NCJ Number
190470
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2001 Pages: 102-104
Date Published
August 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections program to transition seriously mentally ill offenders from prison to the community.
Abstract
The First Program, which began operation in July 1999, is run by a therapeutic community whose mission is to teach chemically dependent individuals to lead drug-free lives and to educate the public about chemical dependency and dysfunctional behavior. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC), for adult male offenders referred by the DOC's special needs unit. The program has the capacity for 22 residents and is staffed by a program director, social worker, counselor and counselor assistant, and 7 house managers. Program activities include community-based vocational and educational projects and drug and alcohol counseling. During the period July 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000, there were 42 admissions and 16 completions. Completions are those offenders who have successfully gone through the program and have been paroled to an approved home plan. There were six administrative discharges from the program and four walk-aways/escapes. Four residents were considered program failures. The average length of stay was 8 months. Tables, figure