NCJ Number
122992
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1990) Pages: 216,218-219
Editor(s)
H Mohn
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Montgomery County Pre-Release Center is a halfway house for low-risk offenders in a suburban county, providing services designed to reduce recidivism among residents.
Abstract
There are no bars on the windows, no fences around the building, and no officers at the door. As many as 3 percent of the residents escape, and approximately 20 percent are returned to jail or prison before completing the program, often for using drugs or alcohol. The center admits those serving short sentences; hardcore offenders are screened out. Those admitted to the center have shown signs of wanting to work on their problems. Most inmates are assigned to the center for 120 days and are required to hold jobs outside the facility. They pay 20 percent of their salaries to help run the halfway house. The center provides drug and alcohol treatment as well as family counseling. Residents are encouraged to take furloughs to visit friends and relatives, so they can learn to handle increasing amounts of freedom. Some inmates perform community service and others pay a portion of their earnings as restitution for their crimes.