NCJ Number
54005
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE PAROLE IMPACT PROGRAM AT THE MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, CONCORD, REDUCED PRISON CROWDING BY PREPARING CLIENTS FOR EARLY RELEASE, SPEEDING UP HEARINGS, AND REDUCING RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PAROLE REVOCATIONS BY PROVIDING SUFFICIENT PAROLE PLANNING AND SUPERVISION, AND CUT HEARING TIME SINCE PAROLE OFFICERS CAN SUGGEST EARLY HEARINGS, ACT AS SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT INMATES, AND PRESENT INMATES' CASES. CLIENTS ARE SCREENED ACCORDING TO CERTAIN CRITERIA 1 TO 2 MONTHS FOLLOWING COMMITMENT. AN IMPACT CLIENT IS ASSIGNED TO A PAROLE OFFICER FOR BIWEEKLY VISITS TO PLAN A REALISTIC AND SELF-ACTUALIZING PAROLE PLAN. WORKSHOPS ARE HELD FOR PROGRAM MEMBERS AND CONSIST OF 3-HOUR SESSIONS ON TOPICS LIKE JOB-HUNTING SKILLS, BUDGETING, AND GOAL PLANNING. WHEN APPROPRIATE WHERE THE OFFENDER GAINS AND RETAINS THEY PETITION THE PAROLE BOARD FOR EARLY HEARING CONSIDERATION. OFFICERS WRITE A SUMMARY OF THE CLIENTS' HISTORIES AND RELEASE PLANS TO BE USED AT THE HEARINGS, PRESENT CLIENTS' CASES, AND KEEP IN CONTACT WITH CLIENTS AFTER RELEASE UNTIL THEY ARE TRANSFERRED TO REGULAR STATE PAROLE SUPERVISION. THE PAROLE IMPACT PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED BY A LOCAL STATE PLANNING AGENCY AND BY A HARVARD LAW SCHOOL RESEARCH TEAM. RESULTS SHOWED THAT PAROLE RELEASE RATES FOR IMPACT CLIENTS INCREASED BY 20 PERCENT OVER A 2.5-YEAR PERIOD, A GREATER NUMBER OF IMPACT CLIENTS WERE GRANTED PAROLE DURING THIS TIME THAN NON-IMPACT INMATES, AND THAT THE EXPENSE SAVINGS FOR EARLY INMATE RELEASE WERE EQUAL TO 60 PERCENT OF PROGRAM COSTS. CLIENTS SURVEYED ABOUT THE PROGRAM EXPRESSED SATISFACTION BOTH WITH IT AND WITH PAROLE OFFICERS ATTITUDES AND ASSISTANCE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATING ARE PROVIDED, AND TABULAR DATA ARE SUPPLIED. (DAG)