NCJ Number
44868
Date Published
1977
Length
347 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS PROGRAM ESTABLISHING PRERELEASE PREPARATORY CENTERS IS EVALUATED FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1976 TO 1977.
Abstract
IN 1969, THE PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF CORRECTION INITIATED A COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED INMATES NEARING PAROLE RELEASE. OFFENDERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A HALFWAY HOUSE PLACEMENT IF THEY HAVE SERVED ONE HALF OF THEIR MINIMUM SENTENCE AND AT LEAST NINE MONTHS IN AN INSTITUTION. FIFTEEN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN NINE PENNSYLVANIA CITIES. THE EVALUATION CONCENTRATED ON THE PROJECT'S THREE MAIN PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES: (1) REDUCING REINCARCERATION; (2) PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL SERVICES TO OFFENDERS; AND (3) STANDARDIZING AND UNIFYING THE PROGRAM AND CENTRALIZING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION. REDUCTION IN INCARCERATION WAS EVALUATED BY COMPARING THE PAROLE LACKS IS AN ADEQUATE PSYCHOLOGICAL BASE -- A RESEARCHABLE A 1-YEAR PERIOD WITH THE PAROLE PERFORMANCE OF 245 OFFENDERS PAROLED DIRECTLY FROM INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE SAME PERIOD. THE GROUPS WERE DEMOGRAPHICALLY SIMILAR. THE CENTER PAROLEES FARED SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER ON ALL PAROLE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS. THE QUESTION OF PROVISION OF NEEDED SERVICES TO OFFENDERS WAS EVALUATED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES GIVEN TO CENTER RESIDENTS AND STAFF. QUESTIONS WERE CONCERNED WITH THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS RESIDENTS HAD (AND STAFF PERCEIVED); HOW THE PROBLEMS WERE HANDLED (AND WHO RESIDENTS WENT TO FOR HELP); AND WHETHER THE PROBLEMS WERE RESOLVED. ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT RESIDENTS AND STAFF HAD DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIOUS KINDS OF PROBLEMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CENTER STAFF SHOULD NOT TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS DIRECTLY, BUT SHOULD HELP RESIDENTS TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO SERVICE AGENCIES, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND OTHERS BETTER ABLE TO ASSIST THEM. AN EVALUATION OF THE STANDARDIZATION AND CENTRALIZATION OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM SHOWED THAT IT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED. IN ADDITION, QUESTIONNAIRES SHOWED THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF CENTRALIZATION DID NOT INFLUENCE GREATLY THE CENTER TREATMENT PROGRAM OR THE QUALITY OF STAFF-RESIDENT RELATIONS. SUPPORTING DATA FOR THE EVALUATION RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE REPORT, AND ALL QUESTIONNAIRES USED ARE FURNISHED IN AN APPENDIX. OTHER APPENDIXES CONTAIN: A DESCRIPTION OF METHODS FOR COMPILING A SOCIAL SERVICES LISTING; A PARTIALLY ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS AND DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION; AND A LIST OF PUBLICATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES EVALUATION. (VDA)