Unit management in prisons

Abstract

Research into unit management in prisons was necessitated by a need to change the way in which South Africa deals with prisoners. The lack of respect for human dignity, poor control in prisons before and after demilitarisation and the need to reduce crime in South Africa are some of the reasons why the study became important. Topics addressed include the role of architecture in corrections, direct supervision to enhance active custody, renewed emphasis on individuals by means of case management and decentralised delivery of development and treatment programmes. Apart from the aspects mentioned above, the philosophy of unit management is spelled out. Imprisonment in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Africa and the United States of America is discussed against the background of the unit management philosophy. During any process of incarceration, documentation forms an integral part of the process. In this study, the researcher discussed those documents that could play an important role in unit management. The importance of unit management in prisons cannot be overemphasised. The investigation contributes largely to scientific knowledge in that the importance of sentence planning for each individual within the Criminal Justice System is emphasised. Individual case plans, active involvement from both the inmate and the correctional official and the positive role of prison design are aspects that should form part of all new generation prison systems.