RATIONAL RISK TAKING - SOME ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS (FROM PROBATION, PAROLE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. 2D ED., 1976 BY ROBERT M CARTER AND LESLIE T WILKINS - SEE NCJ-35412)

• NCJ Number: 35415
• Author(s): N HOLT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: John Wiley and Sons
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RATIONAL RISK TAKING DESCRIBES A PROCESS BY WHICH A GOAL IS STATED, ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION ARE EVALUATED WITH EXISTING DATA, THE MOST PROMISING ONE SELECTED, AND THE CHOSEN COURSE OF ACTION SYSTEMATICALLY EVALUATED.

Abstract

THIS PAPER OUTLINES THREE CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL 'SYSTEMS CHANGES' PROJECTS WHICH ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS METHODOLOGY. THE GOAL OF ALL THREE PROJECTS IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP THEM OUT. THE FIRST PROGRAM, BEGUN IN 1965, INVOLVED A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PAROLEES RETURNED TO PRISON FOR TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS. PAROLE AGENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO FIND ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE PAROLEE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ASKED TO RECOMMEND A RETURN TO PRISON ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. IN 1970 THE OPTIMUM RELEASE PROGRAM GAVE THE PAROLE AGENT THE FLEXIBILITY TO RELEASE UP TO 60 DAYS EARLY ANY INMATE COMING TO HIS CASELOAD WHO HAD BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER HIS BEST POSSIBLE PAROLE PROGRAM FOR THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THE THIRD PROJECT REDUCED THE PAROLE DISCHARGE DATE FROM 24 TO 12 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE PERFORMANCES OF INMATES PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS AND THOSE PROCESSED IN THE TRADITIONAL MANNER. ALL THE PROJECTS WERE CARRIED OUT WITH EXISTING RESOURCES AND RESULTED IN HIGH DOLLAR SAVINGS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.