Realism in Community-Based Correctional Services

Prisons, reformatories, and training schools have been part of Western culture for about two centuries. In the main, they now reflect an inefficient, ineffective, and obsolete social instrument—the total institution. The emerging model for dealing with offenders will feature many shades of com munity-based placement for both juveniles and adults. Total institutions segregated from the community may be necessary for a small percentage of dangerous people, housing a much smaller proportion of the total offender population than that which is now kept under constant lock and key. In excess of 70 per cent of all offenders can be placed immediately in community-based correctional activities. Another 15 per cent may need short-term, community-oriented confinement. Pro grams for the remaining 15 per cent requiring longer-term restraint should, nevertheless, be aimed at normal community life. Movement in this direction will require major diversi fication and strengthening of probation and parole and inte gration of correctional efforts with general community rehabili tative activities. As a prerequisite to those changes, there is a need for significant education of political leaders, judges, public-interest groups, and public-information media concern ing the potential of community-based corrections.