Toward a Rational Doctrine of Rehabilitation

Abstract

Rehabilitation is seen, essentially, as a reorientation of the offender toward society's values. The delinquent is distinguished by an inner conviction that his way is right and that of society wrong. All effective correctional theories must take this as their point of departure. An integrated approach to offender rehabili tation is necessary, and the impact of the criminal justice system from the moment of arrest must be studied from the point of view of its effect on the offender's attitudes. Conduct can be affected only through accord or coercion, but the latter, influenc ing the offender to retain his antisocial values, produces no permanent benefit to society. Prison, as long as it is thought of as punishment, is inconsistent with the therapeutic goals of reha bilitation. Rehabilitation is not a lesson to be taught but rather one to be learned by each individual. The system must provide the conditions to make such learning possible. There is no uni versal recipe for rehabilitation. Treatment must be geared to individual needs and this requires a radical rethinking of dis posal methods. Rehabilitation is seen as another term for re- education embracing all aspects of the offender's attitude toward society, as something akin to a religious conversion; it demands of society a just conduct in all its dealings with the offender at all levels of processing.