NCJ Number
66186
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OF THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE (ENGLAND) ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
FOR OFFENDERS WITH AN UNSATISFACTORY HOME ENVIRONMENT OR NO PERMANENT ADDRESS, HOSTELS ARE PROVIDED WHERE, UNDER THE SUPPORT OF A PROFESSIONAL STAFF, THEY ARE HELPED TO FIND REGULAR EMPLOYMENT; WAGES PAY FOR RENT AND FOOD. A DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF INTENSIVE SHORT-TERM CONTRACT AND TASK-CENTERED PROBATION WORK. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, A TEAM OF PROBATION OFFICERS WORKS WITH AN OFFENDER OVER A 6-MONTH PERIOD WITHIN THE TERMS OF A GOAL-SETTING CONTRACT DEVELOPED FROM NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE TEAM AND THE OFFENDER. THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A LIMITED FOCUS FOR ACHIEVEMENT THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THE OFFENDER TO TAKE PROGRESSIVE STEPS TOWARD INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE DAY TRAINING CENTER GIVES THE COURT THE OPTION OF SENDING AN OFFENDER FOR A 60-DAY, FULL-TIME NONRESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSE IN FUNCTIONING RESPONSIBLY WITHIN THE FAMILY, PEER GROUP, AND COMMUNITY. REMEDIAL TEACHING AND VARIED WORK SITUATIONS ARE ALSO PROVIDED. COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS ARE ISSUED IN A WORK-ORIENTED, NONCUSTODIAL SENTENCE WHICH IS USED BY THE COURTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR OFFENDERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED. PARTICIPANTS PROVIDE WORK WITHOUT PAY IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS ON WEEKENDS. REGULAR FAMILY AND WORK RESPONSIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE FULFILLED DURING THE WEEK. THE BULLDOG MANPOWER SERVICES PROJECT OPERATES AS A CONSTRUCTION FIRM EMPLOYING OFFENDERS WITH POOR EMPLOYMENT RECORDS AT SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE BUT ABOVE THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT. THE PROJECT AIMS AT DEVELOPING GOOD WORK HABITS THAT WILL MAKE THE PARTICIPANTS MARKETABLE IN REGULAR EMPLOYMENT. A SPECIAL WORKSHOP IS PROVIDED FOR OFFENDERS WHOSE WORK HABITS ARE PARTICULARLY POOR. (RCB)