SOME DIRECTIONS FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN CORRECTIONS (FROM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS 2D ED., 1977, BY ROBERT M. CARTER, DANIEL GLASER, AND LESLIE T. WILKINS - SEE NCJ-41850)

• NCJ Number: 41865
• Author(s): V O'LEARY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: J B Lippincott
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AN EXAMINATION OF FOUR KEY CITIZEN ROLES IN CORRECTIONS POINTS UP THE DIFFERING ATTRACTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF EACH ROLE AND ILLUSTRATES THE FORCES IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM WHICH TEND TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THEM.

Abstract

THE ROLES ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE; THE SAME PERSON COULD PLAY SEVERAL SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY ARE QUITE DISTINCT, HOWEVER, AND REQUIRE QUITE DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS ON THE PART OF CORRECTIONS IF THEY ARE TO BE SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED. THE FIRST AND MOST COMMON ROLE FOR THE CITIZEN IN CORRECTIONS IS AS A VOLUNTEER WILLING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY, MORE OR LESS FORMALIZED, FOR WORKING DIRECTLY WITH OFFENDERS. THE EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM REQUIRES, FOREMOST, A CLEAR DECISION BY CORRECTIONAL MANAGERS THAT THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION TO SERVE IN CORRECTIONS. ANOTHER CITIZEN-PARTICIPANT ROLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO PERSUADE OTHERS TO SUPPORT CORRECTIONS AND ITS PROGRAMS. FOR THIS TYPE OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS NEED TO DEVELOP THE HABIT OF SHARING INFORMATION WITH CITIZENS IN PLANNING AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGES OF POLICY. THE THIRD CITIZEN GROUP IS THE CUSTODIANS OF ACCESS TO IMPORTANT SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS (EMPLOYERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND WELFARE DIRECTORS), REPRESENTATIVES OF CRUCIAL SOCIAL SYSTEMS THE MODIFICATION OF WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR MEETING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTELE. IN ORDER FOR THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO DEAL WITH THIS GROUP, IT MUST BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IMPORTANT SOCIAL SYSTEMS, TO DESIGN SOPHISTICATED STRATEGIES FOR CHANGES IN EACH, AND TO ENLIST THEIR ACTIVE HELP AND COOPERATION. A FINAL GROUP OF CITIZENS FOR WHOM CORRECTIONS MUST DEVELOP MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS OF ENGAGEMENT ARE THOSE WHO ARE SIGNIFICANT IN THE IMMEDIATE WORLD OF THE CORRECTIONAL CLIENT, I.E., THE PEER CULTURE OF THE OFFENDER AND THE OFFENDER'S COMMUNITY. TO UNDERTAKE THIS TASK, CORRECTIONS WILL PROBABLY NEED TO TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH PEER GROUPS ON A NONOFFICIAL BASIS. IN ADDITION, THE CORRECTIONAL WORKER OF THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS BEING A THERAPIST, MUST ACT AS A COMMUNITY WORKER CONCERNED AND PARTICIPATING WITH CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE IT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW