NCJ Number
43323
Date Published
1976
Length
429 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, FOR JUVENILES, AND FOR THOSE ON PROBATION SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN OVERALL RECIDIVISM AND HIGH PROGRAM DROP-OUT RATES.
Abstract
ALL PROBATIONED OFFENDERS REHABILITATION AND TRAINING (PORT) PROJECTS, HALFWAY HOUSES, AND JUVENILE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR'S CRIME COMMISSION AND LEAA WERE EVALUATED. THIS INCLUDES THE MAJOR PORTION OF RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROJECTS NOW OPERATIONAL IN THE STATE. BY PROJECT TYPE, 32.8 PERCENT OF HALFWAY HOUSE CLIENTS SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED RESIDENCE, 33.7 PERCENT OF PORT CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, AND 40.0 PERCENT OF JUVENILE RESIDENTS COMPLETED THEIR PROGRAM. CLIENTS WERE TERMINATED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS INCLUDING LACK OF COOPERATION, ABSCONDING, REARREST, CONVICTION FOR A NEW OFFENSE, AND REVOCATION. THIS SUGGESTS THAT MORE SELECTIVE CRITERIA ARE NEEDED SO THAT SUCH PROGRAMS CAN CONCENTRATE ON PERSONS AMENABLE TO THESE TREATMENT APPROACHES. AMONG THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, GENERAL OVERALL GAINS IN EMPLOYMENT AND IN EDUCATIONAL LEVELS WERE NOTED. RECIDIVISM RATES WERE BROKEN DOWN BY SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENSE. FOR ADULTS, RECIDIVISM DURING RESIDENCE WAS 10.6 PERCENT FOR HALFWAY HOUSES, 4.7 FOR PORT PROGRAMS. MEASURED IN TERMS OF FELONY CONVICTIONS AND REVOCATIONS, THE RATES WERE 6.4 PERCENT FOR HALFWAY HOUSES AND 1.3 PERCENT FOR PORT PROJECTS. HALFWAY HOUSE CLIENTS WHO COMPLETED PROGRAMS HAD LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT, BUT BY THE END OF 24 MONTHS THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. HOWEVER, COMPARISON WITH A CONTROL GROUP OF PAROLEES WHO HAD NO HALFWAY HOUSE TREATMENT SHOWED THE HALFWAY HOUSE GROUP HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES THAN THE CONTROL GROUP. THE NUMBER OF PORT CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM 24 MONTHS IS TOO SMALL FOR COMPARISON. ANALYSIS OF THE JUVENILE STATISTICS FOUND THAT PARTICIPATION IN JUVENILE RESIDENCE PROGRAMS HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE HALFWAY HOUSES WERE INCREASINGLY ACCEPTING PROBATIONERS TO FILL UP THE FACILITIES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT NO NEW RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES BE FUNDED WITH LEAA MONEY AND THAT EXISTING FACILITIES BE USED FOR WORK-RELEASE PROGRAMS AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT. COST DATA AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING OPERATIONS OF ALL THREE PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES GIVE SUPPORTING STATISTICAL DATA FOR THIS REPORT.