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It is the judgment of the head of the law. You don't have the right to do what you have that it would. Be brutal and a predator in a county courthouse the circuit judge sentences a convict to defend it within a few hours the former accused will become a convict. A prisoner an inmate of a state penitentiary. What kind of institution will he enter. Under what conditions will he live. What will be done to all for him in your state. Will he be merely punished. Or will an attempt be made to understand him as an individual in need of help to find a partial answer to these questions. Questions to which the public is paid slight attention from earliest times a representative of the Florida State University visited state penal institutions throughout the United States. The result of these
visits is prison document a series of radio programs in which the individuals involved from the governor to the loneliest person are tell their own stories. It is against e-mail me. Oh but surely you know it was great. To take anything with you in that area. What did you take that you know. Where your loan when you broke no matter. Who you wit. What. Did you keep the money order to discredit his work here. How do they describe it. He told. My friend. You. Are A. I guess they suspected. You just volunteer you. Know. You see why I. Like. Having a home.
On the next thing you know my mother a psychiatric social worker interviews a young man in trouble. They are in the diagnostic clinic of the prison system in a state which has pioneered and rehabilitation of criminals. Prison documents has presented the conflict in penal philosophy current in state institutions today. We have shown examples of traditional thinking but the man who has committed a crime must pay the price. We have shown examples of and like I'm thinking. But the man who has committed a crime is a potential good citizen. If he can be helped to solve the problem which reveals itself through criminal behavior I'm this the last programme in the series we examine some unique aspects of a state system where prisons are treatment oriented. The commissioner of Corrections of this state describes the philosophy under which the entire system operates.
While it. Was incarcerated we recognized the need to contain the individual during his incarceration period. We feel that it is incumbent upon the institution to make every effort. To see that the individual who ultimately will be released is released in such a way that he will not. Get into difficulty again. Will be able to lead a fruitful and successful life back in the community. Basically you create him as an individual problem then when he is inside he was very definitely as a matter of fact the individual ization of treatment. I believe he will fly and serve again in this particular state many many years ago when the concept of classification was evolved. This basically is the foundation upon which not only the state but the correctional systems and institutions throughout the country are operating this state makes extensive use of
psychiatry. Sounds like colleges in its prison program. When asked by our reporter why more psychiatry ist's were not employed. The commissioner replied. Like many of the correctional systems in the United States we do not have all of the psychiatric services which we feel we need. That's purely budgetary problems. It's not only budgetary but it is also a question of the supply and demand of psychiatrists. Undoubtedly even if we had 10 additional psychiatric positions we would be unable to fill them immediately would take a great deal of time to fill them because they are simply not enough psychiatrists to go around. Secondly. It appears as though the area of correction psychiatry is an area in which. Which is relatively new. And. An area where a number of psychiatrists might not follow their basic interest in other states our reporter was told of many pressing problems
which prison administrators face. These have involved budgets and public understanding of problems they have involved physical plans and lack of good customer aerial personnel in the state we are visiting on this program. The commissioner of Corrections faces the same problems as other administrators in other states space and yet his chief concern is something else again. One of the difficulties that we experience. I don't think it's weak in this particular state. Is some. Difficulty in definition that of the insanity and psychosis. We are particularly fortunate in a sense. This city. Since the correctional institutions of this state. Are under the jurisdiction of the same department which controls and has supervision over the mental hospitals to be able to make transfers between the correctional institutions and the mental hospitals. When Mary said need indicated.
The one of the main difficulties as I said is in that which constitutes psychosis vs. insanity. We have heard many cases of individuals who might be legally considered insane. Yet from the mental hospital or psychiatric point of view all are. CONSIDERED. Very psychotic. When asked by our reporter what the commissioner figured was the most important morale building feature of prison life. This answer came for visits are very important I think to maintain it as a matter of fact we look at deserts as being a car stereo technique because an inmate who is relatively happy and is able to maintain his home ties much less to escape risking one has nothing to lose from a commissionaire our reporter went to the warden of a maximum security prison in this state.
The warden explained his official title and comments on custody all personnel principle. Keep an old title in an old institution and boy caste areas are usually taken from the civil service list a criteria that we use of course person's suitability to this sort of thing tend to find a motion with a stable of course have an interest in working with other people. Also. Character and Soul Train program for people coming to a point. First the fire itself.
You will recall in the last program of prison document which dealt with discipline within the prison. Now there is variation from state to state and even within institutions in any given state. The handling of discipline problems the warden explains how things are handled here. To begin with and in Sharjah written by a member. Person I would be frozen in time. That record is and is heard as soon as possible and the word my disciplinary committee purpose of course. Bennett you to use the same disciplinary it was true some years back. The warden also told our reporter that one guard our custodial officer not connected with a disciplinary incident always served on the discipline committee
as part of the in-service training program for guards in order that the guards might better understand the place of discipline in the institution. He said other for minor offenses a prisoner would be deprived of time which might have been applied toward total time off for good behavior. Forcing a locked up status for stated time. And a sort of semi segregation over a certain given time or named explain cases involve the person being placed in segregation for a career. This may be in some cases reasonably brief time in other cases or very long case or that case. Place a reasonably large cell on a restricted diet for
relatively brief periods of time. In most cases would probably tend to carry as the warden or principal keeper outlined the rest of the prison program. It fell very much into the pattern of the progressive programs which we have documented in highlights of various aspects of other state systems. The difference is that in this state the program has more unity and is more closely related to experimental programs aimed at treatment of the youthful offender before he becomes an adult male criminal. For example our reporter visited with a psychologist who directs a treatment center for youthful offenders project is designed to deal with a selected group youthful offender. Who. Had been. Chosen by a very generous and really do you know what Dr. St.. Because who works as a condition of this probation he must be one of the base in order to be admitted. It's compulsory in the sense that the only alternative voidness is to spend
three times as much time as one of the forgeries. I see other ways here the alternative of coming to this project or going to be from which I make it a point to inform them. Two Moules two fixed rules which we have which have been established in order to provide protection not only for the boy himself but for the community as well. It two rules which I inform him of are one that we do not. Feel what he wanted to leave the confines of the property. In other words. We have three hundred ninety eight are surrounding the house and very upsetting to the neighbors to see strange boys trespassing on the property. By the second rule is it. And we have learned ways to avoid any contact with every with any of the female patients at the state mental hospital
where they work during the day. Since boys usually come around once a time you feed them and then they begin work any kind of work as a kind of supervisor or his wife who happens to be the governor. May get him. In the afternoon late afternoon when the boys come back from work and not run far. They take showers and then get ready for supper which would have been 5:30. After supper boy. Committed to have phone calls from anywhere between the hours of 6 and 7. At 7 o'clock we began our therapy session or a guided group interaction or as we call it. How does this work. Walk. When this boy arrives he is signing to a movie or TV or Newsweek for me. Or that's about to close and he's wearing a size from 7 to 11. Like me the
sizes of around 10 to 12 so he pressured to take the wires is increased considerably in the last two three years he can state room he can wander around the house you can take a walk he can do whatever he wants. You're not compelled would tend by and large they all attend but. You don't expect everybody to attend 100 percent of the time. Did anyone. I would be very highly suspicious of some forces rubber dinghies I would be opposed to it. Now I want a boy comes to a meeting and meetings are held in my heart was and I conduct the group sessions myself. With all the boys in the house by the way I have divided into two groups. And the first group meets at seven. To eight thirty and the second group from a very good 10. That was when a boy comes to the session. A new boy he generally sits and listens to what other people are saying. And what is he them saying. Wow. Generally they're talking my two kinds of experiences
they've found in the course of the day. He works around the house on the relationships between the supervisors. We do not plan discussions and again we don't decide what topics will be discussed. I never picked a topic to be discussed. This is left entirely to the boys themselves. They know that their meeting begins at a certain time and since attendance is going to come. Answer he in some ways make him on his and make him wait. How do you start. Why sit and wait for somebody to start discussion in general in some way or group always have decided to dance. But among some songs they will discuss the problems of a particular boy or that they will discuss an incident that took place of course of the day. Generally one voices I think I will. I want to start to mean by asking you what they think of me. And he goes what we call making the rounds. It starts from one corner of the room before me
and asked me to in turn what he thinks. And they give vent to their they can go in their opinions. Sometimes the feelings are very intense very hostile certainly very aggressive. For the most part sometimes theyre not. Depending on. Various factors. Depends on the way a boy feels about the subject and the boy is asked for leave and. Depends on how long the boy has been resident depends on his conception of. A good many depends on how much he trusts me so much as the other members are good and I look back as one and we may also discuss other kinds of problems. But always focusing on primarily upon a day to day experiences of the boys at the end of the session I summarize the meeting in order to provide the members went somewhere else. What has been
achieved in the course of the evening. Do they ask you some questions. Not necessarily. Sometimes they do sometimes you know. Well in what way do you feel that this particular type of treatment is unique in directional programming. What we're trying to do is to change values and attitudes. We're not in the business of changing basic personality structures in a sense. Our efforts are directed toward. Focusing our attention on the group primarily in the in the development of Europe rather than in making it in text of the neurosis of each voice problems. This doesn't happen in the course of the development a group we are applying a technique which is based upon a particular theory or. Maybe RG of you know we could sing namely of it. The legacy is based upon good behavior and what we're trying to do is to reform these boys by incorporating incorporating them into
a group which is trying to reform in the sense of boy which forms himself by helping to reform other points. Why developing this kind of considered action. Boys do change their attitudes and their values and our aim therefore is to make conventional citizens hate boys. We don't always succeed. On the degree of success is not always the same but we feel very confident that we have achieved a very satisfying measure of success and I think all the research which have been done so far. Following up our boys has indicated that there's every reason to believe that we want to go ahead with this type of program. Have any of them expressed themselves about in any way concerning interest in the project. What I would say to the overwhelming majority expressed the feeling when they read that we have to have more places like a sponsor. In fact. We hear that they have many for want to be here and they would
highly recommend as candidates for that question. That ought to be more places like this. The boys say. And a moment you will hear a boy in trouble entering another agency of the prison system of the state. This is the diagnostic clinic where boys may be sent before being sentenced for breaking the law. We are in the office of a psychiatric social worker. You may have some difficulty in understanding the boy's answers. He speaks rapidly sometimes giving his answers almost before the social worker has finished her question. If you listen closely however you will find that he relaxes a little. Toward the end of this segment of the interview and it is understandable. First we are briefed by the psychiatry is to direct the diagnostic clinic. What you are about to hear is a interview between the psychiatric social worker and a boy who has just come into the center
for the first time. This is the so-called intake interview. This boy has been referred to us by the court. Because of some difficulties the boy has become involved in and because it has been the feeling of the court that perhaps there is some emotional disturbance involved which is causing this boy to act as he does. He know anything about fair play out a little bit about that. So maybe you have some questions. Play me most of the boys here have been sent by Corey. He has a couple. And. The judge during the conversation will soon or somebody in the school all of them say there's. The boredom part on the next flight that they want to find out more about it so that it won't. The morning. Morning here he'll be here back. In the day. Now more
than any day. Tomorrow here you're going to a series of tests on tests. School tests and personality. Physical tests. Then we stand by reporting on the results of the test back to the court. And the final say is up to the chair. We can do anything we want. We understand you do have to go back to work. Now if. We make a recommendation to him about what we think would be the best thing. About he does what he feels is best. Why did you come to court. For. Having been in trouble before this came. And you've been in court before. You. Were. Where you sat. She.
Was that first time you background were you. Worse than terrible What was the first. Thing. That I wanted of. You member life becoming wise. I know I took about 20. Minutes. From. Where. We. Live. I go by Brittany we take root was. That. That was the first time going to court is being. Made that could best be charges against you now know you. Know what your just going to be now with Britney. Did you take anything when you learned that you what did you take. You know.
When you're lonely when you are going to be. Who you we're in the world. Did you keep the money or did you split this one you know. How do they describe it. He told. My. Friend. You. Are a I guess they suspected to. Be. You just volunteer you. Know. You see my. Son having a home. Myself. And not. On the next day all you know she made a big. Ego my mother. My little cock. She read about the right way to get to. Building my paper. Why did did you have in mind when you went in the house. We look at you. My new no no me like a stick figure with me.
He sees that was you. So. How did you come on money. You can't. Stand. Was he looking to marry you. And then he will stay away from home at his. Own home for. Supper. In our in our. In the. Money went down last son. Says. My mother. Where I was taught mother she says. I go along it. Isn't she male knowing that he knows me and my mom will get me to eat. But I needn't keep the man Oh I want to tell her mother for being within the meaning I'm mostly going to school before. One of them will be here. At this point the social workers signal to our reporter asking him to stop recording.
But she felt the presence of the microphone was inhibiting the boy. Reporter was permitted to remain in the room however he made these notes at the close of the interview. Social worker. Why do you think you started getting into trouble. Answer Because I didn't like to go to school social worker. Why didn't you like to go to school. Answer Because I couldn't read. In a moment you will hear Dr Burnham Fox of the faculty of the School of Social Welfare Florida State University. First however the commissioner of Corrections of the state we are highlighting comments on why you should be concerned with the problems presented in prison document. I think there's a great deal that goes on in correction which should be known to everyone. And basically the problem of correction is not just a problem of the administrator or of the institution but it's the problem of the entire
state and the entire society. Certainly from the point of view of prevention the entire society. I believe at the present time is making offenders faster than any correctional system could possibly correct. Now here is Dr. Vernon Fox one of the young offenders we have just heard quit school because he could not read. This pattern of academic retardation is common among delinquents and offenders. If our prevention programs could work with these young people when their emotional problems are first discovered a much more effective job could be done. This the last of a series of seven programs is the first one in which is demonstrated the attempt to understand the dynamics that motivated the behavior of the offender. Even when the philosophy of the present administration is treatment oriented.
The sheer volume of work to be done precludes the possibility of much real understanding of individual people that the offender is ready for and one's understanding and treatment is not questionable. The people who are the prisoners are ready. Most of the people who administer our prisons are ready. But society is not yet ready to provide the necessities for a minimum job in corrections. And yet society turns out 97 percent of its prisoners. The majority unprepared unhelped. Only to return again perplexed and anguished or resigned to it and hide and continuing a senseless circle. We are in a society working against ourselves. Sentencing prisoners for
punishment and corrections not providing the tools and facilities to do the job and then releasing the vast majority made worse. Yet we already have the know how. When are we going to use what we know for our own benefit. When will we decide what our prisons are for. This has been a prison document a series of programs on the adult male in the state penitentiary. We are indebted to prison officials over the country and throughout the world for their cooperation and enthusiasm for the project. It is our sincere hope that prison document may provoke in each of you. I desire to understand the philosophies and problems in a correctional department of your own state. Production has been by the staff of W FSU FM Florida State University Tallahassee.
Field recording by Tom St.. Tape editing and engineering by Bill Ragsdale. Narration script and production supervision by Roy Flynn. Present document has been produced under a grant from the Educational Television and Radio Center and is distributed by the National Association of educational broadcasters. This is the ne B Radio Network.
Series
Prison document
Episode
Criminal behavior and mental illness
Producing Organization
Florida State University
Contributing Organization
University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/500-xk84pf4k
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Description
Episode Description
This program highlights a state system where the same agency administers prisons and mental hospitals because "criminal behavior and mental illness are merely different aspects of the total mental health picture"
Series Description
A documentary series that examines prisons and their purposes.
Broadcast Date
1958-01-01
Topics
Social Issues
Law Enforcement and Crime
Media type
Sound
Duration
00:30:01
Embed Code
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Credits
Engineer: Stone, Thomas
Engineer: Ragsdale, Bill
Narrator: Fleming, William
Producing Organization: Florida State University
Writer: Flynn, Roy
AAPB Contributor Holdings
University of Maryland
Identifier: 58-11-7 (National Association of Educational Broadcasters)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
Duration: 00:29:40
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Citations
Chicago: “Prison document; Criminal behavior and mental illness,” 1958-01-01, University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed March 29, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-xk84pf4k.
MLA: “Prison document; Criminal behavior and mental illness.” 1958-01-01. University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-xk84pf4k>.
APA: Prison document; Criminal behavior and mental illness. Boston, MA: University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-xk84pf4k