Community Corrections

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Chapter 22

• Community Corrections

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community surveillance

• surveillance is a fast-growing potentially
  troublesome aspect of corrections

• caveat personal liberty is precious it ought
  not to be jeopardized by inordinate controls over
  our autonomy.

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purposes of surveillance
aims of surveillance
protection of community
enables monitoring of treatment programs
enables offenders to be held in community
(rather than prison)
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surveillance control techniques
drug controls
controls
programmatic controls
electronic controls
human surveillance
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drug controls
thorazine used to control violent or aggressive
behavior caused by psychiatric problems
antabuse causes nausea when combined with alcohol
Rx
depo-provera chemical castration drug that
eliminates sexual response in males
prozac decreases negative emotions associated
with depression
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electronic controls
electronic fence establishes a perimeter beyond
which a client may not venture without being
shocked
electronic monitoring eg, home arrest anklets
eg.
remote video surveillance without telephone lines
(Big Brother?)
video screen telephones live interview with
client face to face
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human surveillance
use surprise visits appear un-announced
increase number of contacts
eg.
increase randomness of contacts avoid routine
broaden location of contacts
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programmatic controls

• The most widely used technique of surveillance
  control are the established elements of treatment
  programs.
• drug testing
• urine sampling
• hair testing
• systems of surveillance and control
• eg, Vermonts Relapse Prevention Program
• trains (sex) offender to look for signs of
  relapse
• incorporates selected individuals in community,
  who are also taught to look for same signs

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problems of control
violates privacy
change in social priorities
stress on family
disadvantages
increased government control
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politics of surveillance and community protection

• Issue has turned normal conservative and
  liberal politics upside down!
• conservatives normally OPPOSE government
  intervention into personal affairs.
• but, in interest of SOCIAL CONTROL, they favor
  intervention here.
• liberals normally SUPPORT government intervention
  in interest of social good.
• but, in interest of INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, they
  oppose intervention here.

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constraints on surveillance and control
constraints
moral ethical limits broad controls are
inconsistent with American views of freedom
liberty. high price to pay for safety.
technology requires support maintenance, which
may be lacking in correctional systems
human responses many correctional professionals
offenders may resist new controls
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test of acceptable controls

• criteria for gauging whether surveillance-control
  techniques are appropriate
• Is it truly being used in lieu of prison?
• Is it really necessary to control offender, or is
  it being used to mollify public?
• Would less intrusive method suffice?
• Are indirect intrusions into lives of innocent
  members of community being minimized?
• Will surveillance-control be reduced if offender
  shows self-control?