NCJ Number
151564
Date Published
Unknown
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This report highlights findings from a study investigating the impact of a correctional facility's presence on the community in which it is located.
Abstract
Study investigators examined how seven selected correctional facilities across the country affected their respective communities in terms of property values, public safety, economy, quality of life, and law enforcement capabilities. The facilities included in the study represented a range of facility types, had been constructed 6 to 10 years prior to the study, and were located within a few miles of residential areas. For each facility, the study defined a target area and a control area that had comparable demographic features, but no correctional facility. The study results showed that a community typically has four concerns about the siting of correctional facilities: public safety, mistrust of government officials involved in siting, economic and social considerations, and public participation in the decision making process and its outcomes. A response to public resistance over facility siting must include extensive program planning, provision of public information, training of staff involved in siting activities, and use of conflict management tactics by those staff members. To deal effectively with public opposition, a program must be able to address issues of public trust, public risk, and power sharing.