TOWARD A NEW CORRECTIONS POLICY - TWO DECLARATIONS OF PRINCIPLES - THE GROUP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE STATEMENT OF THE EX-PRISONERS ADVISORY GROUP

• NCJ Number: 18984
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Academy for Contemporary Problems
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION, MANY OF THEM PRESENT OR FORMER CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, HAVE OUTLINED SEVERAL AIMS FOR CORRECTIONS AND HAVE DESCRIBED THE FEATURES OF A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM WHICH CAN REALIZE THESE AIMS.

Abstract

WHILE DRAFTING THESE PRINCIPLES THE GROUP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CORRECTIONS BROUGHT TOGETHER SOME FORMER PRISON INMATES, INITIALLY TO REVIEW THE CHANGES THAT HAD BEEN DRAFTED. THIS INMATE GROUP THEN DRAFTED ITS OWN DECLARATION, WHICH IS ALSO INCORPORATED IN THIS DOCUMENT. AMONG THE PRINCIPLES RECOMMENDED BY THE CORRECTIONS GROUP ARE: THAT SENTENCES SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN A WAY THAT WILL INCREASE CHANCES OF THE OFFENDERS' RECONCILIATION WITH SOCIETY; THAT DUE PROCESS BE MADE APPLICABLE TO ALL CORRECTIONAL ACTIONS; THAT THE OFFENDERS HAVE A FREE CHOICE OF SERVICES; AND THAT OFFENDERS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY TO THE LEAST EXTENT POSSIBLE. IN THE STATEMENT BY THE EX-PRISONERS ADVISORY GROUP, SEVERAL COMMONLY HELD IDEAS ABOUT CORRECTIONS ARE LISTED AND CRITICIZED. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS GROUP ARE THAT VICTIMLESS CRIMES BE DECRIMINALIZED, THAT THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE BE ENDED, THAT HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PRISONER BE RESPECTED, AND THAT THE INMATES BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING.