A New Partnership in Corrections

This last year has been one of the most tempestuous in the history of American corrections. The uproar really didn't start with Attica. It's been brewing for a long time. But Attica touched it off.

Since then we have had recurrent disorders and unrest accompanied by wide public debate. Newspapers and periodicals nowadays often include articles and editorials on the shortcomings of corrections. The courts, legislative committees, church groups, chambers of commerce, and similar community organizations have joined in. Last December at the National Conference on Corrections called by President Nixon, the message was loud and clear.

The country expects change and it expects action to bring about that change. To put it bluntly, the field of corrections is experiencing a crisis in public confidence, and the crisis shows no sign of abating. Unlike times past we can't expect to handle the problem by letting it wear itself out. The question we have to face is: What are we going to do ourselves to restore confidence in our corrections system?

First, we must change our attitudes toward the courts. Second, we must change our attitudes toward lawyers. Third, we have to change our attitude toward the media—the press, radio, and television. Fourth, we must take a different attitude toward the public.

Fifth, we must take a different attitude toward our own field. A final word, let's take a different attitude toward our own organization, the American Correctional Association.