NCJ Number
11493
Journal
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Volume: 42 Issue: 5 Dated: (OCTOBER 1972) Pages: 784-791
Date Published
1972
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE DELIVERY COORDINATION AND FAMILY CONTACT IN PRERELEASE PLANNING, ILLUSTRATED BY THE COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PROJECT AT JESSUP, MARYLAND.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT IS FAMILY FOCUSED, VOLUNTARY, AND BUILDS PREPARATION FOR RELEASE AROUND NORMAL PRISON ROUTINE. SERVICES ARE DEVELOPED BY PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS AND STRENGTHS OF THE OFFENDER AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH WHOM HE HAS SIGNIFICANT INTERACTION. SOCIAL WORK TECHNIQUES ARE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS, BRIEF COUNSELING, AND PREPARATION FOR REFERRAL TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY AGENCIES. SOCIODRAMA IS ALSO INCORPORATED INTO THE TREATMENT PROGRAM. THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF PRISON, AND THE LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG INSTITUTIONAL AGENCIES AND PERSONNEL. ONE CRITICAL PROGRAM QUESTION CONCERNS THE EXTENT AND LENGTH OF INSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED RECIPROCAL RELATIONS WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES. FEW OF THE MEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE RETURNED TO THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. THIS WOULD SUGGEST SOME SUCCESS IN CORRECTIONAL, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND FAMILY SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INTO A PRERELEASE PROGRAM.