Theoretical perspectives on correctional structure, evaluation, and change

Abstract

Despite the criticisms of some sociologists that the Technical/Rational Model is too one-dimensional to capture the complexity of a social institution, scholars studying, evaluating, and recommending change in correctional organizations have historically utilized this perspective. This model ignores the equal, if not overwhelming, significance of culture and ideology in the evolution, operation, structure, resistance to change, and persistence of correctional organizations. Ignoring the cultural or ideological aspects of corrections confines our understanding to instrumental "action" related activities and results. This narrowly limits both our understanding of corrections as a "social institution" with a variety of functions in society and our ability to generate change in the organization so that it evolves with the society. This has resulted in two problems: 1) consistently negative instrumental evaluations of the organization and 2) resignation leading to reckless and unsuccessful change. Scholars in the sociology of punishment have enhanced our understanding of punishment's place and development in society, repeatedly warning that culture and ideology are not secondary to instrumental action, that social institutions both create and reaffirm culture and ideology. This article offers an alternative model for understanding correctional organizations which incorporates culture and ideology and may provide more useful evaluations for policy decisions on change in corrections. © IUP.