NCJ Number
16220
Date Published
1974
Length
158 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDS VOLUNTARY REHABILITATION PRISON PROGRAMS WHICH ARE NOT CONDITIONS FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME IN PRISON AND SUGGESTS GRADUATED TESTING AS A BASIS FOR PROVIDING INCREASED INCREMENTS OF FREEDOM.
Abstract
COERCED CURE THAT PRESSURES AN OFFENDER INTO A PROGRAM OF CHANGE WHOSE OUTCOME DETERMINES THE LENGTH OF TIME SPENT IN PRISON IS CONSIDERED INEFFECTIVE AND UNJUST. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE LENGTH OF SENTENCE AND PROBATION ELIGIBILITY BE FIXED AND SEPARATE FROM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN PRISON. THE INTENT OF SUCH PROPOSALS IS THAT PARTICIPATION IN REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WILL THEN BE NONCOERCIVE AND WILL BUILD UPON THE SELF-MOTIVATION OF THE INMATE. SUGGESTED PRINCIPLES FOR GUIDING SENTENCING ARE TO EMPLOY THE LEAST PUNITIVE SANCTION NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE DEFINED SOCIAL PURPOSES AND IMPOSE NO SANCTION THAT IS GREATER THAN THAT WARRANTED BY THE MOST RECENT CRIME OR SERIES OF CRIMES. AN OPERATIONAL DESIGN OF AN INSTITUTION FOR TWO HUNDRED REPETITIVELY VIOLENT CRIMINALS IS OFFERED IN WHICH THE PROPOSED PRINCIPLES COULD BE TESTED IN PRACTICE.