Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

Chapter 21Chapter 21Chapter 21Chapter 21

Surveillance and Control in the Community

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

The Goals of SurveillanceThe Goals of SurveillanceThe Goals of SurveillanceThe Goals of Surveillance The Techniques of Surveillance and Control

Drug Controls Electronic Controls Human Surveillance Programmatic Controls

Control: A Double-Edge Sword Social Control and Personal Liberty The Politics of Surveillance and Community

Protection The Limits of Control

Technology Human Responses Moral and Ethical Limits

Toward Acceptable Community Control

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

community surveillancecommunity surveillancecommunity surveillancecommunity 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, 8th

purposes of surveillancepurposes of surveillancepurposes of surveillancepurposes of surveillance

aims of surveillanc

e

protection of

community“enables”

offenders to be held in community

(rather than prison)

enables monitoring

of treatment programs

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

surveillance & control surveillance & control techniquestechniquessurveillance & control surveillance & control techniquestechniques

programmatic controls

electronic

controls

drug controls

human surveillan

ce

controcontrolsls

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

drug controlsdrug controlsdrug controlsdrug controls

Rx

Antabusecauses nausea when

combined with

alcoholProzacProzac

decreases decreases negative negative emotions emotions associated associated

with with depressiondepression

Depo-Provera‘chemical castration’ drug that eliminates sexual

response in males

Thorazineused to control

violent or aggressive behavior caused by psychiatric problems

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

electronic controlselectronic controlselectronic controlselectronic controls

e.g.

electronic

monitoring

e.g., home arrest anklets remote

video surveillanc

ewithout telephone lines (Big Brother?)

video screen

telephoneslive interview with client

‘face to face’

electronic ‘fence’establishes a

perimeter beyond which a client may not venture without

being shocked

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

human surveillancehuman surveillancehuman surveillancehuman surveillance

e.g.

increase number of contacts

increase randomnes

s of contacts;

avoid ‘routine’

broaden location

of contacts

use ‘surprise’ visits;

appear un-announced

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning Systems (GPS)(GPS) Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning Systems (GPS)(GPS)

Requires the offender to carry a “bag" that transmits a signal to a satellite identifying the person’s location at all times.

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

programmatic controlsprogrammatic controlsprogrammatic controlsprogrammatic 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

e.g., 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, 8th

Surveillance and Crime Surveillance and Crime RatesRatesSurveillance and Crime Surveillance and Crime RatesRates

The Myth: When people are watched more closely by correctional authorities they are less likely to engage in crimes.

The Reality: A host of studies in a variety of settings finds that increased surveillance is associated with higher rates of being returned to prison for misbehavior, but not lower rates of arrest for criminal conduct

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

problems of controlproblems of controlproblems of controlproblems of control

change in

social priorit

ies

stress on

family

violates

privacy

increased government control

disadvantages

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

politics of surveillance and politics of surveillance and community protectioncommunity protectionpolitics of surveillance and politics of surveillance and community protectioncommunity 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, 8th

constraints on surveillance constraints on surveillance and controland controlconstraints on surveillance constraints on surveillance and controland control

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 responsesmany correctional professionals & offenders may resist new controls

constrainconstraintsts

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8th

test of ‘acceptable’ controlstest of ‘acceptable’ controlstest of ‘acceptable’ controlstest 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?