Proposal
for a program to promote a reduction in the use of imprisonment throughout the world
Background
to the project
The use of imprisonment is growing rapidly throughout the world. The
growth and the dangers it brings were discussed at a seminar held in Oslo in April 1995
which brought together prison official, academics and commentators from Europe, Canada,
the United States, Russia and South America.
The seminar highlighted the remarkably rapid growth in imprisonment in
some States and reflected on the possible dangers this presented to the States concerned
and to the rest of the world. It was suggested that when such a large proportion of the
population of a State have been exposed to the prison culture and are alienated from
mainstream values a threat to internal security can be posed. To have such a large section
of the population spending some of their young and formative years in prison could be a
source of destabilisation and conflict. Whilst it was agreed that crime posed a threat to
the stability of societies, the measures used to deal with it could in the slightly longer
term pose a larger threat.
Cost was also important. The cost of so much imprisonment was enormous
and would in times of financial difficulty take money away from socially positive measures
such as education, health and welfare. This too posed a threat in the longer term to
internal stability and security.
Whilst this growth in imprisonment is particularly marked in some
countries of the world, crime is a worldwide problem and there are dangers that the resort
to large scale imprisonment as a solution could also seem attractive to developing
countries which are especially ill-placed to use their scarce resources in such an
unproductive way.
The seminar also considered other options and hoped that there would be
a movement to develop other ways of dealing with crime including civil rather than
criminal solutions.
At the seminar it was agreed that work should be done to bring to the
attention of world opinion the dangers inherent in this growth for the future of security
and democracy and explore possible methods of reversing it.
Those States not currently taking the incarceration path should be
encouraged to continue to develop different policies.
The task
Incarcerating ever greater numbers of a State’s citizens is widely
seen as a proper response to rising crime, rising fear of crime, and general insecurity.
However, it is in no way an adequate response to crime, and when the numbers incarcerated
become very large, the level of incarceration itself becomes a threat to the internal
security of states, civil society, human rights and democracy. The suggested program to be
established by the University of Oslo and PRI would:
- collect the basic facts about prison growth
- develop the thinking as to why it constitutes such a threat
- systematize the thinking about alternative ways
- make contact with all those individuals and organizations worldwide that would be
interested in considering and analysing these arguments
- enlist the support of groups interested in taking action in their arena to publicize the
dangers and the need to seek an alternative path.
The project would seek to encourage States to keep to alternative
policies and it would publicize successes in doing so.
The Programme
The programme would need to be established for a minimum of three years in the first
instance. It would be a joint venture of Penal Reform International (PRI) and the
University of Oslo Institute of Criminology. The work could be done at the Secretariat of PRI and be guided by a Steering Committee chaired by Professor
Nils Christie. Other members of the Steering Committee could be chosen after consultation.
The employment of those carrying out the work would be the responsibility of PRI.
Method of work
The project could:
- set up a Prison Numbers Watchdog function which would collect information on the use of
prison in the world from the best-informed and most accurate sources and publish a regular
bulletin including also successes in reducing incarceration
- work with the world’s leading thinkers in the field to develop material setting out
the thinking as to the threat posed to societies by high levels of incarceration
- seek to involve in the discussion thinkers from fields not usually associated with penal
and criminal matters, such as environmentalists, peace specialists, those concerned with
discrimination and racism
- create a worldwide database of individuals and organisations likely to be interested in
learning about and analysing the subject
- work with intergovernmental organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the United
Nations (PRI has consultative status with both
organizations), the African Commission (where PRI has
observer status), the OSCE (where PRI has good contacts),
the Organization of America States and the European Parliament, to raise awareness and get
the subject considered and alternatives aired.
- work with sympathetic and well-informed people in the media to develop features and
programs on the subject and to consider the role of the media in promoting the fear that
legitimizes high levels of incarceration.
Timetable
A possible way of proceeding is set out below, but these ideas would need to be adapted
in the light of developments and opportunities at the time and talking into account the
advice of the Steering Committee.
Year One — 1996
- establish the project by appointing staff, setting up the Steering Committee,
establishing the office
- hold two meetings of the Steering Committee
- set up the Prison Watshdog function and publish three bulletins
- set up the database of potential supporters
- start work on developing the arguments and produce two papers
- work with sympathetic Governments at the OSCE to promote a discussion, seminar and other
activities about the threat to internal security posed by the enormous growth in the use
of imprisonment
- start work on campaigning with the European Parliament
- start work on contacting sympathetic people in the media
Year Two — 1997
- continue with the program set out above
- aim to produce one major publication on the growth in prison use and the implications
and seek worldwide publicity for it
- hold an event at least two of the following: the European Parliament, the Council of
Europe, the OSCE, the United Nations
Year Three — 1998
- review the progress of the program and make plans accordingly
- aim to produce one major publication on Beyond Prison: A Better Way for a New Century
- aim to hold events at another two inter-governmental organizations
- aim to publish a Declaration signed by many eminent persons calling for a new approach
for a new millennium
Costs
The costs will depend on the amount and level of work undertaken.
Summary
Penal Reform International (PRI) and the
University of Oslo Institute of Criminology wish to establish a programme of activities
aimed at reducing the use of imprisonment throughout the world by alerting world opinion
to the facts of the growing use of imprisonment, the dangers of following such a course
and the merits of seeking alternative responses.
The program would be assisted by a Steering Committee chaired by
Professor Nils Christie.
Elements of the program might include:
- setting up a Prison Numbers Watchdog
- developing the thinking on the problem of the growing use of imprisonment and producing
papers
- establishing a worldwide database of supporting individuals and organizations
- disseminating information to these individuals and organizations
- working with States to gain their support in international bodies
- working with inter-governmental organizations to get this matter on their agenda
- developing a media strategy
The project would publish materials in English, French, Spanish and
Russian as appropriate.
Vivien Stern, Secretary-General Penal Reform International
16 November 1995
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Background
to the project