NCJ Number
54095
Date Published
1978
Length
119 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE RESULTS OF SEVEN PROJECTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTER (CTC) FIELD STUDY, INITIATED IN 1976 AS A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF FEDERAL HALFWAY HOUSE OPERATIONS.
Abstract
THE STUDY USES A LONGITUDINAL DESIGN TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT REFERRALS (EX-OFFENDERS REFERRED TO CTC FOR ASSISTANCE IN REINTEGRATING THEMSELVES INTO SOCIETY) BOTH DURING THEIR STAY AT, AND FOLLOWING RELEASE FROM, 14 CTC'S . THE PROJECTS DISCUSSED HERE AIM TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT IN REINTEGRATING OFFENDERS AND REDUCING RECIDIVISM, IDENTIFY TRENDS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, IDENTIFY CHARACTERISTICS OF CTC CLIENTS, AND PROVIDE OPERATIONAL DECISIONMAKERS WITH DATA TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING STANDARD CTC POLICY. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT USE OF CTC'S INCREASED DRAMATICALLY BETWEEN 1971-1976, AND THAT, WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF DRUG USE, CLIENT POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED. CLIENTS ARE USUALLY MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS, HAVE A HISTORY OF PAROLE REVOCATION, AND ARE HIGHER PAROLE RISKS THAN OTHER PAROLEES. CTC CLIENTS WITH LENGTHY PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO FAIL IN THE PROGRAM, BUT 'HIGH RISK' CTC REFERRALS ARE LESS LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN FURTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THAN LESS RISKY CTC CLIENTS. CTC CLIENTS AND STAFF AGREE THAT THE MOST NEEDED EX-OFFENDER SERVICE IS EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE. CENTERS THAT EMPHASIZE IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN COUNSELING AND INTERACTION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND STAFF SHOW BETTER POSTRELEASE EMPLOYMENT RECORDS FOR CLIENTS THAN REGULAR FEDERAL PAROLE AGENCIES. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.