NCJ Number
64005
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 107-117
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT SELECTION PROCESSES WITHIN THE WEST GERMAN CORRECTIONS SYSTEM ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
SELECTION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SPECIAL PRISON SELECTION AGENCIES. EVERY OFFENDER WITH A TERM OF MORE THAN 18 MONTHS IS ASSIGNED TO A MEMBER OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, WHO APPOINTS A BOARD TO REVIEW THE PRISONERS' PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY TESTS, QUESTIONNAIRES, AND INTERVIEWS. SUCH MATTERS AS DEGREE OF CRIMINAL DANGER, TYPE OF INSTITUTION REQUIRED, AND RECOMMENDED REHABILITATION MEASURES ARE CONSIDERED. AS THE PERSONAL THEORIES OF EACH BOARD MEMBER AFFECT THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS, THE PROCESS IS QUITE SUBJECTIVE. ANALYSIS OF BOARD MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 100 PRISONERS INDICATES THAT CRITERIA FOR 'DEGREE OF CRIMINAL DANGER' RELATE TO INALTERABLE OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS A WEAK EGO, INABILITY TO FUNCTION IN LIFE SITUATIONS, INTELLIGENCE DEFICIENCIES, LACK OF MOTIVATION, APATHY, EGOCENTRISM, OR AN UNSTABLE LIFE-STYLE; THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN THE OFFENDER HAS AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL RECORD, WHEREAS THE DYNAMIC CRITERIA SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ARE NOT APPLIED ACCORDING TO ANY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN. THE STIGMATIZATION EFFECT ON PARTICULAR PRISONERS AND PRISON FACILITIES IS APPARENT, EVEN THOUGH NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ASSIGNED DEGREE OF CRIMINAL DANGER AND ACTUAL RECIDIVISM RATES CAN BE VERIFIED. IN CONTRAST, INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR TREATMENT IN OPEN-DOOR INSTITUTIONS IS NOT FORMALLY DETERMINED BY PRISON RECORD; CRITERIA INCLUDE DEFICIENCIES IN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, STABLE LIFE-STYLE, AND HIGH I.Q. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SELECTION IS MADE NOT ACCORDING TO NEED FOR TREATMENT BUT ACCORDING TO SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA AND THAT THE SELECTION AGENCIES THEMSELVES WILL BECOME STIGMATIZING IF SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA ARE NOT ABANDONED. NOTES AND TABLES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)