NCJ Number
6380
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 7 Issue: 10 Dated: (DECEMBER 1971) Pages: 817-843
Date Published
1971
Length
27 pages
Annotation
INTERVIEWS WITH A LAW PROFESSOR, PRISONERS RIGHTS ATTORNEY, N.Y. STATE SENATOR, DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
Abstract
NO ONE WHO WAS INTERVIEWED BELIEVED THAT ATTICA WAS PREDICTABLE, YET THERE IS A COMMON THREAD RUNNING FROM A LAWYER FOR THE INMATES TO THE HEAD OF THE GUARD'S UNION THAT INTOLERABLE PRISON CONDITIONS NECESSARILY CONTRIBUTED TO THE UPRISING. THERE IS REMARKABLE UNANIMITY AMONG THE INTERVIEWEES AS TO THE TYPE OF REFORM THAT IS NEEDED. WHILE NO ONE WENT SO FAR AS TO CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE ABOLISHMENT OF PRISONS AS WE KNOW THEM, THE FOCUS IS CLEARLY ON COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ACCOMPANIED BY SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN THE PRISON POPULATIONS. ONE OF OUR INTERVIEWEES ACTUALLY CALLED FOR THE IMPRISONMENT OF MORE PEOPLE, BUT FOR SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME. AUTHOR ABSTRACT