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PRISON DRUGS, PSYCHIATRY, AND THE STATE (FROM CORRECTIONS AND PUNISHMENT, 1977, BY DAVID F GREENBERG - SEE NCJ-46507)

NCJ Number
46513
Author(s)
R SPEIGLMAN
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF DRUGS AND PSYCHIATRY TO REPRESS RATHER THAN REHABILITATE INMATES IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE USE OF DRUGS AND PSYCHIATRY ON PRISON POPULATION IS VIEWED AS A VEHICLE OF THE CAPITALIST STATE TO REPRESS AND LEGITIMIZE THE SOCIAL CONTROL OF PERSONS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF A RACIST, SEXIST, EXPLOITATIVE CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC ORDER. IT IS BELIEVED THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOLUTION IN DEALING WITH INMATE BEHAVIOR IS PRAGMATIC AND CONVENIENT UNDER THE PRESSURE FROM ADMINISTRATORS FOR A QUIET INSTITUTION, THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY LARGE NUMBERS OF PRISONERS, AND THE CYNICISM OF AN OVERWORKED AND UNAPPRECIATED STAFF. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS SEEN AS BASICALLY A REACTION TO THE CONSIDERED INHERENT INJUSTICES OF A CAPITALISTIC SYSTEM REQUIRING THAT A RULING CLASS PROTECT THE STRUCTURE FROM WHICH ITS PROFITS ARE DERIVED. PRISONS ARE THUS VIEWED AS VEHICLES FOR CONTROLLING, PRIMARILY THROUGH DRUGS, THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY THE SOCIOECONOMIC ORDER. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)

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