NCJ Number
174825
Date Published
1995
Length
47 pages
Annotation
The LASER (Life, Attitude, Skills, Education, and Retraining) program has been developed by the Dauphin County Prison in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to change criminal behavior by introducing male offenders to positive lifestyle behaviors.
Abstract
The LASER program has three basic premises: (1) offenders can be educated to make fundamental lifestyle changes; (2) attitudes of local communities toward offenders and ex-offenders will change as community members interact with offenders in positive life-enhancing activities; and (3) community members will reinforce the newly developed positive behaviors of inmates as they interact with them. Initially developed for young male inmates between 19 and 35 years of age, the program is now open to all inmates residing in the Dauphin County Prison. Once an inmate makes a commitment to participate in the program, he is not required to complete the program in order to maintain eligibility for future programming, but he is required to complete the program in order to accumulate good time. An evaluation of the program indicates an increase in offender self- esteem but the impact of increased self-esteem on recidivism is not clear. The evaluation notes difficulties in evaluating the first year of a program, as well as program accomplishments related to community service and the recognition of diversity. Future challenges that may be faced by the LASER program are identified. Supplemental program evaluation data and information are appended. Tables