NCJ Number
19439
Date Published
1969
Length
65 pages
Annotation
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PROVIDING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (VR) SERVICES TO FEMALE OFFENDERS SUPERVISED BY THE U.S. PROBATION OFFICE.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE RESEARCH WAS UPON THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF THE FEMALE OFFENDER. BOTH INTENSIVE TREATMENT AND CONTROL GROUPS WERE RANDOMLY CHOSEN. FEMALE OFFENDERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT RANGED IN AGE FROM 16 TO 55 AND THEIR OFFENSES VARIED FROM POSTAL THEFT AND CHECK FORGERY TO NARCOTICS PEDDLING AND BANK ROBBERY. PROBLEM/ NEED AREAS IDENTIFIED INCLUDED MEDICAL ATTENTION, COUNSELING, TANGIBLE NEEDS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INCREASED SOCIALIZATION, AND HELP TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. CHARACTERISTIC SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HANDICAPS OF THE OFFENDER POPULATION DOCUMENTED INCLUDED DEALING WITH THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HANDICAPS OF THE FEMALE OFFENDER BURDENED WITH DEPENDENTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD DEPRIVED OF DAY-CARE SERVICES, ASSISTING THE UNDER-EMPLOYED WOMEN WHOSE CRIMINAL RECORD DENIES ACCESS TO CERTAIN POSITIONS: OR TRAINING THE UNSKILLED BUT POTENTIALLY PROMISING FEMALE OFFENDER WHOSE VOCATIONAL HANDICAP IS MADE TO ORDER FOR VR AGENCY SERVICES, ARE AMONG THE CASE PROBLEMS DEALT WITH. STUDY RESULTS INDICATED THAT VR SERVICES ARE NEEDED BY PUBLIC OFFENDERS, ALTHOUGH WAYS MUST BE FOUND THROUGH FURTHER RESEARCH PROGRAM DESIGN AND A DIFFERENTIAL MEANS OF SERVICE DELIVERY TO REACH THOSE WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FOR PROJECT, E.G. THE NARCOTICS OFFENDER. SUCH MEANS COULD INCLUDE THE HALF-WAY HOUSE, THE DAY TIME CENTER AND PRE-SENTENCE VOCATIONAL PLANNING. THE TWO SPONSORING AGENCIES - THE U.S. PROBATION OFFICE IN CHICAGO AND THE ILLINOIS VR AGENCY BELIEVE THAT VR AGENCY SERVICES ARE NEEDED IN CORRECTIONAL REHABILITATION. THE PROJECT WAS IN EFFECT A MULTI-SERVICE AGENCY SERVING A SPECIFIC POPULATION OF CLIENTS WITH DELIVERY OF SERVICE OF BOTH AGENCIES ENHANCED BY THE COPPERATIVE EFFORT IN PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION. (THIS PROJECT WAS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN EIGHT CITIES NATIONWIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE USE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY SERVICES IN CORRECTIONAL REHABILITATION. THE OTHER CITIES INCLUDED WERE ATLANTA, PITTSBURGH, DENVER, SAN ANTONIO, SEATTLE, TAMPA, AND SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.) (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)