NCJ Number
10461
Date Published
1973
Length
372 pages
Annotation
SUBJECT AREAS INCLUDE THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM, EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT, CORRECTIONAL THEORY, AND NEW METHODS OF TREATMENT.
Abstract
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME INCLUDE CRIMINOLOGISTS, DIRECTORS OF STATE AND FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, FORMER WARDENS, PRISON PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIOLOGISTS, INSTITUTIONAL CHAPLAINS, OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION, ATTORNEYS, PSYCHIATRISTS, PROBATION AND PAROLE PERSONNEL, AND INMATES. THE READINGS ARE GROUPED INTO SIX BROAD SECTIONS. THE INITIAL SECTION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AS A SOCIAL SYSTEM, FOCUSING PARTICULARLY ON THE WAYS THAT PRISON CULTURE TENDS TO POLARIZE THE INMATE - STAFF RELATIONSHIP. SEVERAL EUROPEAN EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE THIS POLARIZATION AND TO REDUCE ISOLATION FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD ARE NOTED. THE NEXT SECTION OFFERS SEVERAL APPROACHES TO THE TRAINING AND SELECTION OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. THE THIRD SECTION DISCUSSES THE INMATE AND HIS ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH THE HAZARDS OF CONFINEMENT. POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM ENDEAVORS TO COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT ARE PRESENTED. PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING CORRECTIONAL THEORY WITHIN THE INSTITUTION ARE EXPLORED IN THE FOURTH SECTION, AND THE AWARENESS OF AUTHORITY AND THE IMPOSITION OF DISCIPLINE ARE DISCUSSED IN SECTION FIVE. IN THIS LATTER SECTION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND HUMANE USE OF INSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. THE FINAL SECTION OFFERS SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES ON TREATMENT AND NEW TREATMENT METHODS, CONSIDERING SUCH APPROACHES AS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND THE USE OF EX-OFFENDERS FOR REHABILITATING PRISONERS.