NCJ Number
51267
Date Published
1976
Length
88 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE MARYLAND DIVISION OF CORRECTION TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF STATE USE INDUSTRIES (SUI) AND TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THESE INDUSTRIES.
Abstract
ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR SUI MANDATES THE USE OF INMATE LABOR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS TO BE SOLD TO THE STATE AND ITS SUBDIVISIONS; PUBLIC AND QUASIPUBLIC INSTITUTIONS; AND ANY RELIGIOUS, CIVIC, CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, OR FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION. THE LAW PROHIBITS THE RESALE OF PRODUCTS AND REGULATES THE PRICE RANGE. BECAUSE THE SUI PROGRAM COMES UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIVISION OF CORRECTION AS A WHOLE AND OPERATES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE WARDEN AT EACH INSTITUTION, REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH THE DIVISION AND INSTITUTIONS WERE SURVEYED. ONCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DIVISION ARE CONFINEMENT, REHABILITATION, AND REINTEGRATION AND THAT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF SUI ARE SKILLS TRAINING, REVENUE GENERATION, AND THE OCCUPATION OF INMATES' TIME, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECT OF DIVISION OPERATING PROCEDURES ON THE SUI PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. A REALISTIC GOAL FOR SUI IS TO PROVIDE INMATE TRAINING THAT LEADS TO REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION. FOR TRAINING TO BE PROVIDED ON A FINANCIAL BREAK-EVEN BASIS, THE FOLLOWING ISSUES MUST BE CONSIDERED: INMATE FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM, LINKAGES AMONG DIVISION PROGRAMS, THE IMAGE OF SUI WITHIN THE DIVISION, THE SUI ACCUMULATED DEFICIT, OUTMODED SHOP OPERATIONS, INMATE PRODUCTIVITY, MARKETING AND SALE OF SUI PRODUCTS, SUI STAFFING AND ORGANIZATION, AND UNCONVENTIONAL SUI ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES. A CORE PROGRAM MODEL IS DEVELOPED FOR REORGANIZING SUI, BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT A CENTRALIZED INMATE ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM PLANNING SYSTEM WILL BE INSTITUTED BY THE DIVISION. THE KEY ELEMENT IN THE MODEL IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PLAN, WORKED OUT WITH EACH INMATE AND BASED ON INMATE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS, LENGTH OF STAY, AND LEVEL OF SECURITY RISK. AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE MODEL IS PRESENTED THAT INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING SUI THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM LINKAGES, BETTER MANAGEMENT, AND MODEST ADDITIONS (STAFF, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES). ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF SUI ARE DISCUSSED. (DEP)