Dorośli przestępcy traktowani jak dzieci versus zmiana w traktowaniu osadzonych w instytucji penitencjarnej

Abstract

The article concerns the analysis of situation of people sentenced to imprisonment and detained in penitentiary unit. It especially concentrates on resocialization process and its results against the effects of isolation and changes in maturity, responsibility and social competences of the convicted. As a result of these analysis a new method of treatment of the convicted as well as tasks and functions for penitentiary personnel was proposed. Penitentiary personnel instead of educating and taking care of the convicted should act as a counselor, possibly therapist, curator and manager of the institution. Otherwise the stay in prison preserves a demanding attitude, lack of habit of making any effort, work or self-discipline. ‘There is no resocialization’ as the convicted repeatedly claim, and it is indeed reflected in practice. It is worth mentioning the message of Maria Grzegorzewska and applying it to the convicted: ‘there is no criminal – there is a human being’. The criminals who are treated as immature people, incapable of taking responsibility for their lives and decisions after a few years spent in a penitentiary unit behave rather like children not adults. The convicted are adult people and should be treated in this way to be able to carry out their adult roles.