NCJ Number
203297
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 37-39
Date Published
May 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article provides an overview of outreach activities and initiatives undertaken by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) during the period between May 2001 and May 2002.
Abstract
A primary mission of the CSC is to engage members of the community in the correctional process. Community support is an integral part of successful offender reintegration and as such, the CSC has engaged in formal and informal community outreach for years. In order to determine the state of these outreach efforts, the authors administered a questionnaire designed to measure perceptions of CSC outreach initiatives. The questionnaire was completed by 137 District Directors, Wardens, Regional Deputy Commissioners, and Sector Heads. Results indicate that the most important reason for community outreach is to raise community awareness and confidence in the correctional process. Other benefits of outreach programs include increasing community support for offenders, gaining support for reintegration, and enhancing community support. Respondents also described a total of 347 outreach and engagement activities in which they were involved during the study period. Community members make up 59 percent of the total number of people involved in outreach activities, which speaks to the success of these community outreach programs. Another aspect of community outreach involves partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental entities; the questionnaire results indicate that 228 of the 347 outreach initiatives resulted in 1 or more partnerships. Finally, the authors note that this questionnaire inventory provided valuable insight into present and future outreach engagement initiatives and activities. Endnotes