Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Chapter 21 Surveillance and Control in the Community

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th The 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, 8 th 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, 8 th 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, 8 th surveillance & control techniques programmatic controls electronic controls drug controls human surveillance controls

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th drug controls RxRx Antabuse causes nausea when combined with alcohol Prozac decreases negative emotions associated with depression Depo-Provera ‘chemical castration’ drug that eliminates sexual response in males Thorazine used to control violent or aggressive behavior caused by psychiatric problems

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th electronic controls e.g. electronic monitoring e.g., home arrest anklets remote video surveillance without telephone lines (Big Brother?) video screen telephones live 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, 8 th human surveillance e.g. increase number of contacts increase randomness of contacts; avoid ‘routine’ broaden location of contacts use ‘surprise’ visits; appear un-announced

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Global Positioning Systems (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, 8 th 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 e.g., Vermont’s Relapse Prevention Program F trains (sex) offender to look for signs of relapse F incorporates selected individuals in community, who are also taught to look for same signs

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th Surveillance and Crime Rates  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, 8 th problems of control change in social priorities stress on family violates privacy increased government control disadvantages

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th 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, 8 th constraints on surveillance and 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 responses many correctional professionals & offenders may resist new controls constraints

Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 8 th test 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?