NCJ Number
63264
Journal
LAE (LAMBDA ALPHA EPSILON) JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION Volume: 42 Issue: NOS 1 AND 2 Dated: (WINTER/ SPRING 1979) Pages: 81-88
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED FOR COMMUNITY-BASED REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST OFFENDERS IN THE TRANSITION FROM INCARCERATION TO SOCIETY.
Abstract
AS A DETERRENT PUNISHMENT, THE EXISTING CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IMPOSES SOCIAL ISOLATION ON INMATES AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ASPIRES TO INFLUENCE PRISONERS TO REFORM. ITS FAILURE IS ATTESTED TO BY HIGH RECIDIVISM AND CRIME RATES. BECAUSE 95 PERCENT OF THE INMATES CURRENTLY CONFINED WILL EVENTUALLY BE RELEASED, COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED AS A MEANS OF PERMITTING OFFENDERS ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALLOWING THEM INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY TO FIND SOURCES OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE SMALL, DECENTRALIZED, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED FACILITIES TO ASSIST OFFENDER REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY. AN ENUMERATION OF THE HIDDEN COSTS OF INCARCERATION ILLUSTRATES THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON SOCIETY. HOWEVER, THE COMMUNTY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAM IS SELF-SUPPORTING; EACH PARTICIPANT HAS A JOB, PAYS RENT, ABIDES BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PROGRAM, AND IS A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY. TO OFFSET FINANCIAL INSTABILITY SUFFERED BY MOST DISCHARGED OFFENDERS, THE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM STIPULATES MAINTENANCE OF A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR EACH OF ITS RESIDENTS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)