NCJ Number
48688
Journal
COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE JOURNAL Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER/JANUARY 1976-1977) Pages: 46-48
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A NATIONALLY SPONSORED PROGRAM, OFFENDER ASSISTANCE THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGES, HAS SHOWN THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN SERVE AS EFFECTIVE RESOURCE CENTERS FOR THE DIVERSION OF OFFENDER-STUDENTS.
Abstract
THE PLANNING PHASE OF THE PROJECT -- AUGUST 1974 TO FEBRUARY 1975 -- INVOLVED LITERATURE SEARCHES, SITE SELECTION, AND THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THREE URBAN SITES WERE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE: THE JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA JUNIOR COLLEGE; CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CHARLOTTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA; AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER, COLORADO. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO: (1) PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND HUMAN SERVICES ASSISTANCE TO OFFENDER-STUDENTS; (2) DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE COLLEGES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES; AND (3) DEVELOP A PROGRAM WHICH COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER COLLEGES. THE PROGRAM WAS TARGETED FOR FIRST-TIME FELONS WHO WERE ON PROBATION OR ABOUT TO BE PLACED ON PROBATION. OF THE TOTAL OF 712 OFFENDERS SERVED BY THE 3 PROGRAMS, 445 WERE TARGET OFFENDERS. THE AVERAGE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING NATIONAL OFFICE COSTS, WERE $292.13 PER OFFENDER FOR THE TOTAL PARTICIPANT GROUP AND $467.41 PER OFFENDER FOR THE TARGET GROUP. PROJECT OBJECTIVES FOR THE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED IMPROVED SELF-PERCEPTION, EMPLOYABILITY, SKILLS, AND COPING ABILITY. IT WAS FELT THAT THE COLLEGE MILIEU, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW ASSOCIATIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS, THE GENERAL ACCEPTANCE WITHIN THE COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT OF DIVERGENT OPINIONS AND LIFE STYLES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER NEW PATHS OF ACHIEVEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY WOULD ALL ASSIST THE OFFENDER-STUDENTS IN AVOIDING THE KINDS OF BEHAVIOR WHICH HAD LED TO THEIR COURT APPEARENCES. OF THE FIRST-TIME CONVICTED FELONS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, ONLY 6.1 PERCENT WERE CHARGED WITH A NEW OFFENSE. THIS FIGURE COMPARES QUITE FAVORABLY WITH THE 37-PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE FOUND IN A STUDY OF SIMILAR OFFENDERS. ALL THREE DEMONSTRATION COLLEGES PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR PROGRAM EFFORTS. FINAL PROJECT EVALUATIONS UNDERSCORED THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT AND PERMITTED REFINEMENT FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS. (JAP)