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WISCONSIN - MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAM - EXEMPLARY PROJECT SCREENING AND VALIDATION REPORT

NCJ Number
43428
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1975
Length
59 pages
Annotation
THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAM (MAP) INVOLVES THE INMATE, PAROLE BOARD, PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENT, INSTITUTION, STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, & COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL GROUPS IN PAROLE PREPARATION AND THE PAROLE RELEASE DECISION.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM ASSESSES THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE INMATE, AND DESIGNS AN INDIVIDUALIZED REHABILITATIVE PROGRAM TO PREPARE HIM FOR A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING RELEASE ON PAROLE. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE DEFINED IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, DISCIPLINE, AND TREATMENT, AND A PLAN IS DEVELOPED BY THE INMATE WITH THE HELP OF A MAP COORDINATOR. PLAN NEGOTIATIONS INVOLVE THE INMATE, THE COORDINATOR, THE INSTITUTIONAL STAFF, AND PAROLE AUTHORITIES. UNDER THE TERMS OF A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT, THE INMATE AGREES TO CERTAIN BEHAVIOR, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SKILLS. THE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED BY THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; THE COORDINATOR MONITORS THE ADHERENCE OF ALL PARTIES TO THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, AND THE PAROLE BOARD AGREES TO PAROLE THE INMATE ON A CERTAIN DATE UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE NEGOTIATED PLAN. THIS REPORT DELVES INTO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATIONS, AND CONSIDERS THE MAP IN TERMS OF THE FIVE EXEMPLARY PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA: GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, REPLICABILITY, MEASURABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE PROGRAM'S EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS AND IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION ARE AMONG THE MAJOR STRENGTHS. MAJOR WEAKNESSES ARE SEEN IN THE FACT THAT NO HARD EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY, THE UTILIZATION OF REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS, OR THE INCIDENCE OF RETURN. IT ALSO IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SYSTEMS WILL BE FUNCTIONING SUFFICIENTLY WELL TO PERMIT THESE ASSESSMENTS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF MAP PILOT PROJECT EXPERIMENTALS BY CONTRACT COMPLETION STATUS, EXEMPLARY PROJECT APPLICATION, BUDGET DETAILS, MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAMMING CONTRACT, LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.