NCJ Number
45056
Date Published
1975
Length
65 pages
Annotation
THIS EVALUATION OF THE JACKSONVILLE (FL) WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAM FINDS THE CONCEPT WELL ORGANIZED AND ADMINISTERED BUT UNDERUSED AND OPERATED IN ISOLATION.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN MAY 1975 BY THE AMERICAN JUSTICE INSTITUTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT FOUND THE PROGRAM WAS PROVIDING A HELPFUL EXPERIENCE TO ITS PARTICIPANTS AND WAS LESS EXPENSIVE AND SEEMINGLY MORE SUCCESSFUL IN RETURNING OFFENDERS TO THE COMMUNITY THAN UNRELIEVED CUSTODY IN THE DUVAL COUNTY JAIL OR THE JACKSONVILLE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. IT IS SUGGESTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE TOTAL DUVAL COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COULD MAKE BETTER USE OF THE PROGRAM BY NOT LIMITING IT TO THOSE IN JAIL, BUT EXPANDING IT BEYOND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE STUDY FOUND THAT ALL THREE OF THE SHERIFF'S DIVISION FACILITIES WERE OVERUSED FOR PRETRIAL AND POSTTRIAL CONFINEMENT OF PERSONS WHO COULD BE SAFELY CONTAINED IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS CROWDING MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPAND THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND ALSO MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP OTHER REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO THE WORK-RELEASE EFFORT. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM IS CALLED EXCELLENT. ALL GUIDELINES ARE BEING MET AND THE CONCEPT IS SOUNDLY BASED. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING CLOSER COORDINATION WITH A PSYCHOLOGIST, A BROADENING OF THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE MORE INMATES, AND CLOSER COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS GREATER USE OF VOLUNTEERS. (GLR)