NCJ Number
58718
Journal
Human Relations Volume: 30 Issue: 10 Dated: (1977) Pages: 879-897
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
AN EXCHANGE APPROACH TO THE DELIVERY OF A SERVICE PACKAGE FOR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS INTO SOCIETY IS DESCRIBED THAT INVOLVES COLLABORATION BETWEEN CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
Abstract
A PRIMARY GOAL OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS IS THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES THAT WILL ASSIST OFFENDERS IN THEIR REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS MORE ECONOMICAL THAN TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES HAVE BETTER POTENTIAL IN FACILITATING THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS. IDEALLY, ALL COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE LOCATED IN ONE CENTER THAT PROVIDES NECESSARY SERVICES FOR REINTEGRATION. COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROBATION, HALFWAY HOUSES, WORK RELEASE, PRERELEASE CENTERS, AND PAROLE. AREAS OF IMPORTANCE IN REINTEGRATING OFFENDERS ARE EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND LEGAL SERVICES. IN THE EXCHANGE APPROACH OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES, THERE ARE BARRIERS TO COLLABORATION. THESE BARRIERS INVOLVE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EFFECT OF A LOW SUCCESS RATE IN DEALING WITH DIFFICULT POPULATIONS BY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, LACK OF FINANCIAL AND NONFINANCIAL RESOURCES, SELF-SUFFICIENT ORIENTATION OF PRISONS, DISPARITY BETWEEN TRAINING AND STATUS OF CORRECTIONAL STAFF AND OTHER AGENCY STAFF, COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES, AND FEAR OF CRITICISM BY INSTITUTIONS THAT MAY RETARD PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES. TO MINIMIZE THESE BARRIERS, AN EXCHANGE STRATEGY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL SERVICE PACKAGE IS DETAILED AND ILLUSTRATED, THE KEY FACTOR IN THE STRATEGY BEING COMPONENTS LABELED AS GOALS FOR THE REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS INTO SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)