NCJ Number
59231
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THESE EVALUATIONS FIND THAT A BURGLARY AND ROBBERY UNIT IN HARRISBURG, PA., HAS HAD MIXED SUCCESS, A THREE-COUNTY VOLUNTEERS-IN-PROBATION PROGRAM HAS HAD GOOD RESULTS, AND TWO INMATE EDUCATION EFFORTS SHOULD BE CONTINUED.
Abstract
ALL FOUR PROJECTS ARE PART OF A SUBGRANT GIVEN TO THE SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA REGION. THE HARRISBURG BURGLARY AND ROBBERY UNIT REDUCED BURGLARIES 18.2 PERCENT CITYWIDE DURING 1977-78, THE SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION. ROBBERIES, HOWEVER, INCREASED 10.3 PERCENT DURING THAT YEAR AND APPREHENSIONS FOR ROBBERY FELL. THE ANTICIPATED FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN ON-VIEW ARRESTS WAS NOT ACHIEVED, BUT THE UNIT AS A WHOLE DID PROCESS MOSTLY ON-VIEW ARRESTS AND HAD A HIGHER DISPOSITION RATE THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. CHANGES IN STRATEGY ARE NEEDED FOR THE ROBBERY COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM. THREE COUNTIES--DAUPHIN, LANCASTER, AND CUMBERLAND--USED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MONITOR PROBATIONERS. THE VOLUNTEERS GAVE MUCH MORE FREQUENT SERVICE THAN REGULAR PROBATION OFFICERS, ESTABLISHED BETTER CLIENT RAPPORT, AND HAD LOWER CLIENT REARREST RATES. THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXTENDED AND TRAINING IN COUNSELING GIVEN TO THE VOLUNTEERS. THE SOUTHCENTRAL REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN HAS SURVEYED SIMILAR STATEWIDE AND REGIONWIDE SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR INMATES AND HAS LAID OUT BASIC PRINICPLES FOR SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE PREMISE IS THAT EDUCATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION DEVICE AND THAT ALL INMATES SHOULD HOLD JOBS WITHIN THE PRISON, BE ON WORK RELEASE, OR ATTEND A FULL-TIME EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM. THE FINAL GRANT COMPONENT, THE SOUTHCENTRAL REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL, HAS ASSESSED AREA NEEDS AND HAS EFFECTIVELY MARSHALLED RESOURCES TO MEET THESE NEEDS. (GLR)