NCJ Number
72827
Date Published
1980
Length
27 pages
Annotation
A client profile is presented of the women admitted to and released from Charlotte House in Massachusetts during 1977 and 1978 in conjunction with the 1972 Correctional Reform Act, which authorizes small, separately operated community residential facilities for offenders still incarcerated in the State correctional system but having 12 months or less of their sentence to serve.
Abstract
The client profile for 1977 and 1978 was determined from a sample of 27 for 1977 and 18 for 1978. Data collected for both samples consisted of (1) commitment variables, (2) personal background variables, (3) criminal history variables, and (4) furlough variables. Data were derived from the computerized data base developed by the Correction and Parole Management Information System (CAPMIS), with additional data being collected from the files of the Department of Correction, the Parole Board, and the Board of Probation. For comparative purposes, the total sample for each year was divided into two groups: program completers and program noncompleters (inmates who were placed back in prison). The typical profile derived from the data for 1977 and 1978 combined showed that 40 percent of the women were guilty of person offenses, with the majority serving minimum sentences of an indeterminate nature and a maximum sentence of 5 years or less. Fifty percent were white, 40 percent were black, and most were single (56 percent) with no prior military service (78 percent). Subjects were 25 years or older when placed at Charlotte House (60 percent) and age 25 or older when committed to the system. Most (93 percent) had not received any furloughs, had used drugs (62 percent), and had five or fewer court appearances (58 percent). Most of the women had no prior juvenile incarcerations (87 percent), no prior county incarcerations (91 percent), no prior State or Federal incarcerations (76 percent), and no prior adult incarcerations (71 percent). Also, most of the women (71 percent) spent 4 months or less at Charlotte House before being released. The bulk of the report consists of an extensive appendix of data tables providing breakdowns of 48 profile indicators of female prerelease offenders by rates of completion and noncompletion of prerelease status. Two subsequent reports will examine characteristics of completers and noncompleters and will follow up women released from Charlotte House in 1977-78 to determine recidivism rates.