Supporting the Restoration of Civil Authority: The Business of Prisons
Abstract
A key requirement of military forces following major hostilities is to reestablish security. Lasting security can only be achieved with the restoration of civil authority, the reestablishment of the rule of law, and the institutions that uphold the rule of law. The three primary institutions that uphold the rule of law are the police, judiciary, and penal system. To restore a failed or failing penal system, the intervening force needs corrections (i.e., prison) specialists, managers, and engineers to expand prison capacity, conduct cadre recruitment and training, provide system oversight and put into place safeguards that ensure adherence to international standards of confinement and corrections, and ensure the timely transition to the host nation government. Though such experts exist in the civilian sector, they are not easily identified, recruited, and deployed to assume control from the intervening military force in a timely manner. The author argues that the Department of Defense (DoD) should develop the capability to reestablish or improve a host nation's penal system as part of stability operations and support operations, and provides recommendations to that end.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 26, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA435900
Entities
People
- Mark S. Inch
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College