NCJ Number
110256
Journal
American Jails Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1988) Pages: 24,26-27
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Prior to the opening of the new correctional center in 1980, Champaign County, Ill., offered few inmate programs in its jail, but since then, the jail has used both professionals and volunteers to provide a wide range of inmate programs and services within a limited budget.
Abstract
The jail uses many community programs funded in other areas of the county's budget, such as basic education, mental health counseling, college-level classes, recreation, vocational education, drug and alcohol counseling, and religious services. Staffing consists of professionals hired by the agency sponsoring the program or of volunteers recruited by the correctional center. Without volunteers, there would be no library, tutors, Alcoholics Anonymous classes, religious counseling, or religious services. The programs are intended to encourage positive change in inmates, eliminate excessive inmate idleness that breeds custodial problems, and give the community and citizens a sense of involvement in corrections by having them use their talents and resources to benefit the jail and its inmates. One of the new administrative staff positions established in the Corrections Division after the construction of the new jail is the program coordinator, who coordinates all programs and services for inmates.