NCJ Number
19888
Date Published
1974
Length
40 pages
Annotation
THIS ASSESSMENT MEASURED THE EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, FINANCIAL BENEFITS, CONTINUITY OF SIGNIFICANT ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND POST-RELEASE CRIMINALITY OF PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS CANADIAN WORK RELEASE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE PROGRAM (TAP) WAS INITIATED IN AUGUST 1969. IT WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS TO AUTHORIZE A SERIES OF DAILY ABSENCES FROM AN INSTITUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, OR TRAINING. BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM WERE EXAMINED PRIMARILY RELATIVE TO THE INMATE, AND TO A LESSER DEGREE, THE FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND INSTITUTION. FIFTY FOUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE INTERVIEWED: 29 WHO WERE STILL PARTICIPATING, AND 25 WHO HAD BEEN RELEASED TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM WAS FOUND TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL, SOCIAL, AND RECIDIVISM-PREVENTION BENEFITS. AMONG THE SPECIFIC FINDINGS WERE THAT ALMOST HALF OF THE PARTICIPANTS SENT MONEY HOME, THAT 80 PERCENT HAD SAVINGS UPON RELEASE, AND THAT 45 PERCENT STATED THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES HAD IMPROVED. AFTER A FOLLOW UP PERIOD OF 7.5 TO 8.5 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE, IT WAS FOUND THAT NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAD RECIDIVATED.