TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, IN CUSTODY OR IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS

• NCJ Number: 64958
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 79 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United Nations
• Note: WORKING PAPER PREPARED BY THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE 5TH UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, TORONOTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, SEPTEMBER 1-12, 1975

Annotation

TRENDS IN CORRECTIONAL METHODS OF SOCIAL CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND A REVIEW OF THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN THE FACE OF RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

BASED UPON THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS THIS WORKING PAPER NOTES THAT WORLD POLICE FOR CORRECTIONS IS EMERGING WITH THE VIEW THAT PRISON AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR PREVENTION OF CRIME HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT ANY NATION WILL DISCARD THE USE OF PRISONS, PARTICULARLY FOR PERSISTENT AND DANGEROUS OFFENDERS, EACH COUNTRY SHOULD DEVELOP AND USE ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LAWS SHOULD BE ENACTED TO EXPAND DIVERSION FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS AND PERMIT THE USE OF SUCH SANCTIONS AS VICTIM COMPENSATION AND FINES. IN THE COMMUNITY, PROBATION AND PAROLE RESOURCES SHOULD PROVIDE OFFENDERS WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDED, WHETHER AS PART OF THE GENERAL SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM OR AS A FUNCTION OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION. TWENTY YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS WERE ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS. IN THE MIDST OF RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE, THE MACHINERY MUST BE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THEIR CONTINUING RELEVANCE IN NEW CIRCUMSTANCES. NEW INSTITUTIONAL MODELS FOR CORRECTIONS ARE LIKELY TO EMERGE, ALONG WITH MORE SPECIALIZED MEANS OF INCAPACITATING DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. THE RULES FOR TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS MUST DEVELOP TO APPLY TO THE NEW MODELS FOR CORRECTIONS. THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS CONGRESS WILL FORMULATE ACTION PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY APPROPRIATE UNITED NATIONS BODIES. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIXES DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS, PRISON POPULATION IN CERTAIN MEMBER STATES, AND DRAFT PROCEDURES FOR THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES. (RCB)