Community Corrections - Reducing Recidivism Rates
Community corrections can be defined as a set of interrelated programs designed to prevent future criminal activity, by providing opportunities that allow ex-offenders to re-integrate themselves back into society, without compromising public order or safety. Facilities such as Halfway houses, Day Reporting Centers and Halfback houses focus on various forms of counseling to address the needs of ex-offenders. Daily programming include, but are not limited to, educational /vocational training, drug/ alcohol treatment, anger management and conflict resolution. In addition, community corrections also serve as a remedy to prison overcrowding. For instance, after completing a portion of their prison sentence, parolees are often mandated by the State Parole Board to attend these programs as alternatives to incarceration.

The concept of community corrections is one of rational thinking. In a broad sense, first, the major factors often associated with criminal behavior are identified.(i.e. education, drug addiction, employment) Second, community based programs are then structured with key components that target such factors. Third, offenders on either probation/parole, are placed in these facilities, some with specific instructions from the court/parole board, which indicate the type and amount of treatment they should receive. Ultimately, the desired outcome of community corrections is to ensure, that upon completing the program, ex-offenders will be less likely to continue any criminal behavior, thus aiding in crime reduction.

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Comments on Community Corrections - Reducing Recidivism Rates

Charles L Dick Jr

Posted 10/05/07 - 13:14:38: #1 I would like to know more about the information you have submitted. What state? Is your report an analysis of actual historical data or an hypothesis and how did you arrive at this result? Any per person cost vs incarceration cost pe capita? Recidivism rate percentage and over what period of time? How do local counties respond to this perspective? My interest have come from personal experience as well as my course of study since release 24 months ago. I am from Oklahoma and the fact that I had personal forsight and was able to maintain personal discipline long enough to stumble into the Veteran's Aduministration where I was provided with housing and counseling and medical support, and last but not least, a sense of belonging that I could adhere to while starting to rebuild my own life was necessary for me to begin to assert myself in research of services and programs that would consider and accept me. Please adise. Charles

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