NCJ Number
224785
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2008 Pages: 416-425
Date Published
September 2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study utilized Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess the size, demographic characteristics, and needs of the Newark, NJ parolee population with the availability, location, and characteristics of health and human service agencies servicing their needs.
Abstract
Results from the study provide empirical evidence that Geographic Information System (GIS) is an instrumental tool for developing a more efficient and effective environment for working with the offender population. The study demonstrates that more attention should be placed on understanding activity space of parolees and to what degree their predisposing and need factors help or hinder their use of services near or far away from their residences. GIS is an important tool for understanding the complex nexus of service availability, accessibility, and parolee case management. The various GIS analysis methods used in this study can help parole departments assess the logistical aspects of service delivery and utilization. A relatively large number of social services exist in Newark, NJ. This study assessed the distribution, availability, and accessibility of post-release community-based social service facilities in the urban area, Newark in order to gain more insight into the spatial logistics associated with providing services to reentering prisoners as well as the context within which service allocation and utilization occurs. It is hypothesized that parolees were overrepresented in certain areas of Newark and that their needs were not being met because the spatial distribution of these services did not adequately match parolees’ geographic distribution. Tables, figure, maps and references