NCJ Number
179231
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This evaluation assesses the impact of New York State's legislation that authorized the establishment of shock incarceration programs in the State as well as shock parole supervision.
Abstract
The evaluation documents the creation of a rigorous multi-treatment program that emphasizes discipline, academic education, substance abuse treatment and education, and group and individual counseling, all within a military structure. It found that after screening 54,088 legally eligible inmates between July 1987 and September 1997, 28,889 inmate volunteers were sent to shock facilities. Of these 28,889 volunteers, 17,938 graduated and were granted an early release to parole supervision. The evaluation findings also found that New York State's shock incarceration program differs substantially from similar programs in other States. No other State surveyed has developed a shock incarceration program with the extensive levels of treatment provided by New York. Further, findings show that savings were realized by releasing shock graduates an average of 11.7 months prior to completion of their court-determined minimum period of incarceration. For the first 17,938 releases, these savings amounted to an estimated $452.2 million in operating costs plus $89.8 million of avoided capital construction costs, yielding a total estimated saving of $542 million. Additionally, the evaluation found that shock inmates have made academic progress, have received fewer misbehavior reports compared to some minimum- and medium-security facilities, and have had less recidivism. The findings thus indicate that New York's shock incarceration program has achieved its legislative mandate of treating and releasing selected State prisoners earlier than their court-determined minimum period of incarceration without compromising the community-protection rights of the citizenry. 33 tables, 6 charts, and a 51-item bibliography