TREATMENT OF LIFE SENTENCE PRISIONORS
A. General considerations
The above-mentioned research has shown that life imprisonment may cause desocialization and institutionalization. Penal authorities who recognize that such effects are contrary to the purposes of imprisonment may wish to consider structured programmes that alleviate some of the more detrimental results of long-term incarceration. The structured programmes could be treatment- oriented.
The value of treatment programmes in prisons has been recognized by the international community since 1955, when the First Congress adopted the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. According to rules 65 and 66, treatment should encourage the self-respect of prisoners and develop their sense of responsibility, using all appropriate means, including ... education, vocational guidance and training, social casework, employment counselling, physical development and strengthening of moral character, in accordance with the individual needs of each prisoner". Purposeful treatment thus has several objectives and divergent forms. Treatment programmes may be educational, vocational or recreational in nature; or there may be specialized programmes dealing with issues of
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This has detrimental effects, not only for the prisoner, but also for prison authorities in that a situation of "them" and "us" often develops. Behavioural treatment programmes can be the required motivation in an inmate's positive adjustment, both psychologically and sociologically, to the prison environment. * Although programmes should not be aimed at changing behaviour itself, a variable that can never really be evaluated, they may open a more positive dialogue between staff and prisoner, thereby establishing a sound foundation for the personal development of prisoners serving life