NCJ Number
122915
Date Published
1988
Length
92 pages
Annotation
The Virginia Pre-Release Program was designed to provide an alternative to institutionalization -- residential settings for the supervised reintegration of the offender into the community -- while protecting public safety. This evaluation examined 365 case terminations during fiscal years 1986 and 1987, analyzing client and case characteristics.
Abstract
Most pre-release program clients are unmarried, black males who had less than a high school education, were incarcerated for property offenses, and anticipated mandatory parole release. While case terminations tripled from 1986 to 1987, successful case terminations increased from 60 percent to 70 percent in the same timeframe. The highest success rates were noted for female offenders, clients convicted of robbery or alcohol/drug offenses, and clients who had been transferred from one pre-release center to another. In terms of unsuccessful terminations, ten clients were rearrested, three for assault. While spending an average of 64 days in a pre-release center (more than three-quarters in Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke) most clients (80 percent) were employed and paid room and board to the State. The findings indicate that, while prison overcrowding remains a problem, the program did offer some bedspace relief. The program also facilitated the offenders' reintegration; while most clients are property offenders and mandatory parolees, those two groups were actually less successful in completing the program than the discretionary clients. Future research should focus on recidivism of pre-release clients, cost effectiveness, and program dynamics. 2 appendixes.