NCJ Number
65239
Date Published
1980
Length
23 pages
Annotation
ARIZONA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SURVEYED STATE WELFARE AND CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL TO DETERMINE HOW TITLE XX MONIES WERE BEING USED IN OTHER STATES FOR OFFENDERS, EX-OFFENDERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Abstract
TITLE XX WAS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE REALISTICALLY PLANNED PROGRAMS THAT WOULD HELP DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS IN CONTRAST TO OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS WHICH LED TO SELF-PERPETUATING AGENCIES THAT FAILED TO SERVE ANYONE. THIS SURVEY WAS PART OF A GENERAL EFFORT TO IMPROVE TITLE XX ADMINISTRATION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE DEPARTMENT WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN PREVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR BOTH JUVENILES AND ADULTS. WHILE THE COLLECTION OF ACCURATE DATA ABOUT CLIENT POPULATIONS CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STRONGEST ADVOCACY GROUPS GETTING THE MOST MONEY AND LESS VOCAL ONES SUCH AS PRISONERS OR MENTALLY RETARDED BEING NEGLECTED, THIS SURVEY HAD AN EXCELLENT RESPONSE; IN MANY CASES SEVERAL AGENCIES WITHIN A STATE REPLIED (FROM 93 REQUESTS, 150 LETTERS WERE RECEIVED). PROBLEMS CITED WERE UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE FUNDING MECHANISMS AND LOSS OF FUNDING WHEN THE TITLE XX CEILING WAS REACHED, RESULTING IN REASSESSMENTS OF PRIORITIES. HOWEVER, 37 STATES AND PUERTO RICO WERE FUNDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS IN AMOUNTS RANGING FROM $50,000 (IN CALIFORNIA) TO $23,313,300 (IN ILLINOIS). AFTERCARE, DIVERSION SERVICES, AND GROUP HOMES WERE TYPICAL PROJECTS. THE FINDINGS SUGGESTED THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES SHOULD TAKE GREATER ADVANTAGE OF TITLE XX TO HELP EX-OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY SHOULD CONSIDER USING SEVERAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR ONE PROJECT. A LIST OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS IS APPENDED. (MJM)