NCJ Number
183361
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2000 Pages: 227-235
Date Published
2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the findings of an evaluation of New Zealand's Habilitation Centre, a pilot program designed to provide residential services that identify and address the causes of individual offending and assist with the reintegration of offenders into the community.
Abstract
A combination of methods was used in the evaluation, namely direct face-to-face interviewing, mail survey, telephone interviewing, literature review, analysis of compliance reports, and other secondary data (offender records and habilitation centre records). The evaluation found that the 2.5 years of operation of the pilot program produced mixed results. The habilitation centres have successfully completed the set-up phase, and centre coordinators have been appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Criminal Justice Amendment Act 1993. Staff have been appointed by the habilitation centres, and a number of residents have been admitted to the program. participation in the program was low, as evident from the inadequate occupancy rates during the pilot period. The evaluation found that the low occupancy level was partly responsible for the low completion rates, which in turn adversely affected the level of recidivism. A number of factors contributed to the low participation and occupancy levels and the subsequent low completion rates, notably inadequate referrals, attrition, early discharge from the program, and lack of motivation. Recidivism was still high among the residents, even though the recidivism rate was lower for the residents than for the general offender population. This can be explained in terms of the low completion rates, the lack of motivation among the residents, and the use of the centres by inmates as a means of getting out of prison. Still, the evaluation concluded that the potential exists for the habilitation centres to meet important community needs by preparing the residents for life outside of prison. 3 tables and 38 references