WORK, TRAINING, AND STUDY RELEASE (FROM JAIL MANAGEMENT - PROBLEMS, PROGRAMS, AND PERSPECTIVES, 1978 BY E EUGENE MILLER - SEE NCJ-48113)

• NCJ Number: 48114
• Author(s): E E MILLER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HISTORY, ADVANTAGES TO THE COMMUNITY, STAFFING, HOUSING SECURITY, SCREENING, RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ARE CONSIDERED IN A DISCUSSION OF JAIL RELEASE PROGRAMS.

Abstract

WORK, TRAINING, AND STUDY RELEASE ARE CONSIDERED INVALUABLE MEANS OF ESTABLISHING A BRIDGE BETWEEN JAILS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATING OFFENDERS. WORK RELEASE IS DEFINED AS A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM THAT ENABLES OFFENDERS TO HOLD REGULAR JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THE DAY, WHILE RETURNING TO THEIR INSTITUTIONS AT NIGHT. TRAINING OR STUDY RELEASE IS CONSIDERED FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME AS WORK RELEASE, EXCEPT THAT OFFENDERS ARE FURTHERING THEIR VOCATIONAL OR ACADEMIC EDUCATIONS. IN DISCUSSING THE HISTORY OF THESE PROGRAMS, IT IS NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF WORK RELASE IS OVER A CENTURY OLD, ITS WIDESPREAD USE DID NOT COME INTO VOGUE UNTIL THE DECADE OF THE MID-1960'S TO MID-1970'S. IT IS BELIEVED THAT BY MAKING USE OF AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, RELEASE PROGRAMS ALLOW OFFENDERS TO BECOME GRADUALLY REACCULTURATED TO THE LOCALITIES TO WHICH THEY WILL RETURN, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACQUIRING THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENT UPON RELEASE. SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES ARE INDICATED FOR THE TAXPAYER FROM WORK RELEASE, SINCE OFFENDERS PAY TAXES, REIMBURSE THE JAILS FOR ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSES, AND BEGIN TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AGAIN. A CAREFUL AND THOROUGH SCREENING PROCESS IS PRESENTED AS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE FOR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS, IN COMBINATION WITH A WELL-CONCEIVED PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORT, CAN RESULT INITIALLY IN COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH PROGRAMS BY SEVERAL IDENTIFIABLE KEY CONSTITUENCIES AND LATER BY THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE. WHILE IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WORK, TRAINING, AND STUDY RELEASE ARE NOT THE COMPLETE ANSWER TO ALL THE REHABILITATION NEEDS OF JAIL INMATES, THEY ARE NONETHELESS CONSIDERED HIGHLY USEFUL AND RELEVANT TOOLS FOR THE CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR AND REPRESENT A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL MODES OF DEALING WITH INCARCERATED OFFENDERS.