COLORADO - HALFWAY HOUSES - A THREE MONTH STUDY FOCUSING ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF HALFWAY HOUSES IN THE STATE OF COLORADO

• NCJ Number: 50901
• Author(s): V B LOHF
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 129 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES EXISTING HALFWAY HOUSE PROGRAMS IN COLORADO, RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL PROGRAMS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE RESULTS OF EVALUATION OF GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED HOUSES.

Abstract

THE BACKGROUND SECTION OF THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HALFWAY HOUSES, THEN FOCUSES ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HALFWAY HOUSE MOVEMENT IN COLORADO. TO EVALUATE THESE PROGRAMS A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS MAILED TO ALL 19 DIRECTORS OF HALFWAY HOUSES UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ONSITE VISITS WERE MADE. IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL 19 HOUSES ARE OPERATED BY CITY OR COUNTY AGENCIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. NEARLY ALL SERVE ADULT MALE OFFENDERS AND HAVE SOME SORT OF WORK-ORIENTED PROGRAM. A FEW BEDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS, BUT THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM IS UNDERUTILIZED. (JUVENILE FACILITIES ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS STUDY.) A VARIETY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND TREATMENT APPROACHES WERE FOUND TO EXIST. THE SITE VISITS SHOWED THAT SMALLER FACILITIES ARE BEING CONSOLIDATED, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CONCENTRATING ON LARGER PROGRAMS SERVING FROM 20 TO 25 OFFENDERS. THE LOCAL OFFICIALS STATED THAT THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEMS CONCERN FACILITIES AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE. SITE VISITS CONFIRMED THAT PLUMBING, WIRING, AND MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS ARE SERIOUS IN SOME CASES. EACH AGENCY HAS ITS OWN RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND THERE IS NO FOCAL POINT FOR LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION OF HALFWAY HOUSES. THIS RESULTS IN DUPLICATION AND WASTED EFFORT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WORK ACTIVELY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP GOOD SYSTEMS PLANNING AND TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF HALFWAY HOUSES. EVALUATION RESULTS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH PROGRAM, AND SPECIAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE NOTED. THE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS WERE SHOWN TO BE COST-EFFECTIVE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, A LIST OF COLORADO HALFWAY HOUSES, A COPY OF THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT, A COMPARISON CHART OF HALFWAY HOUSE SERVICES, AND OTHER STUDY RELATED MATERIALS ARE APPENDED. (GLR)