NCJ Number
28714
Date Published
1975
Length
84 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY WHICH EXAMINED WHETHER STATES HAD DEVELOPED EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATING HALFWAY HOUSES INTO CORRECTIONS, ASSESSED THE SUCCESS OF HALFWAY HOUSES, AND EVALUATED LEAA'S ROLE IN THEIR ESTABLISHMENT.
Abstract
THE REPORT DISCUSSES THE DEFINITION OF HALFWAY HOUSES, THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN HALFWAY HOUSE PROGRAMS, THE RESULTS ACHIEVED BY HALFWAY HOUSES, APPROACHES USED BY THE HOUSES, AND THE PHYSICAL ADEQUACY AND SOURCES OF FUNDS FOR THE HALFWAY HOUSES. THE STUDY CONCENTRATED ON 15 STATE AND LOCALLY OPERATED HALFWAY HOUSES IN FLORIDA, MISSOURI, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS. THE STUDY FOUND THAT HALFWAY HOUSES ARE AT A CRUCIAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, SINCE AT THIS POINT THEY COULD EITHER BECOME A VIABLE CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVE OR DIE OUT FOR LACK OF FUNDS AND PUBLIC SUPPORT. IT WAS NOTED THAT LEAA HAS ASSISTED HALFWAY HOUSES FINANCIALLY, BUT HAS PROVIDED LITTLE GUIDANCE IN PLANNING OR OPERATING THEM. THIS WAS FOUND TO STEM BASICALLY FROM THE WAY LEAA HAS ADMINISTERED ITS BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, ALLOWING EACH STATE TO CHOOSE ITS OWN APPROACH TO IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITHIN BROAD FEDERAL GUIDELINES. THE STATES REVIEWED DID NOT HAVE WELL ORGANIZED, PLANNED, OR OPERATED SYSTEMS THAT COORDINATE BOTH STATE AND LOCALLY OPERATED HOUSES. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT LEAA REQUIRE THE STATES TO DESCRIBE IN THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS HOW THEY WILL DEVELOP AN ADEQUATE SYSTEM FOR COORDINATING HALFWAY HOUSES WITH OTHER CORRECTIONAL EFFORTS AND WHAT STANDARDS HALFWAY HOUSES MUST MEET TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT LEAA DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR HALFWAY HOUSE EVALUATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)