NCJ Number
65189
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF IOWA COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS TRACED, CURRENT PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURES ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAMS ON OTHER TYPES OF SENTENCES IS ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE CURRENT OPERATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN IOWA REFLECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES. IOWA COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED SEPARATELY WITHIN THE STATE'S EIGHT JUDICIAL DISTRICTS THROUGH DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SETTING THE STANDARDS THAT EACH DISTRICT MUST MEET BEFORE STATE FUNDS ARE GRANTED FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. ALL DISTRICT PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PRETRIAL SERVICES (RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE AND SUPERVISED RELEASE), PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION, PROBATION, AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES ALLOW A CLIENT TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAINTAIN REGULAR CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. STATISTICS SHOW, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS HAS NOT REDUCED IMPRISONMENT RATES IN IOWA, SINCE THE NUMBER OF PRISON INMATES HAS INCREASED STEADILY SINCE 1972. A STUDY OF THE RESIDENT PROFILES AT COMMUNITY FACILITIES SHOWS THAT THE TYPE OF OFFENDER NOW COMMITTED TO THOSE FACILITIES WOULD FORMERLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN PROBATION, A BRIEF JAIL TERM, OR SOME FORM OF COMMUNITY RELEASE. THUS, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS HAVE INTENSIFIED THE INVOLVEMENT OF OFFENDERS IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM WHO WOULD PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY UNDER SUPERVISION, WHILE OFFENDER TYPES SENT TO PRISON BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS ARE STILL BEING IMPRISONED. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL MUST BE REMINDED THAT A PRIMARY GOAL OF CORRECTIONAL REFORM IS TO REDUCE INVOLVEMENT OFFENDERS IN CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT REMOVE THEM FROM A NORMAL LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (RCB)