| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this work is to discuss the attitude of various authors towards imprisonment, to analyze documents and statistical data concerning the imprisonment and to find out the opinion of experts who participated in qualitative survey about imprisonment realization in Lithuania and other problems concerning this issue. In the first part of this work there is the analysis and discussion about attitudes of Norwegian criminologist N. Christie, French philosopher and sociologist M. Foucault, Netherlands scientists H. Bianchi and L. Hulsman, British scientist S. Cohen and Lithuanian scientists G. Švedas, G. Sakalauskas, A. Gavėnaitė towards the penalty system, imprisonment and its realization. The confinement institutions working in Lithuania are introduced. Documents and statistical data concerning imprisonment realization in Lithuania are analyzed. In the second part of this work the results of self-dependent made qualitative survey „The Critical Analysis of Imprisonment in Lithuania“ are discussed that should help to find out the opinion of experts about imprisonment realization in Lithuania and the analysis of these results is presented. Structured interview method was chosen to do an empirical survey. The survey sample was done applying the principles of „snowball“. Throughout this survey 8 interviews with experts who work in the sphere of imprisonment were taken. The results of this survey showed that experts think imprisonment is necessary, however the degree of application of this punishment is too high in Lithuania at the moment. Experts note that imprisonment should by applied as an extreme force mean of state if the aim of punishment was not satisfied by other alternative means of punishment provided in laws. It is worth to highlight that long terms of imprisonment imposition is one of the reason why Lithuania is one of leader in Western Europe according the number of prisoners. In experts opinion there is an attempt to punish, give retribution and prevent crime in Lithuania with punishment of imprisonment. It is noted that more attention should be drawn to the aim of resocialization, because nowadays its realization is very weak. Talking about confinement institutions in Lithuania, experts highlight that conditions are not satisfying and they should be improved and it is noticed that more attention had been paid to this problem before Lithuania joined to Europe Union. Throughout the document analysis an evaluation of finances needed for ensuring the running of penal system was estimated, furthermore, it is noticed that in Lithuania there is not only an attempt to control people that endanger social stability but also there is an endeavor for industrial goals by the means of crime control and imprisonment. |
