NCJ Number
10952
Date Published
1973
Length
438 pages
Annotation
COLLECTION OF READINGS DESCRIBING THE HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN CORRECTIONS, AND DISCUSSING THE PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
PUNISHMENT UNIQUELY AMERICAN IS TRACED BACK TO THE PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND SILENT REFLECTION, AND TO THE AUBURN SYSTEM WHICH MODIFIED THE FORMER BY EMPLOYING PRISONERS IN WORKSHOPS DURING THE DAY. ADULT AND JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN LIGHT OF THREE PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF MODERN REHABILITATION- PROBATION, INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING AND TREATMENT, AND PAROLE. SOME SELECTIONS PRESENT A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF PRISON LIFE, WHILE OTHERS EXAMINE SPECIFIC ASPECTS SUCH AS PRISON INDUSTRY, OFFENDERS' LEGAL STATUS, CLASSIFICATION, INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND CONJUGAL VISITING. THE CONCLUDING SECTION EXAMINES SUCH CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN CORRECTIONS AS PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION, COMMUNITY TREATMENT, PRE-RELEASE, AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, AND DISCUSSES OBSTACLES TO PENAL REFORM.