Criminal Punishment

Criminal Punishment

Forms of Criminal Punishment: Other Approaches

Introduction to Criminal Punishment

Modern forms of criminal punishment include alternatives that contrast vividly with corporal punishments and large-scale warehousing of offenders in prisons. Modern programs increasingly emphasize an individualized approach to the rehabilitation and treatment of offenders.

In the United States and Canada, persons convicted of crimes are most often placed on probation. A person who receives probation remains in the community but is subject to supervision and must comply with various conditions. The conditions may include mandatory group or individual psychological counseling sessions, classes, or vocational training. Because growing numbers of offenders have drug or alcohol dependencies, drug rehabilitation programs are often included as a condition of probation.

Probationers who have committed more serious crimes require tight supervision, including house arrest and electronic monitoring. People under house arrest must remain in their house and may leave only for periods of work during the day. They must observe rigid curfews and allow probation officers to enter their homes at any time to inspect the premises for illegal drugs or other contraband. Electronic monitoring is often used in conjunction with house arrest. The offender must wear electronic bracelets or anklets that emit electronic signals and permit probation officers to detect whether the probationer is where he or she is supposed to be. Another type of electronic monitoring involves a telephonic device that reads the electronic signal of the probationer’s bracelet. When probation officers call at random times, offenders must insert their bracelets into the device so that the officers can ascertain the offender’s location.

Prison inmates who are within six months of their release date or who have recently been released may qualify for special transitional programs. Inmates who wish to enroll in colleges or perform work outside the prison during their final months of incarceration may request study- or work-release time. If such time is granted, prison officials will permit the inmates daily unescorted leaves from prison for such purposes. Vermont developed the first work- and study-release programs in the United States in 1906. In 1998 about 25,000 U.S. prisoners participated in work- or study-release programs. Canada instituted work-release programs in 1992. In 1998 about 1,200 inmates in Canada received work releases.

Some inmates may be granted furloughs (temporary leaves) so that they can spend weekends visiting with their families at home. Furlough programs originated in Mississippi in 1918. By 1998 approximately 10,000 prisoners in the United States received furloughs each year. Canada does not utilize furloughs. However, a small portion of inmates are granted day parole.

Parole boards place some paroled inmates in halfway houses. These community residences, staffed by counselors and aides, assist offenders in making the transition back into community life. Halfway houses provide released prisoners with a place to sleep and eat. In addition, halfway-house personnel help parolees find jobs and get access to needed services. Halfway houses originated in England during the 1800s. Pennsylvania established the first halfway house in the United States in 1817. Today there are hundreds of halfway houses in the United States helping former prisoners cope with their freedom.” (1)

Legal History of Criminal Punishment

History of Punishment in Ancient Athens

See the main entry of this legal history topic.

History of Punishment in Chinese Law: Overview

See the main entry of this legal history topic here.

History of Punishment in Chinese Law: Administrative Punishments

See the main entry of this legal history topic.

History of Punishment in English Common Law

See the main entry of this legal history topic here.

History of Punishment in Medieval and Post-Medieval Roman Law

See the main entry of this legal history topic.

History of Punishment in Hindu Law

See the main entry of this legal history topic.

History of Punishment in United States Law

See the main entry of this legal history topic here.

Theories Regarding Purpose of Punishment

See the main entry of this legal history topic.

Punishment and Status in Chinese Law

See the main entry of this legal history topic, wich includes an overview and sections on Age, Disability, Officials, Relatives, Slaves and Women.

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Information about Criminal Punishment in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also

Criminal Punishment Conflicts Among Goals
Criminal Punishment Retribution
Criminal Punishment Theories
Incarceration
Punishment Goals
Rehabilitation
Prison
Criminal defense lawyers
Jails
Confinement as Punishment


Posted

in

, ,

by

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *