Intensive Incarceration Programs Offer Hope of Rehabilitation to a Fortunate Few: Orleans Parish Prison Does an "About Face"

Abstract

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it re-examines the commonly espoused rationale for incarceration in the United States in light of the realities of life behind bars. Second, it focuses on an emerging type of prison rehabilitation program, referred to as intensive incarceration, which is theoretically likely to realize its lofty goal of inmate rehabilitation. Specifically, the author recounts his observation of one intensive incarceration program in the Orleans Parish Prison System, and analyzes the likelihood of its success in terms of Labeling Theory and Self-Concept Theory.