THE WCC BEGAN OPERATIONS IN 1975 WITH A GRANT FROM LEAA, AND HAS BEEN FUNDED SINCE 1978 BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES. THE RESIDENTIAL FACILITY HAS A CAPACITY OF 22 AND SERVES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WOMEN'S PENITENTIARY, PURDY TREATMENT CENTER. THE GOAL OF WCC IS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH THE TOOLS FOR MAKING THE CHANGES THEY COULD EFFECT WITHIN THEMSELVES BY DEVELOPING POSITIVE SELF-IMAGES, AND BY ACQUIRING SOCIAL AND MARKETABLE SKILLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNCTIONING PRODUCTIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM IS PREMISED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE MORE HUMANE, LESS COSTLY, AND MORE EFFECTIVE IN DECREASING RECIDIVISM THAN IS TRADITIONAL INCARCERATION. THE WCC HAS SEVEN SPECIFIED OBJECTIVES; DATA WAS COLLECTED AND ANALYZED RELATIVE TO THESE SEVEN GOALS TO MEASURE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. THESE GOALS INCLUDE DECREASING RECIDIVISM OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS, REDUCING INCARCERATION COSTS PER CAPITA OF WOMEN OFFENDERS, SERVING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PURDY TREATMENT CENTER, SERVING 36 RESIDENTS PER YEAR, FACILITATING OFFENDERS' ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, AND PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN FAMILY TIES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE WCC IS VIEWED FAVORABLY BY JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, PROBATION PERSONNEL, AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS; IT HAS BEEN USED AS A MODEL FOR EIGHT ADDITIONAL CENTERS. THE WCC RECIDIVISM RATE IS LOWER, ALTHOUGH NOT SIGNIFICANTLY, THAN FOR PURDY RESIDENTS, AND OPERATES AT A LOWER COST PER RESIDENT. HOWEVER, THE WCC LACKS INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES IN TREATING RESIDENTS, AND THE ESCAPE RATE FOR THE PROJECT AT 19.7 PERCENT MAY BE UNACCEPTABLY HIGH. APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)