NCJ Number
63773
Date Published
1979
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THE COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION PROGRAM AT THE BOULDER COUNTY CORRECTIONS CENTER (COLORADO), ORGANIZED AND RUN BY A TRAINED RECREATION SPECIALIST, IS BASED ON BOTH PASSIVE AND DYNAMIC ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
AS PART OF A NEW $8-MILLION COMPLEX LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN BOULDER, COLO., THE CORRECTIONS CENTER SERVES ALL OF BOULDER COUNTY. ITS RECREATION PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN DECEMBER 1975 AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE SHERIFF'S ADMINISTRATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT ORGANIZED COMPETITION, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE WINNING AND LOSING ASPECTS OF RECREATION INSTEAD OF THE EXERCISE AND FUN ASPECTS, IS INAPPROPRIATE IN A JAIL BECAUSE IT ACCENTUATES CONFLICT WITHOUT PROVIDING A SATISFACTORY MEANS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION. CONSEQUENTLY, TOURNAMENTS AND INTRAMURAL COMPETITION ARE AVOIDED; INSTEAD, THE PROGRAM STRESSES PASSIVE AS WELL AS DYNAMIC ACTIVITIES TO HELP RESIDENTS DEVELOP AN IMPROVED SELF-IMAGE AND MAKE GOOD USE OF LEISURE TIME. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES VARIOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, AN 'OPEN DOOR' PERIOD FOR MINIMUM-SECURITY RESIDENTS, A LIBRARY, ARTS AND CRAFTS, POETRY WORKSHOPS, SPECIAL EVENTS (DRAMA, FILM, AND MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS BY LOCAL GROUPS), AND RECREATION IN THE MODULES (TELEVISION AND RADIO IN THE DAYROOMS). THE REPORT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTLINES CONSIDERATIONS IN STARTING A RECREATION PROGRAM. FIGURES ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)