NCJ Number
74435
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Existing services that aid in the adjustment of military offenders released into the community are described, and gaps in those services are discussed.
Abstract
Although the military corrections system provides quality institutional programs for its inmates, it is unable to guarantee community training, treatment, or opportunity to releasees not returned to military duty. An organization currently assisting the military duty. An organization currently assisting the military releasee in the community is the Seventh Step Foundation, an ex-offender, self-help organization which operates 36 prison chapters and 70 community chapters throughout the United States. Community programs are usually staffed by ex-offenders and laypersons. Some chapters provide postrelease group counseling. Presently, the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Leavenworth, Kan., contracts with Seventh Step for individual group and postrelease counseling for military offenders. The postrelease aspects of the program serve releasees on a volunteer basis. They offer referral services, employment assistance, parole sponsorship, and financial assistance to the releasee. This is the only program of its kind serving military ex-offenders, although more are needed, along with followup mechanisms to ensure that the military releasee is taking advantage of available resources. Also, a limited number of community agencies may be prepared to deal with military ex-offenders, whose legal status places them in a position where social agencies are unsure about whether they are entitled to services normally reserved for traditional State and Federal parolees and probationers. Five references are supplied.