NCJ Number
67599
Date Published
Unknown
Length
27 pages
Annotation
ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR OFFENDERS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR SENTENCES ARE DESCRIBED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF AN OVERALL STATE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, WITH FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.
Abstract
PUBLISHED BY THE WYOMING STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM, THIS IS A POSITION PAPER INTENDED TO ENUNCIATE THE BOARD'S POLICIES ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS (HERE DEFINED AS COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS, DESIGNED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN AN INDIVIDUAL USING COMMUNITY RESOURCES). THE OVERALL STATE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, OF WHICH COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE ONLY A PART, IS DESCRIBED BY MEANS OF THE MOVEMENT OF A CONVICTED OFFENDER THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THE OFFENDER IS FOLLOWED FROM THE VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT STEPS THROUGH THE COURTS, UNTIL HE REACHES THE STATE ASSESSMENT RECEPTION UNIT, WHERE HE UNDERGOES A BATTERY OF TESTS AND INTERVIEWS (E.G., SOCIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, VOCATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL, AND RELIGIOUS). THE DATA THUS OBTAINED WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY, UPON WHICH THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE INCOMING INDIVIDUAL WILL BE BASED. THE ALTERNATIVES ARE: MAXIMUM, MEDIUM, AND MINIMUM SECURITY CORRECTIONS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, WITH MINIMUM SECURITY CUSTODY AS A PREREQUISITE. THE WYOMING CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM HAS THE CAPABILITY OF MOVING A CONVICTED OFFENDER THROUGH AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM AS FAST AS THE INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION PROVES THAT HE CAN HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FREEDOM, ONCE THE LEGAL DICTATES OF HIS SENTENCE ARE MET. CLASSIFICATION AT EACH STAGE ASSURES PROFESSIONAL DECISIONMAKING AS WELL AS DUE PROCESS FOR THE INMATE. SOME OF THE CRITERIA (IN ADDITION TO HAVING REACHED THE MINIMUM SECURITY STAGE OF CUSTODY) FOR ASSIGNMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE OFFENDER'S PAST CRIMINAL RECORD, CURRENT CRIMES, INSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT ON PAST AND PRESENT CONFINEMENTS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES, AND LENGTH OF REMAINING SENTENCE. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE WORK, EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. THE FACILITIES INVOLVED CAN BE STATE-OPERATED UNITS, FARMS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FACILITIES, SPECIALIZED HALFWAY HOUSES, AND INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT. AMONG PROGRAM ADVANTAGES ARE MAINTENANCE OF TIES WITH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY, AND SAVINGS TO THE STATE ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSES, TO WHICH THE COMMUNITY-BASED INMATE WILL CONTRIBUTE SOME OF HIS WAGES. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS RECEIVE VOCAL AND OFTEN DECISIVE OPPOSITION OF POWERFUL INTEREST GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS, AND HAVE COORDINATION PROBLEMS IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. THE PAPER CONCLUDES WITH SOME CAVEATS, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE SPEED OF PROCESSING INMATES INTO THE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. A LIST OF DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS USED IN THE PAPER IS APPENDED.