NCJ Number
52226
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1970) Pages: 280-291
Date Published
1970
Length
12 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF CANADIAN HALFWAY HOUSES, THEIR METHODS OF OPERATION AND FINANCING, CLAIMS ABOUT THEIR VALUE, EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS, AND THE POSSIBILITIES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
EACH HALFWAY HOUSE SURVEYED WAS VISITED BY A MEMBER OF THE RESEARCH TEAM, WHO INTERVIEWED THE HOUSE DIRECTOR, USING A QUESTIONNAIRE; OR THE HOUSE DIRECTOR RESPONDED TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE BY MAIL. HOUSE RESIDENTS AND FORMER RESIDENTS WHO COULD BE LOCATED WERE INTERVIEWED INFORMALLY. ALTHOUGH THE STUDY FOCUSED ON HOUSES IN ONTARIO, A NUMBER OF HALFWAY HOUSES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY. IT WAS FOUND THAT HALFWAY HOUSES GENERALLY OFFER THE EX-INMATE FINANCIAL HELP, VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. WHILE THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE HOUSE CAN AID READJUSTMENT TO SOCIETY, THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBCULTURAL INFLUENCE OF A GROUP OF EX-OFFENDERS CAN REINFORCE RATHER THAN REDUCE CRIMINAL VALUES AND BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS. RESPONSES FROM RESIDENTS AND EX-RESIDENTS TENDED TO BE AMBIVALENT, REFLECTING REACTIONS OF PARTICULAR PERSONALITIES TO SPECIFIC HOUSE PROGRAMS AND STAFF. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT HOUSE CLAIMS OF SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO RECIDIVISM, ARE DIFFICULT TO SUBSTANTIATE DUE TO VARYING MEASURES OF RECIDIVISM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CRITERIA FOR RESIDENT SELECTION. THE AVERAGE COST TO MAINTAIN ONE PERSON FOR A YEAR IN A HALFWAY HOUSE OPERATING AT NORMAL CAPACITY WAS FOUND TO BE $5,350. SINCE NO SECURITY OR TREATMENT MEASURES ARE INVOLVED, THIS COST IS DEEMED DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT GRADUAL RELEASE (PERIODS OF TIME IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE REMAINING INSTITUTIONALIZED) IN COOPERATION WITH AFTERCARE AGENCIES MIGHT COPE WITH READJUSTMENT PROBLEMS MORE ECONOMICALLY AND JUST AS EFFECTIVELY AS HALFWAY HOUSES. THE USE OF HALFWAY HOUSES FOR OFFENDERS WITH PARTICULAR NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IS DISCUSSED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, DUE TO THE PAUCITY OF RESEARCH ON HALFWAY HOUSES, IT IS PREMATURE TO APPLY EVALUATIVE EXPERIMENTAL STRUCTURES TO THEIR OPERATIONS. MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PROGRAMS, SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, VALUE SYSTEM, AND PROCESSES AIDING OR THWARTING REHABILITATION IS BELIEVED NECESSARY AS PREEVALUATIVE INFORMATION. THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE SURVEY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)