NCJ Number
157956
Editor(s)
E Mutschler,
J Schellinger
Date Published
1995
Length
48 pages
Annotation
The study surveyed 263 students of the Academy for Advanced Police Training concerning their opinions of the correctional system.
Abstract
The interviewees had been members of the police or special crime units for five to twenty years; they had had some professional exposure to the correctional system. Only six percent of police officers and 11 percent of detectives expressed a favorable opinion of the correctional system. The sample population also described the inmates' willingness to undergo therapy as "weak" or "moderate." A vast majority considered family contacts during imprisonment as a positive factor and supported sexual relations for married inmates. However, special inmate privileges such as prison leaves or vacations were rejected by 41 percent of the police officers and 21 percent of the detectives. Overall, about a third of the interviewees considered the current execution of sentences "humane" while approximately half also believed that it was "too lax." The study concludes that both the general population and police officers have problems understanding the complexities of the correctional process and its therapeutic goals. Numerous charts and graphs are included. 14 references.