NCJ Number
61474
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDED FACILITIES, ACTIVITIES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING FOR RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE REASONS SUCH PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
UNTIL RECENTLY, PRISONS HAD FEW OR NO RECREATION OR LEISURE SERVICES, ALTHOUGH THE AVERAGE INMATE HAS 44 WAKING HOURS EACH WEEK AVAILABLE FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. BOTH INMATE UPRISINGS AND INNOVATIONS BY ENLIGHTENED PRISON ADMINISTRATORS HOWEVER, HAVE, INCREASED GENERAL AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR CHANGE. BOTH THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION AND COURT DECISIONS HAVE ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR RECREATION IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING. AMONG MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THESE BODIES ARE THAT CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS VIEW RECREATION AS A NECESSITY RATHER THAN AS A PRIVILEGE AND THAT RECREATION BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS. APPROPRIATE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS WILL IMPROVE INMATES' MORALE, ORDERLINESS, AND RECEPTIVITY TO PRISON RULES AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS. MOREOVER, BY TEACHING PRODUCTIVE USE OF LEISURE TIME AS WELL AS BY IMPROVING INMATE ATTITUDES, THESE PROGRAMS CAN REDUCE RECIDIVISM. MOST CURRENT FACILITIES LACK ADEQUATELY DESIGNED RECREATIONAL SPACE AND FACILITIES. NEVERTHELESS, MULTIPURPOSE AREAS SUCH AS CAFETERIAS, PORTABLE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, AND SPECIAL INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AREAS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES, CAN SUBSTITUTE. INMATES SHOULD HAVE INPUT INTO RECREATION PROGRAMMING DECISIONS. PROGRAMS OFFERED SHOULD INCLUDE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SPORTS, MOVIES, TELEVISION, ARTS, CRAFTS, DRAMA AND SPEECH PROGRAMS, CLUBS, AND INMATE ORGANIZATIONS. RECREATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND PROFESSIONAL RECREATORS AND PROGRAM LEADERS, SHOULD BE TRAINED AS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.