NCJ Number
17500
Date Published
1972
Length
24 pages
Annotation
YOKE CREST IS A COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAM WHICH USES A THERAPEUTIC 'PARENT' MODEL SIMILAR TO THAT DEVELOPED AT SYNANON TO DEAL WITH LARGELY ADDICTED OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, AND RE-ENTRY CAPABILITIES OF THE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED AND ANALYZED. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND RECRUITMENT, THE PROGRAM'S TARGET POPULATION, AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. THE PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED IN REGARDS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM IN REHABILITATING RESIDENTS FOR LEADING PRODUCTIVE, LAW-ABIDING LIVES ON THEIR RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE YOKE CREST MODEL, WHICH ADDRESSED ITSELF TO A NARROW TARGET POPULATION WHO 'FIT' IN, WAS PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON FOR THE LARGE DROP-OUT RATE (40 PER CENT). IN ADDITION, EVALUATORS FOUND THAT THE PROGRAM DID NOT REALISTICALLY PREPARE RESIDENTS FOR RE-ENTRY AND EVENTUAL COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM THE YOKE CREST COMMUNITY. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE: DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER RESIDENT SELECTION PROCESS; INDIVIDUALIZATION OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH SPECIFIC CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESIDENT AND STAFF; HIRING OF A FULL-TIME LIFE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND A FULL-TIME RE-ENTRY DIRECTOR; THE ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING; AND THE USE OF A PART-TIME CONSULTANT, TRAINED IN GROUP DYNAMICS, TO WORK SOLELY WITH THE STAFF.