NCJ Number
149051
Date Published
1994
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report describes a therapeutic program for survivors of family violence at the Bedford Hills, New York, correctional facility for women; eight program participants are profiled, and statistics comparing demographic characteristics of program participants with other inmates are presented.
Abstract
The Family Violence Program at Bedford Hills encompasses a combination of individual and group therapy sessions and educational, orientation, and support groups. Program participants are encouraged to learn about the cause or nature of their self-destructive behavior and to refocus their lives toward goal-directed activities. In December 1993, 137 individuals were participating in the Family Violence Program. Statistics on program participants versus other inmates indicated the following: 82 percent of program participants were committed for felonies versus 40 percent of other inmates; 64 percent were convicted for homicide versus 22 percent of other inmates; 58 percent had no prior arrests or convictions versus 34 percent of the general population; 42 percent had minimum terms of 15 years or more versus 19 percent for other inmates; 46 percent were received before 1990 versus 13 percent of other inmates; 60 percent were from New York City versus 71 percent of the general population; and 27 percent were married verus 18 percent of other inmates. Whites were overrepresented among program participants compared to the overall inmate population at Bedford Hills. Still, over two-thirds of program participants were African-Americans or Hispanic. In addition to the current 137 program participants, 293 had been in the program. Former program participants stayed in the program on average for a year. 14 tables