NCJ Number
65072
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 147-158
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE FAILURE OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MEETING EX-INMATE NEEDS IS ANALYZED, AND A NEW JERSEY OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR EX-INMATES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RARELY HELP THE EX-INMATE, BECAUSE MOST PERSONNEL PERFORMING SUCH SERVICES ARE NEITHER TRAINED NOR MOTIVATED TO DEAL WITH THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF EX-INMATES. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE COUNSELING SERVICES FOR EX-OFFENDERS, MERCER COUNTY, N.J., ESTABLISHED THE COMMUNITY READJUSTMENT PROGRAM (CRP) IN 1976. CRP'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE FREE OUTPATIENT PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WAITING TIME. PRIOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND RESIDENCE IN MERCER COUNTY ARE THE REQUIRMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE IN THE PROGRAM. CHRONICALLY' PSYCHOTIC OFFENDERS ARE REFERRED FROM THE PROGRAM TO MORE INTENSIVE SERVICES. COUNSELING IS GEARED TO THE PARTICULAR SITUATIONAL PROBLEMS OF EACH CLIENT. THE CLIENT IS GUIDED IN SETTING GOALS AND ADOPTING BEHAVIOR DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS PERCEIVED AS TROUBLESOME BY THE CLIENT. WHERE APPROPRIATE, CLIENTS ARE REFERRED TO SPECIALIZED COMMUNITY SERVICES. OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD, APPROXIMATELY 300 EX-OFFENDERS WERE REFERRED TO CRP AND HAD INITIAL MEETINGS WITH A STAFF MEMBER. OF THAT GROUP, 154 RETURNED TO COMPLETE THE INTAKE PROCESS. A FORMAL EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCTED, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF MEASURING MEANINGFUL CRITERIA OF SUCCESS. PROGRESS IS SLOW AND ERRATIC WITH THE CLIENTS, AND THERAPISTS ARE ADVISED TO SET LIMITED GOALS AND REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS FOR CLIENT IMPROVEMENT. CLIENT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND NEEDS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)