WISCONSIN - SECOND YEAR REFUNDING REPORT ON THE OFFENDER PARTICIPATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS

• NCJ Number: 43487
• Author(s): A BRINKMAN; C SUSMILCH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 19 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-03-12-S-2898-6
• Corporate Author: Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ACTIVITIES OF OFFENDER PARTICIPATION ADVISORY COMMITTEES IN WISCONSIN'S MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONS ARE EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF RESPONSES TO A SURVEY OF COMMITTEE PARTICIPANTS.

Abstract

THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEES WAS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT BY INMATES AND PRISON STAFF INTO CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM FUNDING DECISIONS, LATER THE COMMITTEES ASSUMED THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS AIMED AT REINTEGRATING INMATES INTO THE COMMUNITY. EACH COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY A NONVOTING BUREAU OF CLINICAL SERVICES STAFF MEMBER. FOUR INMATE REPRESENTATIVES, ELECTED FOR 12-MONTH TERMS, AND FOUR INSTITUTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS SERVE ON EACH COMMITTEE. THE HISTORY, ORGANIZATION, AND PROGRESS OF THE OFFENDER PARTICIPATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROJECT ARE REVIEWED. IT IS FOUND THAT, ALTHOUGH THE COMMITTEES HAVE GENERATED MANY IDEAS, NO PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. THE COMMITTEES HAVE NOT HAD INPUT INTO THE STATE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS PROGRAMMING PLANS, AND NO PROCEDURES FOR ASSURING SUCH INPUT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. MOST SURVEY RESPONDENTS UNDERSTOOD THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT. MANY INMATE RESPONDENTS, HOWEVER, FELT THAT COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE NOT HELD FREQUENTLY ENOUGH. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FACILITATING THE COMMITTEES' INPUT INTO STATE PROGRAMMING PLANS AND FOR IMPLEMENTING THE IDEAS GENERATED BY THE COMMITTEES IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE PROJECT ARE PRESENTED. EXAMPLES OF COMMITTEE PROPOSALS AND A COPY OF THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT ARE INCLUDED.