NCJ Number
59721
Date Published
1978
Length
145 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THE EVALUATION OF THE WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CENTER (WCC) IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
Abstract
WCC IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR ADULT FEMALE FELONY OFFENDERS COMMITTED FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE COUNTIES OF KING, PIERCE, AND SNOHOMISH. THE FACILITY CAN HOLD 22 WOMEN, WITH 18 SPACES PROVIDED FOR STATE OFFENDERS AND FEDERAL OFFENDERS ACCEPTED AS SPACE ALLOWS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENCY, APPLICANTS MUST BE CONVICTED FELONS WHO FACE COMMITMENT TO PRISON, CANNOT BE CURRENTLY DEPENDENT ON METHADONE MAINTENANCE, AND CANNOT HAVE A HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. ALSO, THEY MUST AGREE TO EMPLOYMENT IN A VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR ACADEMIC PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED TO ENCOURAGE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF RESIDENTS. THE EVALUATION EXAMINED THE CENTER AS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE TO INCARCERATION, THE COST AND POPULATION, RECIDIVISM OF CLIENTS, THE VOCATIONAL COMPONENT, THE USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND MAINTENANCE OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS FOR CLIENTS. SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED IN APRIL 1975, 86 WOMEN HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED IT, 28 RESIDENTS WERE RETURNED TO JAIL, 27 WOMEN ESCAPED, AND 1 PERSON WAS EXCUSED BY SPECIAL JUDICIAL REQUEST. DATA INDICATE THAT AT LEAST 81 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN WHO WERE ADMITTED TO THE WCC BETWEEN APRIL 1975 AND JUNE 30, 1978, WOULD HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED IF THE WCC HAD NOT EXISTED AS AN OPTION. DURING 1977-78, THE TOTAL COST OF THE WCC WAS $195,342.58; THE AVERAGE DAILY PER CAPITA COST WAS $28.13; $3,701.91 WAS THE TOTAL COST PER AVERAGE TERM OF RESIDENCY. REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) BECAUSE THE WCC CAN OPERATE MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY THAN SOME OTHER TREATMENT CENTERS, SIMILAR PROJECTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN OTHER AREAS OF WASHINGTON STATE; (2) THE WCC AS A DIVERSION PROGRAM NEEDS TO RESIST THE TENDENCY TO ADMIT APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT FALL WITHIN THE TARGET POPULATION; (3) CONTINUED EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VOCATIONAL COMPONENT IN MEETING RESIDENT'S NEEDS FOR PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING; (4) THE WCC SHOULD CONSIDER STRENGTHENING ITS ROLE IN ASSISTING RESIDENTS WITH ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AFTER RELEASE FROM THE PROGRAM; AND (5) THE WCC COULD BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IF CERTAIN MINOR FACILITY RENOVATIONS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. TABLES AND CHARTS ARE INCLUDED AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)