NCJ Number
55202
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 29-31
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
CHARLES SILBERMAN, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, 'CRIMINAL VIOLENCE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE,' IS INTERVIEWED ABOUT SENTENCE DISPARITY, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE.
Abstract
SILBERMAN MAINTAINS IN HIS BOOK THAT SENTENCING PRACTICES ARE MUCH LESS ARBITRARY AND DISPARATE THAN MOST CRITICS HAVE INDICATED. IN THIS INTERVIEW, SILBERMAN ARGUES THAT LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SENTENCING UNIFORM THROUGHOUT A STATE WOULD MOST LIKELY, PARTICULARLY IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, LEAD TO LONGER SENTENCES FOR MOST OFFENSES. THIS WOULD BE REGRESSIVE AND ONLY COMPOUND THE PROBLEMS OF AMERICA'S ALREADY OVERBURDENED PRISON SYSTEM. WHILE MANY CRITICS OF CURRENT SENTENCING PRACTICES ACCUSE THE COURTS OF BEING LENIENT, SILBERMAN BELIEVES MOST CRIMINALS IN AMERICA DO GET PUNISHED TO A DEGREE BEYOND THAT RECEIVED IN OTHER FREE SOCIETIES. GENERALLY, SILBERMAN VIEWS INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS AS BEING OF LOW QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS. THE ONE EXCEPTION IS THE VIENNA MINIMUM-SECURITY INSTITUTION IN ILLINOIS. THIS INSTITUTION HAS OPERATED WITHOUT A SECURE PERIMETER WHILE ALSO EXERCISING RESTRAINT IN THE USE OF SOCIAL CONTROL OF THE INMATES. WHILE SILBERMAN GIVES NO GENERAL CONDEMNATION OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES, HE DOES EXPRESS SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. THE ONE JUVENILE PROBATION PROGRAM SILBERMAN HAS PRAISE FOR IS IN SALT LAKE CITY, WHERE INTENSIVE SUPERVISION IS APPLIED. MOST PROBATION PROGRAMS, HOWEVER, ARE CONSIDERED A WASTE OF RESOURCES. IN DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF COURT ORDERS ON PRISONS, SILBERMAN NOTES THAT MANY OF THE REFORMS MANDATED ENCOURAGE GUARDS TO INCREASE SECURITY PROCEDURES IN ORDER TO PROTECT PRISONERS FROM ONE ANOTHER. SILBERMAN IS DOUBTFUL THAT THIS WILL IN THE LONGRUN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PRISON LIFE. HE LEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF USING THE VIENNA MINIMUM-SECURITY INSTITUTION AS A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING A PRISON ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO REHABILITATION. (RCB)