NCJ Number
48672
Journal
Indian Journal of Social Work Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 81-91
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE PREVALENT CUSTODIAL-PUNITIVE APPROACH TO PRISON MANAGEMENT IS CONSIDERED TO PROMOTE RECIDIVISM, AND THE SPECIFICS OF A STRUCTURE FOR OFFENDER REHABILITATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS BELIEVED THAT PRISON MANAGEMENT HAS TOO EASILY FALLEN INTO PATTERNS OF CUSTODIAL AND PUNITIVE MANAGEMENT THAT REINFORCE INMATE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR THAT ILL EQUIP HIM TO RETURN TO SOCIETY AND FUNCTION AS A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN. WHILE RULES GOVERNING PRISON LIFE ARE ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE ESSENTIAL, THEY ARE VIEWED AS VEHICLES TOWARD CONDITIONING RATIONAL SELF-CONTROL WITHIN INMATES RATHER THAN AS MEANS OF PUNISHING THEM OR CONTROLLING THEM FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE STAFF. STRUCTURES CAREFULLY DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION ARE ADVOCATED FOR ALL PRISONS. THIS WOULD INVOLVE A STUDIED CLASSIFICATION OF EACH INMATE AT THE OUTSET OF HIS INCARCERATION WITH A VIEW TO EXPOSING HIM TO AN ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE PRISON MOST CONDUCIVE TO STIMULATING THE NEEDED BEHAVIORAL CHANGE FOR SOCIOECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN SOCIETY BEYOND THE PRISON. PRISON LIFE WOULD GENERALLY BE STRUCTURED TO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, AND SOCIALIZING INFLUENCES DESIGNED TO INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM. THE DILEMMAS OF PRISON ADMINISTRATION ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE TENSION BETWEEN THE STAFF'S INCLINATION TOWARD A POSTURE OF VENGEANCE AND SELF-SERVING CONTROL TOWARD THE INMATES ON THE ONE HAND AND THE MANDATE TO FACILITATE REHABILITATION ON THE OTHER. COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS IS VIEWED AS A POSITIVE TREND TOWARD HELPING THE OFFENDER TO ADJUST SATISFACTORILY TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE MUST LEARN TO LIVE, WHILE PROTECTING HIM FROM THE POTENTIALLY DEGENERATING EFFECTS OF THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF PRISON LIFE. (RCB)