STANDARDS AND GOALS - IMPLICATIONS FOR FACILITIES PLANNING - FROM CA. DEPT. OF CORRECT. - REP. ON COLLOQUIUM ON CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES PLANNING, NOVEMBER 3-4. 1977, BY NORA HARLOW - SEE NCJ-46915)

• NCJ Number: 46919
• Author(s): E E FLYNN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute; California State Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

TO AID IN CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES PLANNING, RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1973 CORRECTIONS TASK FORCE OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE TREND TOWARD A MORE PUNITIVE HARDLINE APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL HAS LEFT CORRECTIONAL PHILOSOPHY IN A CONFUSED AND UNCERTAIN STATE. IN ADDITION, THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING SINCE 1973 AND HAS REACHED CRISIS PROPORTIONS. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE PURSUIT OF A TOTAL SYSTEMS PLANNING APPROACH TO JURISDICTIONS FACED WITH MAJOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS. SUCH AN APPROACH REQUIRES THE ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS AND INTERACTIONS AMONG SYSTEM COMPONENTS AND OF THEIR IMPACTS. TOTAL PLANNING IS STRATEGIC, INNOVATIVE, AND LONG-RANGE. THE KEY STEPS INVOLVED IN TOTAL SYSTEM PLANNING FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND CORRECTIONS ARE OUTLINED AND DISCUSSED. THESE STEPS ARE: PROBLEM DEFINITION, SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING RESOURCES AND NEEDS, ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM LINKAGES, POPULATIONS PROJECTION, AND OPERATIONALIZATION OF FINDINGS. OPERATIONALIZATION WILL REQUIRE THE ASSESSMENT OF A NUMBER OF PLANNING DETERMINANTS INVOLVING FACILITY SIZE, LOCATIONS, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FEATURES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FACILITIES BE LOCATED NEAR URBAN AREAS TO FACILITATE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SOCIAL SUPPORT AND UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN GENERAL, FACILITY SIZE SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY PROGRAM GOALS AND LOCAL POTENTIAL INMATE POPULATION. HOWEVER, FACILITIES SHOULD BE SMALL ENOUGH TO PREVENT DEPERSONALIZATION AND DEHUMANIZATION OF THE RESIDENTS. LIVING AND SLEEPING AREAS SHOULD BE ARRANGED IN CLUSTERS TO ENHANCE SMALL GROUP SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND COUNSELORS SHOULD BE LOCATED WITHIN EACH CLUSTER TO PERMIT GREATER PERSONAL ASSOCIATION WITH INMATES. SINGLE ROOMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PERMIT PRIVACY AND SHOULD BE PLEASANTLY DESIGNED AND FURNISHED SO AS NOT TO CONVEY A PUNITIVE AND HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE. FINALLY, THE ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE SAFE, CLEAN, AND HEALTHY; ADEQUATE FOOD AND MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, PERHAPS BASED ON A CLEARLY DEVELOPED CLASSIFICATION OF RISK SYSTEM, SHOULD BE EXPLORED, THE USE OF INTAKE SERVICE CENTERS FOR THE ONGOING AND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF OFFENDERS IS SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE METHOD FOR MORE DISCRIMINATE INCARCERATION AND GREATER USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED DISPOSITIONS. A COORDINATED CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION OF CONTROL MEASURES OVER THE INMATE'S TERM OF INCARCERATION, IS RECOMMENDED. UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM THE INMATE MIGHT PROCEED FROM A MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY TO A COMMUNITY-BASED CENTER AND THEN ON TO EVENTUAL REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.