NCJ Number
13954
Date Published
1974
Length
24 pages
Annotation
AVAILABLE PROVISIONS FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO RELEASED PRISONERS AND THE ADVERSE EFFECT SUCH SMALL RESOURCES MAY HAVE ON THESE PERSONS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CITES THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF RECIDIVISM IN RELEASED PRISONERS AND NOTES THAT MANY FORMER CRIMINALS RETURN TO CRIME WHEN FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED. HE FURTHER STATES THAT MOST PRISONERS ARE POOR AT THE TIME OF ARREST AND ARE LATER RELEASED IN THE SAME FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE TO THESE MEN ARE EXAMINED. A SMALL SUM GIVEN ON RELEASE (GATE MONEY), MONEY FOR CLOTHES OR TRANSPORT, EARNINGS IN PRISON, SAVINGS, WORK RELEASE EARNINGS, STATE WELFARE, AND LOANS ARE ALL FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE IN MOST CASES. EACH LEAVES THE RELEASED PRISONER VERY LITTLE MONEY TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE. HE NOTES THAT THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE INMATES IN PRISON IS QUITE HIGH AND SUGGESTS THAT A BETTER USE OF FUNDS IS TO DEVELOP WAYS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM. HE CITES A PROJECT STUDYING THE RELATION OF FINANCIAL AID FOR RELEASED PRISONERS TO THE REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM. EXTENSIVE TABLES OF INMATE'S SOURCES OF INCOME BY STATE ARE ALSO PROVIDED.