NCJ Number
116789
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 51 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1989) Pages: 38-39
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
California recently enacted a law that permits local government agencies to enter into long-term agreements with the State to construct and operate small, local custody centers for parole violators and other minimum-security State inmates and wards. The city of Coalinga, Calif., is developing what it believes will be a model institution of this type.
Abstract
Finance, construction, and operation costs of the centers will be borne by the State through payments to the local agency at agreed-upon rates per resident per day. Coalinga, a small community located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is close to the State prison at Avenal, making it an ideal location for a return-to-custody center (RTC). The State can place parole violators in local custody, freeing beds that are no longer needed for short-term placement in the prison system. Coalinga will be able to make maximum use of existing medical, food, and other support services at Avenal. The RTC will not only offer a wide variety of educational and vocational courses, but will also emphasize personal accountability. Generally, the design for the RTC is similar to minimum and medium custody housing units. This article describes the facility design in detail.