U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

BELLINGHAM (WA) - TRAINING RELEASE PROJECT - A PRECURSORY EVALUATION

NCJ Number
42353
Author(s)
S READIO; B L KINTZ
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE SHORT SPAN OF THE PROJECT, LOW NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND LACK OF COMPARATIVE DATA ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE EVALUATOR AS FACTORS UNDERMINING MEANINGFUL ANALYSIS. A COMBINATION OF TRAINING AND WORK RELEASE IS URGED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM EVALUATED PLACES OFFENDERS IN FINANCED TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH NON-TRAINING HOURS BEING SPENT IN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES NEAR THE WORK SITE. TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS USUALLY OCCUR SEVERAL MONTHS PRECEDING READINESS FOR PAROLE. RESIDENTS ARE GIVEN INCREASING AMOUNTS OF FREEDOM THROUGH THE USE OF ACTIVITY AND SOCIAL OUTING PASSES AS THEY PROGRESS FROM STAGE TO STAGE IN THE PROJECT. COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE PROGRAM. THERE WERE MANY WITHDRAWALS AND INCOMPLETES IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND ONCE A RESIDENT COMPLETES HIS OR HER TERM OF INCARCERATION, HE OR SHE DOES NOT CONTINUE WITH TRAINING BEGUN IN THE PROGRAM. THE RELEVANCY OF THE COURSEWORK MOST RESIDENTS PURSUE IS DEEMED QUESTIONABLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WORK RELEASE OR A COMBINATION OF WORK-TRAINING RELEASE WOULD BE MORE RELEVANT. UNDER-FUNDING IS SEEN AS THE MOST SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE PROJECT....RCB