The Swinging Pendulum of Prison Philosophies
The Swinging Pendulum of Prison Philosophies
Brett Spratt
Mr. Robert Leonik
Contemporary Issues In Criminal Justice
November 5, 2002
The corrections leg of the criminal justice system is ineffective because the efforts being made to rehabilitate criminals and keep society safe are failing substantially. The reason for the failure of the current correctional system and all correctional systems in the history of American prisons is an imbalance in the goals of criminal sentencing. These goals can be measured in success by how they were used in the past eras of prison history. Within the 20th century there were 5 prison eras, along with the current prison era. Not one of these eras used a combination of all sentencing goals, leaving an unbalanced and unsuccessful correctional system. It is necessary to review the 20th century prison philosophies, for the purpose of establishing the reasons for failure, in order to create a successful correctional philosophy for the 21st century. A reformation of the correctional system which includes the removal of all non-violent offenders, a period in which violent inmates are in total isolation, intense individual therapy, group therapy, educational and vocational training and a one year probation period after release from prison will allow for criminals to successfully reintegrate into society. In creating a system that balances all five goals of criminal sentencing along with a multiple step program favoring rehabilitation, it is very possible that a balanced and successful correctional system can be formed. The five goals of criminal sentencing as listed in the 6th edition of Criminal Justice Today are retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation and restoration. Retribution is defined within the text as, “the act of taking revenge upon a criminal perpetrator.” (Schmalleger, p.366) Retribution is often linked to early societies when punishment such as death and exile were carried out very swiftly without a
Brett Spratt
Mr. Robert Leonik
Contemporary Issues In Criminal Justice
November 5, 2002
The corrections leg of the criminal justice system is ineffective because the efforts being made to rehabilitate criminals and keep society safe are failing substantially. The reason for the failure of the current correctional system and all correctional systems in the history of American prisons is an imbalance in the goals of criminal sentencing. These goals can be measured in success by how they were used in the past eras of prison history. Within the 20th century there were 5 prison eras, along with the current prison era. Not one of these eras used a combination of all sentencing goals, leaving an unbalanced and unsuccessful correctional system. It is necessary to review the 20th century prison philosophies, for the purpose of establishing the reasons for failure, in order to create a successful correctional philosophy for the 21st century. A reformation of the correctional system which includes the removal of all non-violent offenders, a period in which violent inmates are in total isolation, intense individual therapy, group therapy, educational and vocational training and a one year probation period after release from prison will allow for criminals to successfully reintegrate into society. In creating a system that balances all five goals of criminal sentencing along with a multiple step program favoring rehabilitation, it is very possible that a balanced and successful correctional system can be formed. The five goals of criminal sentencing as listed in the 6th edition of Criminal Justice Today are retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation and restoration. Retribution is defined within the text as, “the act of taking revenge upon a criminal perpetrator.” (Schmalleger, p.366) Retribution is often linked to early societies when punishment such as death and exile were carried out very swiftly without a
References: Mackenzie, Doris L. (2000). Sentencing and Corrections in the 21st Century: Setting the Stage For The Future. Retrieved October 25, 2002 from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/international/sentence.doc. Schmalleger, Frank, Ph.D. (2001) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the Twenty-First Century, 6th Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.