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CHANGE AND CONFLICT IN THE EVOLUTION OF PRISON SYSTEMS OLD DILEMMAS, EMERGENT PROBLEMS AND FUTURE STRATEGIES

NCJ Number
44801
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 349-365
Author(s)
J E THOMAS; T A WILLIAMS
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFLICTING GOALS OF CUSTODY AND REFORM ARE EXAMINED, AND STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH CONTEMPORARY SITUATIONS THREATENING TO EXACERBATE OLD PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
DIFFICULTIES IN RECONCILING THE GOALS OF CUSTODY AND REFORM HAVE CAUSED PRISON SYSTEMS TO PURSUE ONE GOAL AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER, A TENDENCY THAT IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE UNLESS A STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATING THE ENDS OF CUSTODY AND REFORM IS FOUND. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT PRISON SYSTEMS OF THE FUTURE WILL HAVE TO COPE WITH NEW PROBLEMS WHICH WILL COMPOUND PAST CONFLICTS. AT THE SAME TIME AS SOCIETIES ARE SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT, PRISONS ARE BEGINNING TO RECEIVE PEOPLE WHOSE PRESENCE PLACES EVEN GREATER STRAINS ON THE MAINTENANCE OF CUSTODIAL CONTROL AND, THEREFORE, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRISON REGIMES IN WHICH CUSTODY CAN COEXIST WITH REFORM. THESE 'NEW PRISONERS,' WHO INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT EXPECT TO BE RELEASED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND OTHERS WHO ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO QUESTION AND REJECT THEIR CRIMINAL STATUS, HAVE EVEN LESS INTEREST IN COOPERATING WITH PRISON STAFF AND AUTHORITIES THAN HAVE TRADITIONAL CONVICTED OFFENDERS. THE GENERAL PROCESS OF CHANGE AND CONFLICT THAT HAS CHARACTERIZED THE EVOLUTION OF PRISON SYSTEMS IS EXAMINED, AND WAYS IN WHICH EMERGENT CONDITIONS AT THE BOUNDARY OF THESE SYSTEMS MAY AFFECT FUTURE EVOLUTION ARE CONSIDERED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN UNIFORMED PRISON STAFF, WHO HAVE AS THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND SECURITY, AND NEWER STAFF GROUPS CONCERNED IN VARIOUS SPECIALIZED WAYS WITH THE TREATMENT AND WELFARE OF PRISONERS. THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS IS SAID TO DEPEND ON THE DESIGN OF STAFF ROLES, THE STRUCTURING OF RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ROLES, AND THE POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE STYLES OF PRISON WARDENS. THE NEED TO REEXAMINE THE GOALS OF IMPRISONMENT WITH THE AIM OF ESTABLISHING MORE HUMANE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT (FREEDOM WITH GOOD ORDER) IS POINTED OUT. THE DISCUSSION INCLUDES REFERENCES TO PRISON SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND, NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED STATES. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.

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