NCJ Number
56522
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
STANDARDS AND ACCREDITATION ARE VIEWED AS WAYS IN WHICH COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL CAN WITHSTAND CITIZEN SCRUTINY AND ASSURE THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.
Abstract
FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ARE A TREND TOWARD MORE PUNITIVE MEASURES, MORE RESTRICTIVE USE OF PROBATION, THE ABOLITION OF PAROLE, MANDATORY SENTENCING, AND AN INCREASING HOSTILITIY TOWARD COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CENTERS OF ALL TYPES. THE NET EFFECT IS TO PLACE ENORMOUS PRESSURES ON INSTITUTIONS WHICH WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR AND CANNOT ACOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO THEM BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND NOT BEING RELEASED FROM THEM BY THE PAROLE SYSTEM. TO ASSURE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PERSONS WHO ARE INACARCERATED, COURTS HAVE INTERVENED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND HAVE FOUND MANY INSTITUTIONS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THOSE RIGHTS. IN TERMS OF THE NEEDS OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS, FOUR OPTIONS DEALING WITH CONFINMENT ARE IDENTIFIED: (1) PROVIDE FOR PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH ONLY WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN EXISTING PRISON CONDITIONS; (2) PROVIDE FOR PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH AND CONTINUE THE EXISTING BUREAU POLICY OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CONFINMENT; (3) REDUCE THE EMPHASIS ON CONVENTIONAL IMPRISONMENT BY STRESSING-BASED PROGRAMS (HALFWAY HOUSES); AND (4) INCREASE THE EMPHASIS ON THE USE OF CONVENTIONAL IMPRISONMENT, REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF PRISON CAPACITY. IT IS CONTENDED THAT TRENDS IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM MUST BE REVERSED. PART OF THE REVERSAL PROCESS WILL REQUIRE THAT COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL CENTERS CONTINUE TO GROW AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF BOTH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. SOME DEVICE FOR MEASURING QUALITY AS WELL AS QUANTITY OF SERVICES IS NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS. ACCREDITATION, AS SUCH A DEVICE, ASSUMES THE EXISTENCE OF OBJECTIVE AND QUANTIFIABLE OR MEASURABLE STANDARDS. STANDARDS ARE MINIMALY ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF PRACTICE IN A GIVEN FIELD. THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR CORRECTIONS HAS OVER 150 SOURCE DOCUMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED TO DEVELOP STANDARDS. STANDARDS HAVE BEEN PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSION IN THE AREAS OF ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITIES, ADULT COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE FIELD SERVICES, AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. STANDARDS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 1978 ADDRESS YOUTH PROBATION AND PAROLE FIELD SERVICES, YOUTH DETENTION CENTERS, YOUTH TRAINING SCHOOLS, AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS. THE PROCESS OF ACCREDITATION IS DETAILED IN RELATION TO THREE PHASES: CORRESPONDENT STATUS, AGENCY HAS APPLIED FOR ACCREDITATION; CANDIDATE STATUS, AGENCY PREPARES FOR A VISITING CONSULTANT AUDIT; AND ACCREDITATION STATUS, VISITING CONSULTANT IS PRESENT WHEN A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REVIEWS THE CONSULTANT REPORT. (DEP)