NCJ Number
57879
Journal
GESSELLSCHAFTS - UND GESUNDHEITSPOLITIK Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 48,50,53-54,56,59-60,62
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE MASS MEDIA ARE ATTACKED FOR CRITICIZING THE CORRECTONAL PROCESS BY A PRISON DOCTOR FROM THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OF STRAUBING IN WEST GERMANY.
Abstract
THE PERSONNEL OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE SUBJECTED DAILY TO THE ABUSE AND DEFAMATIONS OF THE MASS MEDIA. ALTHOUGH THE WEST GERMAN CRIME RATE (AND WITH IT THE PUBLIC FEAR OF BECOMING A CRIME VICTIM) IS RISING, JOURNALISTS CONSISTENTLY TAKE THE SIDE OF OFFENDERS AND BLAME THE CORRECTIONAL FACILTIES FOR INSUFFICIENT REHABILITATION. THE PRESS FAILS TO MENTION THAT MANY INMATES WERE NEVER PROPERLY INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY TO BEGIN WITH. THE FACILITY OF STRAUBING IS A PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION CENTER SINCE THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM IS AT 50 PERCENT, OR OVER 20 PERCENT BELOW THE WEST GERMAN AVERAGE. THE MOST MODERN MEDICAL CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,200 INMATES IS DISPENSED AT A HOSPITAL; DOCTORS' TASKS RANGE FROM THE PRISONERS' HYGIENIC REQUIREMENTS TO PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING. IN SPITE OF THIS EXCELLENT CARE, JOURNALISTS ARE CRITICIZING ALLEGED TORTURE OF INMATES, AND INMATES SUPPORT THIS ERRONEOUS OPINION BY WRITING UNJUSTIFIED LETTERS OF COMPLAINT TO OUTSIDE AUTHORITIES. MANY MEDICAL AND LEGAL EXPERTS WHO ENCOURAGE PRISONERS TO WRITE LETTERS SHOWING THEIR NEGATIVE ATTITUDE DECLINE TO VISIT THE FACILITY THEMSELVES AND MINIMIZE THE REAL SOCIAL DANGER OF THE INMATES. JOURNALISTS DO NOT PUBLISH THE THREATS AND VERBAL ABUSE PRISON PERSONNEL ARE SUBJECTED TO. WHILE CRIMINALS ARE ANALYZED, COUNSELED, TREATED, AND REHABILITATED, A LITTLE CONCERN IS SHOWN FOR THE VICTIMS OF THEIR CRIMES. CONTRARY TO THE SOVIET UNION, THE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES HAVE FAILED TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR CRIME PROBLEM. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)