NCJ Number
43026
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
GOALS, PROCEDURES, COSTS, AND RESULTS OF THE FIRST 21 MONTHS OF OPERATION ARE GIVEN FOR THIS TAMPA, FLORIDA, PROJECT TO AID WOMEN OFFENDERS AND RECENTLY RELEASED EX-OFFENDERS.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 571 WOMEN HAVE BEEN HELPED. PROBLEMS RANGED FROM ARRANGING BAIL BOND FOR POOR WOMEN BEING HELD IN JAIL ON MINOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES TO LEGAL AID FOR FAMILY PROBLEMS, EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, AND COUNSELING AND REFERRAL FOR PERSONAL PROBLEMS. THE LONG-RANGE GOAL IS TO REMOVE WOMEN FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY IMPROVING THEIR SELF-IMAGE AND HELPING THEM BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE GIVE HINDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS, AUGMENTING THE EFFORTS OF A DIRECTOR AND AND FOUR COUNSELORS. THE 799 CHILDREN OF THE WOMEN OFFENDERS HAVE PROVED TO BE VICTIMS OF THEIR MOTHER'S SITUATION, AND SPECAIL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FIND DAY CARE, RESOLVE CHILD SUPPORT PROBLEMS, AND RESTORE NORMAL FAMILY LIFE. EXTENSION OF THESE SERVICES TO WOMEN BEFORE THEY BECOME OFFENDERS IS RECOMMENDED. REFERRALS COME FROM THE BOARD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (32%), THE DEPARTMENT OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION (30%), AND 24 OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES. THE FIRST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS $84,655.