Transcript Chapter 21 Surveillance and Control in the Community Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th.

Chapter 21
Surveillance and
Control in the
Community
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
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.
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
purposes of surveillance
aims of
surveillance
protection of
community
“enables”
offenders to be
held in community
(rather than
prison)
enables
monitoring of
treatment
programs
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
surveillance & control techniques
drug controls
electronic
controls
controls
programmatic
controls
human
surveillance
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
drug controls
thorazine
antabuse
causes nausea
when
combined
with alcohol
depo-provera
‘chemical
castration’ drug
that eliminates
sexual response in
males
R
x
used to control
violent or
aggressive
behavior caused
by psychiatric
problems
prozac
decreases
negative emotions
associated with
depression
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
electronic controls
electronic ‘fence’
electronic
monitoring
establishes a perimeter
beyond which a client
may not venture
without being shocked
eg, home arrest
anklets
eg.
video screen
telephones
live interview with
client ‘face to face’
remote video
surveillance
without telephone
lines (Big Brother?)
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human surveillance
use ‘surprise’
visits;
increase
number of
contacts
appear
un-announced
eg.
broaden
location of
contacts
increase
randomness
of contacts;
avoid ‘routine’
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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, Vermont’s 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
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
problems of control
violates
privacy
stress on
family
disadvantages
change
in social
priorities
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.
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
constraints on surveillance and
control
constraints
technology
requires support
& maintenance,
which may be
lacking in
correctional
systems
human
responses
moral &
ethical limits
many correctional
professionals &
offenders may
resist new controls
broad controls are
inconsistent with
American views of
freedom & liberty.
high price to pay
for safety.
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
test of ‘acceptable’ controls
 criteria
for gauging whether surveillancecontrol 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?

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th