NCJ Number
15758
Date Published
1974
Length
15 pages
Annotation
PROJECT OBJECTIVES, ASSESSMENT MEASURES, RESULTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PENNSYLVANIA PROJECT DESIGNED TO REINTEGRATE AND AID TRANSITION OF RELEASED YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF RELEASED OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING MORE STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT THAN PROBATION. PERSONAL AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, TESTING, RECREATION AND EDUCATION WERE ALL USED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. EVALUATION METHODS CONSISTED OF ON-SITE VISITS, MEETINGS WITH STAFF, REVIEWS OF THE PROJECT'S DATA COLLECTION DEVICES, REVIEW OF THE GRANT PROPOSAL, AN INTERVIEW OF A RELEASED OFFENDER, AND AN ATTEMPT TO DEFINE RECIDIVISM AS A MEASURE OF SUCCESS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECT CAN HANDLE MORE OFFENDERS THAN WERE IN RESIDENCE AT THE TIME, THAT DATA COLLECTION, COUNSELING, AND TREATMENT ACTIVITIES WERE TOO INFORMAL, AND THAT TERMINATION CRITERIA WERE NOT WELL DEFINED. THE USE OF 'REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM' AS A SUCCESS MEASURE WAS FOUND TO BE IMPRACTICAL FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE PROGRAM DERIVED ITS ACHIEVEMENTS UP TO THAT TIME FROM THE HIGH MOTIVATION AND SKILLS OF ITS STAFF. REFUNDING WAS RECOMMENDED IF PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS WERE UNDERTAKEN.