MICHIGAN - CORRECTIONS CENTERS - ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• NCJ Number: 17532
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 217 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Michigan Office of Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Community Corrections Resource Programs, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CORRECTION CENTER PROGRAM, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RESIDENTS, AND THE CURRENT OPERATIONS OF THE CENTERS.

Abstract

THE CORRECTIONS CENTER PROGRAM OF THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OPERATES FOURTEEN CORRECTIONS CENTERS IN TEN URBAN AREAS IN THE STATE. IT WAS INITIATED, AND IS MAINTAINED, WITH THE GOAL OF TESTING OFFENDERS WHO ARE NEARING THEIR PAROLE DATES TO ASCERTAIN IF THEY MAY BE SAFELY RELEASED INTO THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES, AND TO ASSIST OFFENDERS IN THEIR REINTEGRATION INTO COMMUNITY LIFE. THE CENTERS PROVIDE A RESIDENTIAL SETTING IN WHICH OFFENDERS MAY LIVE PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE ON PAROLE. THE RESEARCH METHODS USED IN THIS PROGRAM EVALUATION INCLUDED SURVEY INFORMATION ON 406 RESIDENTS WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM BETWEEN 1970 AND 1972, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH CENTER SUPERVISORS, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION, AND THE ANALYSIS OF CENTER STATISTICS FOR THE FIVE PRECEDING YEARS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CENTERS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE REINTEGRATION OF THE OFFENDER INTO COMMUNITY LIFE AND THAT THEY SERVE AS EFFECTIVE SCREENING MECHANISMS SEPARATING PERSONS DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THOSE READY FOR FULL COMMUNITY RELEASE. IN ADDITION, THE RESIDENT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE CORRECTIONS CENTER WAS SHOWN TO BE A VALID PREDICTOR OF LATER PERFORMANCE ON PAROLE. THE EVALUATOR'S OVERALL FINDING WAS THAT THE CORRECTIONS CENTERS PROVIDE A VALID AND IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND SERVE TO INCREASE THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED, REVISED, AND ULTIMATELY EXPANDED, TO SERVE A GREATER NUMBER OF CLIENTS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF POLICY, FACILITIES, CENTER FEES AND RULES, EMPLOYMENT, TREATMENT PROGRAMMING, CENTER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, CENTER STAFF, THE SCREENING OF CENTER APPLICANTS, ORIENTATION, EVALUATION, FUNDING AND COSTS ARE PRESENTED IN THE APPENDIX. THE APPENDIX ALSO CONTAINS A SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE CORRECTIONS CENTER PROGRAM; A DETAILED REVIEW OF CORRECTIONS CENTER OPERATIONS AND OTHER PRE-RELEASE PROGRAMS; AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESIDENT SURVEY DATA; AND THE SURVEY FORMS, DATA COLLECTION AND COMPILATION SHEETS, AND INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRES USED DURING THE STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)