NCJ Number
60846
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 38-42
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE FRIENDS OUTSIDE PROGRAM TO KEEP PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER, INITIATED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF., IS DESCRIBED, AND SERVICES OFFERED TO INMATES AND INMATE SPOUSES AND CHILDREN ARE NOTED.
Abstract
THE FRIENDS OUTSIDE SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION, FOUNDED AS A PRIVATE VENTURE IN 1954, IS THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION HELPING PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE COUNTRY. IT HAS 18 CHAPTERS IN CALIFORNIA THAT PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FAMILY SUPPORT AND COUNSELING, IN-PRISON THERAPY AND REENTRY PREPARATION, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN OF PRISONERS, AND A SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM OF TRANSPORTATION TO STATE INSTITUTIONS. IT WAS REALIZED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM THAT MOST STATE PRISONS IN CALIFORNIA ARE FAR FROM POPULATION CENTERS. WHILE 55 PERCENT OF STATE PRISONERS COME FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF CALIFORNIA, MOST ARE INCARCERATED IN NORTHERN INSTITUTIONS. RECOGNIZING THAT HOUSEHOLDS ARE DEVASTATED BY PRESSURES OF INCARCERATION, FRIENDS OUTSIDE HAS DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. MOST CITIES ARE CONNECTED BY BUS TO EVERY STATE INSTITUTION, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER HAS RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO PURCHASE A 15-SEAT VAN, AND THE PROGRAM FUNDS AIRLINE TRIPS TO PRISON IN DISTANT PARTS OF THE STATE. WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON FUNDING. THE COMBINED BUDGET FOR PROGRAM CHAPTERS IS $750,000. THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL EVENTS IN THE 1960'S ON THE FRIENDS OUTSIDE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED, NOTING THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS SOMETIMES CONFUSED WITH RADICALS, AND SUBSEQUENT ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROGRAM BY PRISON OFFICIALS AND SUPPORT OF LEAA FOR THE CONCEPT OF PRISON REPRESENTATIVES ARE DEMONSTRATED. (DEP)