NCJ Number
142799
Date Published
1993
Length
162 pages
Annotation
When the New York State Legislature mandated the Department of Correctional Services to establish a shock incarceration program, it also required an ongoing evaluation of shock incarceration to ensure that programmatic objectives were being met.
Abstract
This multitreatment program emphasizes discipline, academic education, substance abuse treatment, and group and individual counseling, all within a military structure. Between 1987 and 1992, 11,862 inmate volunteers were sent to one of five shock facilities. Of those, 6,400 graduated and were granted an early release to parole supervision. New York currently operates the Nation's most extensive shock incarceration program. The evaluation indicated that cost savings were realized by releasing shock graduates an average of 9 months prior to completion of their court-determined minimum period of incarceration. Most shock inmates made educational progress and there were fewer incidents of misbehavior than at other medium-security facilities. Shock incarceration and shock parole supervision constitute one of the State's most effective programs for nonviolent offenders. The evaluation concludes that the program has achieved its legislative mandate of treating and releasing specially selected prisoners without compromising public safety. 36