NCJ Number
66417
Date Published
1978
Length
62 pages
Annotation
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR OFFENDERS AND EX-OFFENDERS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF THE NETHERLANDS, ARE EXPERIENCING AN UNMANAGEABLE INCREASE IN PRISON POPULATIONS ALONG WITH A RISE IN CRIME, THERE IS APPARENTLY GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT CORRECTIONS SHOULD DEVELOP IN THE DIRECTION OF REDUCED INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION OF OFFENDERS. EXPANDED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INVOLVING CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS FOR A VARIETY OF CRUCIAL OFFENDER REHABILITATION SERVICES. IF RECIDIVISM IS TO BE REDUCED, OFFENDERS MUST LEARN HOW TO LIVE AND SURVIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT RESORTING TO CRIME. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE WHEN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF EXERTS AN EFFORT TO HELP OFFENDERS AND EX-OFFENDERS ADJUST TO NORMATIVE COMMUNITY LIFE. CITIZENS ARE NEEDED AS VOLUNTEERS TO AID IN OPERATING PROGRAMS OF HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN PROGRAMS USE CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS IN ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OFFENDERS AND EX-OFFENDERS TO GUIDE THEM IN DEVELOPING PATTERNS OF SUCCESSFUL LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITIES HAVE DEVLOPED HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EX-OFFENDERS SHELTER UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO DEVELOP POSITIVE PATTERNS OF MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING. EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AIM AT INVOLVING EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS IN THE TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT OF EX-OFFENDERS. GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATELY SPONSORED COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OFFENDERS WHO FAILED TO ACQUIRE AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION IN THEIR YOUNGER YEARS. EVERY FACET OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM--POLICE, COURTS, CORRECTION--MUST DEVOTE ITSELF TO INVOLVING CITIZENS IN A COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR SO AS TO REMEDY RATHER THAN REINFORCE SUCH BEHAVIOR. THE APPENDIX LISTS THE PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE. (RCB)