENILES. CONTRASTED TO THEIR MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS, MOST OF THE ADMINISTRATORS FEEL THAT COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS AND ARE ECONOMICALLY DESIRABLE. (SNI ABSTRACT)