The Prison As a Community

Abstract

SITUATIONAL explanation of crime calls for a situational approach to prevention and treatment. As sociologists, we are not true to logical implications of our science if we recommend individual treatment as only solution of penal ills. If function of a prison is to protect society, convict must learn, during his period of incarceration, how to live in society. It is purpose of this paper to point out some of major obstacles which prevent present-day American penal system from performing this function and to indicate changes in administrative policy to overcome them. The concept of prison as a is guiding principle for this analysis. The prisoner comes from a and, after an average stay of two and one third years, will return to a community. If he is to be accepted as a law-abiding person on his return, he must learn in prison to play role of a citizen. He cannot learn those things that will enable him to participate as an acceptable member of outside community, if he is engaged in activities that are foreign to people on outside. If prisoner learns on inside, that to fit in with institutional routine, he must walk close to wall, this will not help him on outside. In fact, it may mark him as peculiar. We are aware of real difficulties in way of fundamental reforms. Unless there is a dramatic escape, a bloody riot, or a mass whipping, as reported recently at San Quentin, press and public are apathetic. J. Edgar Hoover's vigorous defense of machine-gun of criminology with its hatred of slimy criminals and its belief in long prison terms as only means of punishment and his pungent attacks on the creampuff school with its moo-cow sentimentalities and its faith in rehabilitation have swung pendulum of public opinion in this country in direction of a hostile attitude toward offender and away from an attitude of inquiry. It is our conviction, however, that punitive attitude has been adequately tried and found wanting. The most promising method of progress is through experimentation. Why not, for example, make a sincere attempt to save money for a higher salary level and a better quality of personnel by housing a larger proportion of carefully selected prisoners in less expensive minimum security institutions? Furthermore, why not make the prison as a community guiding concept for administration? As it is, present-day American treatment of men in prison reminds us of relations between lions and their trainer. The function of a trainer is