NCJ Number
58334
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
A LIMITED SET OF OBJECTIVES FOR PRISONS, BASED ON A JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE OF CORRECTIONS, IS PROPOSED.
Abstract
PROPOSITIONS ABOUT THE PURPOSES OF IMPRISONMENT ARE SET FORTH AS THE BASIS FOR A CRITIQUE OF EXISTING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PRISON ADMINISTRATION PRACTICES, WHICH ARE DESCRIBED AS ESSENTIALLY RULELESS. THE NEED TO CONCEPTUALIZE IMPRISONMENT DIFFERENTLY--AS ONLY A TEMPORARY DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY--AND TO NARROW RHETORICAL CLAIMS ABOUT WHAT PRISON CAN ACCOMPLISH IS BROUGHT OUT, AS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF VIEWING THE SENTENCE AS PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF JUSTICE AND AS SOMETHING TO BE EXPERIENCED AS JUST, REASONABLE, AND CONSTITUTIONAL. THE FOLLOWING SHORT-RANGE OBJECTIVES FOR IMPLEMENTING A JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE IN PRISONS ARE RECOMMENDED: (1) RECOGNIZING THAT ALL THE RIGHTS ACCORDED FREE CITIZENS BUT CONSISTENT WITH MASS LIVING AND THE EXECUTION OF A SENTENCE RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT) FOLLOW AN OFFENDER INTO PRISON, AND (2) ELIMINATING ALL NONVOLUNTARY INMATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. MIDDLE-RANGE OBJECTIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) RETURNING TO FLAT-TIME SENTENCES WITH PROCEDURAL RULES GOVERNING SENTENCE SELECTION; (2) ELIMINATING PAROLE BOARDS AND PAROLE AGENCIES; (3) TRANSFORMING FORTRESS PRISONS INTO INSTITUTIONS FOR NO MORE THAN 300 PERSONS, FURTHER DIVISIBLE INTO SUBUNITS OF 30 CONTAINING PEOPLE SENTENCED TO SIMILAR TERMS; AND (4) DETERMING RELEASE DATES THROUGH A NARROW, REVIEWABLE SYSTEM OF FIXED GOOD-TIME RULES. THE ELEMENTS OF EACH OBJECTIVE AND ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE DISCUSSED. RECOGNITION OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS IS URGED: THAT CRIME AND CRIMINALS ARE NOT ABERRATIONS; THAT INCARCERATION FOR SOME WILL BE NECESSARY; THAT THE PRISON ADMINISTRATOR'S FIRST PRIORITY IS TO ACCOMPLISH INCARCERATION JUSTLY; AND THAT THE SEARCH FOR MESSIANIC TREATMENTS AS A WAY OF CHANGING PEOPLE SHOULD END.