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MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM - TREATMENT AS AN IDEOLOGY FOR CONTROL

NCJ Number
48548
Journal
Crime and Social Justice Volume: 6 Dated: (FALL/WINTER 1976) Pages: 49-57
Author(s)
B MARTIN
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE RECENT STANDARDIZED TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR INMATES IS DESCRIBED, AND ITS EFFECTS ON PRISONER CONTROL AND THE PRISONERS' MOVEMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
BEGINNING IN 1972, THE MASSACHUSETTS NETWORK OF PRISON FACILITIES WAS INTEGRATED INTO A UNIFIED, LARGE-SCALE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM OF THE STEP-SYSTEM TYPE. THE TYPICAL MALE PRISONER BEGINS HIS PRISON TERM AT MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION-WALPOLE, A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON, AND MUST WORK HIS WAY UP THE STEP-SYSTEM LADDER UNTIL ELIGIBLE FOR LESSER-SECURITY FACILITIES AND INCREASINGLY VARIED PROGRAMS AND PRIVILEGES. THE FINAL STEP BEFORE PAROLE IS ENTRANCE INTO A PRERELEASE CENTER OR HALFWAY HOUSE. A CLASSIFICATION BOARD IS THE DECISIONMAKING BODY THAT DETERMINES THE RATE AT WHICH PRISONERS ADVANCE IN THE SYSTEM. WHILE INDETERMINATE SENTENCES ARE RARE, THOSE SENTENCES THAT HAVE A MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SPECIFICATION ARE STRUCTURED BY THE TIME IT TAKES THE PARTICULAR INMATE TO ADVANCE THROUGH THE SYSTEM UNDER THE DISCRETION OF THE CLASSIFICATION BOARD. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SUCH A SYSTEM USES THE VENEER OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO CONTROL PRISONERS WITH A LEGITIMIZED REWARD AND PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. BECAUSE OF LIMITED FACILITIES AND STAFF, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE ADVANCED, PRIVILEGED STAGES OF TREATMENT IS A SMALL MINORITY, THUS REQUIRING THE MAJORITY TO BE KEPT AT SOME INTERMEDIATE STAGE OF PRIVILEGE AND TREATMENT. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE SYSTEM HAS SERVED THE ENDS OF PRISON ORDER MORE THAN INMATE REHABILITATION. IT IS DOUBTED THAT REDUCED RECIDIVISM WILL RESULT FROM THE NEW SYSTEM. INMATE ORGANIZATIONS VOICING COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SPLINTERED BY THE MOVEMENT OF INMATES FROM ONE FACILITY TO ANOTHER ACCORDING TO WHERE THEY STAND ON THE 'STEP LADDER'. THE FOSTERING OF A PREOCCUPATION WITH ONE'S OWN ADVANCEMENT ON THE LADDER HAS UNDERCUT THE FORMATION OF GROUPS FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST PRISON CONDITIONS. THE SUPPOSED REFORM OF THE SYSTEM HAS PLACATED THE PUBLIC'S DEMAND FOR CHANGE IN THE PRISON SYSTEM WHILE INCREASING THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OVER INMATES. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED BY PRISONERS' MOVEMENTS FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPMENT ARE IDENTIFIED. THE MOST IMPORTANT GOALS FOR PRISONER ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE IN THE AREA OF CIVIL RIGHTS, RATHER THAN IN PROGRAMS OF REHABILITATION. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)