NCJ Number
82342
Journal
City Club of Portland Bulletin Volume: 62 Issue: 24 Dated: special edition (November 9, 1981) Pages: Complete issue
Date Published
1981
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report sought to determine the effectiveness of halfway houses in the rehabilitation, of criminal offenders and their impact on the residential neighborhoods in which they were located in Multnomah County, Oreg., for the period March 1980 through June 1981.
Abstract
The report presents the history of halfway houses, discusses the status of halfway houses nationally and in Multnomah County, examines convictions and sentencing trends in Oregon, and offers recommendations. The report concludes that halfway house programs cost about the same as institutional confinement in existing cell space and less than confinement in new cell space. In addition, halfway houses have the potential to rehabilitate some offenders more effectively than either confinement or probation/parole. The report recommends that Multnomah County should immediately reestablish the NW 20th and Lovejoy house as a halfway-in program for a sufficient period to determine its effectiveness. The house should serve only nonviolent Class C felony offenders. Moreover, Multnomah County should provide halfway-in programs for criminal offenders who are drug and alcohol abusers. The Community Corrections Act should be amended to encourage participating counties to implement halfway-out programs and to allow counties to spend community corrections funds for all types of offenders scheduled for parole, including those who have committed murder, treason, or Class A felonies. Upon amendment of the Community Corrections Act, a halfway-out program should be established by Multnomah County to provide for selective early release. Persons interviewed, a glossary, a list of halfway houses in Multnomah County for criminal offenders, and about 50 references are provided.