NCJ Number
27415
Date Published
1975
Length
31 pages
Annotation
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENABLE OFFENDERS TO BE PREPARED FINANCIALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR FREEDOM AND TO REDUCE THE MOUNTING COSTS OF PER DIEM INCARCERATION.
Abstract
IN THREE OF THE FOUR FACILITIES INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM, THE PARTICIPANT WAS EMPLOYED OR ATTENDED SCHOOL DURING THE DAY AND RETURNED TO THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT NIGHT. THE FOURTH FACILITY INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM WAS PLUMMER HOUSE, A COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY LOCATED IN WILMINGTON. EVALUATION REPORTS SUBMITTED IN TWO PREVIOUS YEARS ARE HIGHLIGHTED. THE PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF DOCUMENTARY RECORDS WHICH WERE CLUSTERED INTO EIGHT TABLES CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT IN DESCRIBING THE RELEVANT ISSUES AFFECTING THE APPRAISAL OF THE PROGRAM. PROGRAM DATA IS TABULATED FOR PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS AND PURPOSES, PROGRAM OPERATING BUDGET, PROGRAM ORGANIZATION AND PERCENTAGE OF TIME EXPENDED BY PERSONNEL, PROGRAM INCOME, PARTICIPANT PROFILES, PROGRAM ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN EMPLOYMENT, NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED, AND TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYERS. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE STATE OF DELAWARE ACTUALLY OPERATES FOUR DISTINCT, SEPARATE WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS SINCE WARDENS IMPLEMENT AND CONTROL PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS. THERE WAS A GENERAL FEELING THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IF ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE HOUSED OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION, SINCE THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEIR ACCUMULATED SAVINGS AT THE TIME OF RELEASE (AVERAGING 350 DOLLARS) DID NOT MAKE THEM 'FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR FREEDOM.' THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SINCE POST RELEASE DATA WAS NOT COLLECTED ON WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS, THE ADEQUACY OR IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM COULD NOT BE MEASURED.