NCJ Number
198795
Date Published
2002
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This 2002 report presents comprehensive information and data on the New York State, Department of Correctional Services’ Shock Incarceration Program established in 1987 as a rigorous, military structured multi-treatment program for State sentenced inmates.
Abstract
The New York State, Shock Incarceration Program was established in 1987 by enabling legislation. The program has a capacity for 1,290 male participants and 169 female participants with 222 beds dedicated to orientation and screening. The program’s rigorous multi-treatment program emphasizes discipline, academic education, substance abuse treatment and education, and group and individual counseling within a military structure. Inmate participants are involved in a minimum of 675 hours of treatment. The Shock Incarceration Program places great importance on being structured as a therapeutic community. Program graduates are released on the average of 358 days before their court-set earliest release date. In 2001, 25,812 inmate participants graduated from the program with an estimated departmental cost savings of $837.7 million for both care and custody and capital costs. Eighty-one percent of the graduates who took GED in fiscal year 2000-2001 passed the exam compared to passing rates of only 57 percent at comparable medium-security facilities and 52 percent at comparable minimum-security facilities. Program graduates were more likely than comparison group parolees to be successful on parole supervision despite remaining at risk for longer periods of time. Information and data presented in the report address the following areas: legislative background, eligibility screening, fiscal analysis, community service projects, Shock inmates, educational achievement, disciplinary process, and Shock Parole in New York State.