NCJ Number
72257
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (1980) Pages: 123-128
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The results of the 1977 national survey on four policies and practices in American adult corrections shows that only home-furlough policy changed significantly when compared with policies revealed in the 1971 surveys.
Abstract
Study release, ex-offender employment, good-time, and home-furlough policies in 52 correctional facilities were surveyed in 1977, and results were compared with those of the 1971 survey. Only home furlough showed a noticeably increased frequency of use (57 percent). Despite the favorable nature of this increase, there exists only a weak measure--low abscondence--of this program's success. Overall the survey indicates that there has been no improvement in the correction system practices. More controlled evaluation of the home-furlough policy is needed to determine its effectiveness. In addition, an increased use of study-release would help relieve correctional systems of high educational costs for hardware, facilities, and personnel. Likewise, stepped-up employment of ex-offenders in corrections industry would both raise the credibility of corrections as a model employer and provide meaningful employment for selected ex-offenders. Switching practices for allotting good time to rewarding acceptable behavior on a contingent basis would reduce the punitiveness of this policy. Overall the survey indicates that there has been no improvement in the correction system practices. Tabular data and four references are included.