NCJ Number
187062
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 7-22
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
August 2000
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a survey of 41 corrections systems in the United States and 8 in Canada to obtain the following information on prerelease/reintegration programs: schedules and staffing, program components, furloughs, and transition/release procedures.
Abstract
Regarding schedules and staffing, 39 U.S. systems had planned programs in place. In 12 States and 1 Province in Canada, programs were required in some form. Class schedules ranged from 1 hour in Idaho, 1 1/2 hours in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, to 8 1/2 hours in California. Schedules varied by facility in some States. In addition to classes, California, Delaware, and Minnesota provided prepared material that inmates can access without class attendance. The majority of reporting systems included aspects of education and job readiness in their programs. Community resource identification, housing options, and rules of post-supervision were included in the majority of program components within the systems. Substance abuse was discussed in most programs. Furloughs of any type were not permitted in 12 reporting jurisdictions, but were allowed in all others, including Canada. Furloughs were permitted for educational programs only in eight U.S. systems, but in all but one of Canada's. Formal discharge processes, which varied widely, were in place, and they were administered by an equally wide variety of staff. Formal follow-up efforts were conducted in 16 systems, plus new Brunswick in Canada, primarily for probation cases or those involving violent or sex offenders. Charts display the survey information for each responding jurisdiction.