NCJ Number
53384
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A WISCONSIN PROGRAM PROVIDING A FULL-TIME OFFICER TO PROVIDE OR COORDINATE SERVICES TO INMATES IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM IS EVALUATED IN ITS FIRST YEAR.
Abstract
THE PRICE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, JAIL OFFICER PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED APRIL 1, 1978, PROVIDES A JAIL OFFICER WHO PERFORMS AND COORDINATES SERVICES FOR THE INMATES IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, COUNSELING, RECREATION, AND OTHER NEEDED SERVICES. THE EVALUATION COLLECTED INDIVIDUALIZED DATA ON ALL INMATES SERVED BY THE PROJECT OVER A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, BEGINNING APRIL 1978. THIS REPORT PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF THE DATA COLLECTED THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1978. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THE REPORT WAS COLLECTED DURING SITE VISITS AND PHONE CALLS TO PROJECT PERSONNEL. NINETY-FOUR CLIENTS WERE HELD AND RELEASED FROM THE JAIL DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. MOST WERE WHITE MALES UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAD GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. FEW WERE SERVING A SENTENCE AT THE JAIL, AND MOST WERE RELEASED WITHIN 5 DAYS. THE MOST FREQUENT OFFENSE FOR WHICH CLIENTS WERE HELD WAS THE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE INTOXICATED. MORE THAN THREE-FOURTHS OF THE CLIENTS WERE EMPLOYED WHEN THEY ENTERED THE JAIL. THE PROJECT ASSISTED 5 INMATES WHO WERE UNEMPLOYED AT INTAKE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT WHILE AT THE JAIL. THE PROJECT HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN ASSISTING INMATES TO ENTER OUTSIDE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WITH 3 INMATES BEGINNING TRAINING PROGRAMS WHILE SERVING SENTENCES. ALL INMATES RECEIVED SOME COUNSELING IN THEIR INITIAL INTAKE INTERVIEW WITH THE JAIL OFFICER. BEYOND THIS, 16 INMATES WERE INVOLVED IN AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL COUNSELING SESSION, 13 OF WHOM RECEIVED SERVICES FROM AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WERE MOST FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED IN THE COUNSELING SESSIONS. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PROVIDED INCLUDED WEIGHTLIFTING, PUNCHING BAG, TELEVISION, LIBRARY FACILITIES, AND A PING-PONG TABLE. IT IS INDICATED THAT WHILE THE PROJECT APPEARS TO BE MEETING ALL THE OBJECTIVES SPECIFIED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE CRITERIA SPECIFIED BY THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE. TABULAR DATA ON CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)