CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM - A MECHANISM FOR INMATE REFORM

• NCJ Number: 48561
• Journal: OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 261-268
• Author(s): P HOLLIDAY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ON BEHAVIOR IN BOTH THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND ITS MICROCOSMIC EQUIVALENT, THE PRISON, ARE DISCUSSED. A CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (CAP) FOR INMATES IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

IN LARGE CITIES, OVERCROWDING, HIGH POPULATION DENSITY, OVERSTIMULATION, AND THE CONCOMITANT ANONYMITY AND LACK OF PRIVACY AND TERRITORIALITY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORS. TO INHIBIT ACCOUNTABILITY AND SELF-RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO ENCOURAGE APATHY AND ASOCIAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. IN THE PRISON, MANY OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE REPLICATED; THERE IS AN OVERRIDING SENSE OF ANONYMITY, PRIVACY AND TERRITORIALITY ARE LACKING, INTERPERSONAL RELATION ARE STIFLED, AND INDIVIDUAL DECISIONMAKING AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE MINIMIZED. IF REHABILITATION IS TO BE POSSIBLE, THE URBAN LIFE STYLE AND ATMOSPHERE OF PRISONS MUST BE ELIMINATED. THE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO DO THIS BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR PRISON INMATES IN NEW JERSEY. AT PRESENT CAP OFFERS OVER 120 PROGRAMS AT 10 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT 10 INSTITUTIONAL SATELLITES. CAP OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH TO INMATE REHABILITATION, WHICH INCLUDES: INMATE ORIENTATION TO THE INSTITUTION AND THE AVAILABLE SERVICES; ASSESSMENT OF INMATES' VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS, CAPABILITIES, AND NEEDS; ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING EMPHASIZING INMATE DECISIONMAKING IN RELATION TO PRESENT AND FURTURE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM DESIGN; AND ONGOING COUNSELING WHICH PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR CONTINUING ASSESSMENT OF THE INMATE'S PROGRESS AND PROGRAM ASSESSMENT AND REVISION. THE GENERAL STAFF MODEL INVOLVES A PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND PROGRAM COUNSELORS WHO MAY BE TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. PROGRAM STAFFS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING RECORDS AND PROVIDING INPUT FOR CLASSIFICATION AND PAROLE STAFF DECISIONMAKING. ALTHOUGH CAP IS STILL IN ITS INITIAL STAGES, IT WILL OPEN NEW DOORS TO A UNIFIED AND TOTAL TREATMENT APPROACH FOR INMATES WHILE GIVING INMATES DIRECTION, A CONSISTENT CONTACT, AND PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.