NCJ Number
56727
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
SOME ILLUSIONS AND FALLACIES ABOUT COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND A STRATEGY FOR MAKING SUCH PROGRAMS WORK IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
IT IS AN ILLUSION THAT COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, PROVIDE ADEQUATE CARE. EXISTING PROGRAMS SERVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF CLIENTS, AND OFTEN PROVIDE INFERIOR SERVICE. THE STAFF OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FREQUENTLY BELIEVE, FALLACIOUSLY, THAT SUCH PROGRAMS SHOULD ADVOCATE CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PATTERNS AND ATTITUDES RATHER THAN HELP CLIENTS TO FUNCTION REALISTICALLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS IT IS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS DEAL WITH CLIENTS IN A FASHION DESIGNED TO CHANGE THEIR PATTERNS OF FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THIS REQUIRES THAT PROGRAMS HAVE CLEARLY-DEFINED, CONSTRUCTIVE STANDARDS TO WHICH CLIENTS MUST CONFORM. IN ADDITION, PROGRAMS SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OFFENDERS WHICH REQUIRE THAT THEY MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE IN THE PROGRAM. ANOTHER PREVALENT ILLUSION SURROUNDING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IS THAT THEIR EXISTENCE IMPLIES COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THEM. IT IS MORE REALISTIC TO ASSUME A GENERAL MISTRUST OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND AN ANXIETY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY FROM THE AVERAGE CITIZEN. COMMUNITY SUPPORT CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY AGGRESSIVE ACTION ON THE PART OF PROGRAM STAFF. THE WORK OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSE, AN EX-OFFENDER COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAM DIRECTED BY THE AUTHOR IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, IS DESCRIBED. THE PROGRAM IS A UNION OF THREE FORMERLY SEPARATE PROGRAMS--A PRERELEASE PROGRAM, A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR SEX OFFENDERS, AND A BLACK OFFENDER PROGRAM. THE THREE PROGRAMS HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR SEPARATE IDENTITIES WHILE COOPERATING IN APPROPRIATE AREAS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES IS AN IMPORTANT FOCUS. (RCB)