COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IN OREGON.   Term Paper ID:24858 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Examines program overseeing paroled offenders. Objectives, history, sanctions & services, intervention, political aspects, effectiveness.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Examines program overseeing paroled offenders. Objectives, history, sanctions & services, intervention, political aspects, effectiveness. Paper Introduction: THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS POLICY AND PROGRAM IN OREGON Introduction This research describes, places in historical perspective, analyzes, and assesses the community corrections policy in the State of Oregon. The findings of this research are presented in sections dealing with (1) policy description, (2) historical background on the policy, (3) analysis of the policy within the context of liberal and republican thought, and (4) assessment of the policy and its implementing program. Policy Description The name of the policy that is the focus of this research is the Community Corrections program of the State of Oregon. This policy was enacted into law in 1977 by the state legislature. Officially, the Community Corrections Act is desc Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. When probationer or parolee behavior indicates anecessity for such action or when orders issued by courts or the Board ofParole require such action, the number of personal contacts betweencorrections officers and offenders is increased. [12] The revised Community corrections Actincludes four areas of significance. Second, communitycorrections is more humane than prison. Almost 81 percent of thoseprobation offenders who are supervised in the community through theCommunity Corrections Program complete their probation term without beingsent back to prison. Contacts betweencorrections officers and offenders include home visits, office visits,employment checks, and checks with other agencies including law enforcementand social service agencies. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1992.Washington, C., and Bazemore, G. f. [21]Ibid. Services and Interventions: a. Build a collaborative focus on the system. Historical Background on the Policy Prisons in the United States release more than 4 , prisoners backinto communities each year. [18]J. h. Since the 192 s, corrections officials have tried to solve it by meansof prison work release programs, a form of community corrections. [2 ]Ibid., 23. e. Smart Sentencing: The Emergence of Intermediate Sanctions. [14]C. J. Policy Description The name of the policy that is the focus of this research is theCommunity Corrections program of the State of Oregon. They, then, turn to crime forincome. Eachoffender is subject to a full array of sanctions and services to help holdhim (or her) accountable and in reducing the likelihood that he (or she)will commit further crimes. [11]Department of Corrections, State of Oregon, "Information," (1997):www.doc.state.or.us/cc.htm [12]Ibid. House Arrest: Offenders spend most of the time at homewithout electronic monitoring. Crisis and Transition Housing: Individual and grouphousing primarily for parolees released from prison or temporarilyexperiencing instability in living arrangements is arranged. have not reduced cost, overcrowding or recidivism."[17] Suchresults are likely to "depress people in favor of getting people out ofprison who feel that 'get tough' community sanctions offer one way to doit."[18] Oregon invested in intermediate sanctions and made the necessarytreatment and work programs available to offenders to improve theprobability of success of the Community Corrections Program.[19] Whensurveyed, offenders supervised by the Oregon Community correction Programindicated that they thought that some types of community punishments weremore severe than prison.[2 ] In Marion County, by way of illustration,"selected non-violent offenders were given the choice of serving a prisonterm or returning to the community to participate in the IntensiveSupervision Probation (ISP) program, which imposed drug testing, mandatorycommunity service, and frequent visits with the probation officer. [6]Ibid. 2. The Community Corrections Division uses a wide variety of sanctions,services, and interventions that are designed to reduce the likelihood offuture criminal behavior while holding offenders accountable for theircrime and in meeting court or Parole Board-ordered conditions ofsupervision. While liberal theory and republican theory, within the context ofpolitical philosophy, are differentiated by diametric views on some issues,there are, nevertheless, areas in each of the theories that are compatible. Underliberal theory, all persons are free to choose their own values.[16] The Community Corrections Policy in the State of Oregon tends to bepartly at home with both republican theory and liberal theory. The revised Act provides more local control; fewer stateregulations; and limited restrictions on programs or populations to servethrough the Community Corrections Program. "Information," (1997): www.doc.state.or.us/cc.htmEckl, C. Education: This program assists offenders in obtainingeither basic education or a GED (general educational development)certificate. Byrne, and M. [1 ]Ibid., 6 . Probation and parole officers working in Community Correctionsmonitor the behavior of more than 28, felony offenders living in thevarious communities in Oregon. Within the context of republican theory, the Community CorrectionsPolicy in the State of Oregon does restrict the activities of offender as ameans of protecting the public interest. The program provides controlof offenders who are required to pay victim restitution and other costsfrom wages they earn while working in the community. Thefindings of this research are presented in sections dealing with (1) policydescription, (2) historical background on the policy, (3) analysis of thepolicy within the context of liberal and republican thought, and (4)assessment of the policy and its implementing program. Antabuse Support: Subsidized assistance for thepurchase of Antabuse (a drug used to discourage alcohol usage) is provided. Day Reporting: This program requires an offender toreport to a central location every day where he (or she) files a writtendaily schedule, showing how each hour of the day will be spent. Mental Health Treatment: This program includes generalcounseling, evaluations, services for mentally or emotionally disturbedpersons, and other seriously mentally ill offenders. Offenders completed community service hours in a waythat provided an important long-term benefit to their community, taughtthem lessons about the needs of other citizens (including those victimizedby violent abuse), provided an opportunity for skill development andpositive interaction with conventional adults, and ensured that offenders'time on community supervision was occupied for significant portions of theday and evenings."[22] A large number of adult felons in Oregon are managed effectivelythrough the Community Corrections Program. b. Employment: This program assists offenders in obtainingand keeping jobs. A specificschedule is required and a computer prints out specific times when anoffender is not where he (or she) is supposed to be. These offenders will remain in the community in jail or other localcustody options. Foster creativity and innovation in the development anddelivery of correctional services. Politicalparticipation of this sort requires that an individual have a knowledge ofpublic affairs, a sense of belonging to the community, a concern for thewelfare of the whole community, and a moral bond with the community.[15] Liberal theory, within the context of political philosophy, holds thatgovernment should be neutral toward the views of its citizens. First,community corrections is cheaper that prison. Wood, "Between A Rock and A Hard Place," AmericanCity & County 1 8 (June 1993): 56. [23]Department of Corrections, State of Oregon, "Information," (1997):www.doc.state.or.us/cc.htm Such sharingrequires the deliberation of issues, problems, and solutions among thoseindividuals participating in the political process. i. Work release not only preparesprisoners for working when they leave prison but it also enables them toreimburse the state for part of the costs of their imprisonment. 4. Community Work Crew: This program is similar toCommunity Service, with the exception that offenders work in supervisedcrews. TheCommunity Corrections Program in Oregon serves an important role providinga cost-effective means to hold offenders accountable while protecting thepublic.[23] Summary and Conclusion This research described, placed in historical perspective, analyzed,and assessed the community corrections policy in the State of Oregon. [17]J. Sex Offender Treatment: Group and individual treatment,often in relapse prevention, is provided to assist in providing behaviorcontrol to sex offenders. the community corrections policy and program in oregon Introduction This research describes, places in historical perspective, analyzes,and assesses the community corrections policy in the State of Oregon. "Playing Hardball With Criminals." State Legislatures 2 (September 1994): 14-19.Petersilia, J. Washington and G. Sanctions: a. About athird of the offenders given the option between ISP or prison choseprison."[21] Through the Eastern Oregon Homeless Project and Abuse ShelterCoalition in Deschutes County, the Community Corrections Division hasexpanded on the "corrections as a resource" theme by using adult andjuvenile probationers and parolees to accomplish a variety of community-related tasks. Most states focus on non-violentoffenders for community corrections programs. TheCommunity Corrections Program also develops additional services such asalcohol and drug treatment, sex offender treatment, employment, and mentalhealth services to meet requirements for offenders prescribed by courts orthe state Board of Parole.[2] Parole and probation officers implement the Community correctionspolicy to control felony offenders under their supervision by concentratingthe greatest efforts on those offenders who are most likely to commit newcrimes. The Task Force recommended the drafting of legislation to create apartnership between the state and the community to provide supervision andsanctions to offenders sentenced in the community. [22]C. The CommunityCorrections Division, along with the Department of Corrections, is locatedin Salem, Oregon, the state capital. Almost 6 percent of those offenders on parole orpost-prison supervision under the control of the Community correctionsProgram complete supervision without being sent back to prison. Contact between corrections officers andoffenders is progressively less frequent with less risky felons. The debate came to a head in the 1995legislative session with the passage of Senate Bill 1145, The CommunityCorrections Restructure Act. Thecase for community correction is based on two main points. Cognitive Restructuring: This program addresses flawsin how an offender thinks to assist in interrupting criminal thinkingpatterns. Workrelease programs permit selected prisoners near the end of their sentencesto leave prison in order to work in the community during the day, returningto prison in the evening and on week-ends. and a domesticabuse crisis center. Subsidy: Limited financial assistance for offenders topurchase housing, food, transportation, work clothing, and so forth isprovided. A variety ofsuggestions concerning the Act has ranged from abolishing the Act tomandating county participation. [19]J. "Thinking Your Way Out of Prison." Spectrum: The Journal of State Government 66 (Fall 1993): 5 -58.Byrne, J., Lurigio, A., and Petersilia, J. Cohan and K. [16]Ibid., 4. Typically, such high-riskoffenders also have serious substance abuse problems that contribute totheir criminal behavior. Electronic Monitoring: Offenders spend most of the timeat home with a small transmitter attached to wrist or ankle. In community corrections, the theory thatsurveillance programs will deter offenders from criminal behavior has beentried for several years. [9]P. Assessment of the Policy and Program Deterrence-based assumptions have been used to develop communitycorrections programs. Day reporting often includes programs such as alcohol ordrug groups, employment readiness, and education. Sandel, Democracy's Discontent (Cambridge, Massachusetts:Harvard University Press, 1992), 5. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment: More intensivetreatment in a residential facility in provided. Tasks may include chopping wood,clearing trails, weeding or maintaining parks, painting buildings,collecting roadside trash, or other types of manual labor. There exists a wide variability in available programs fromcounty to county. Petersilia, "A Crime Control Rationale for Reinvesting inCommunity Corrections," Spectrum: The Journal of State Government 68(Summer 1995): 22. Work Center: These programs house offenders in astructured setting, and allow them to leave the premises for work or otherapproved activities such as drug treatment. As a consequence, Oregon now has an infrastructure of community-based programs that provide viable alternatives to prison.[14] Analysis of the Policy As Liberal or Republican Thought Republican theory, within the context of political philosophy, holdsthat liberty depends upon sharing in self-government. The objective is to create the capacity to house those offendersdescribed as sentenced or revoked for 12 months or less. BibliographyByrne, J., and Brewster, M. Petersilia, (Eds.), Smart Sentencing:The Emergence of Intermediate Sanctions (Newbury Park, California: SagePublications, 1992), 174. Funds are allocated by the revised Act for constructionprojects to build, renovate, acquire, or remodel local correctionalfacilities broadly defined as jails, work centers, work camps, and soforth. Sometreatment may be intensive, meeting on a daily basis. This policy wasenacted into law in 1977 by the state legislature. c. This systempermits a corrections officer to react quickly to behavior in a consistentmanner through imposition of a sanction commensurate with that behavior.[4]Department of Corrections, State of Oregon: An Overview The Community Corrections Division of the Department of Corrections ofthe State of Oregon is charged with the responsibility for theimplementation of Oregon's Community Corrections Act. Approximately 19, of these offenders areprobationers while the remainder are parolees.[1]Intent of the Community Corrections Policy in Oregon The intent of the Community corrections policy in Oregon is to holdoffenders accountable for their criminal behavior, while simultaneouslyprotecting the community from the commission by these persons of futurecrimes. Other treatment maybe conducted in a day treatment model. l. Lurigio, and J. Within thecontext of liberal theory, the Community Corrections Policy attempts toprotect the rights of the law abiding public by protecting them from thecommission of future criminal acts by offenders. The Community Corrections Policy in the State of Oregon is consistent withthose areas of compatibility between the two theories. Theoffender must obey a curfew; perform community work; and submit to randomdrug testing. f. Local public safety coordinating councils are created by therevised Act in each county to develop and recommend plans for use of stateresources to serve adult offenders and to serve as planning andimplementation forums for the coordination of local criminal justicepolicies. m. [13]Ibid. Under the Community Corrections program, local communitycorrections departments develop and operate sanctions such as electronicsurveillance, community work crews, day reporting centers, residential workcenters, and intensive supervision programs to assist parole and probationofficers in holding offenders accountable for their behavior. [4]Ibid. Such offenders often have served prison sentences and frequentlyhave four or more previous felony convictions. Byrne, A. Democracy's Discontent. [7]Ibid. 3. 2. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publications, 1992.Cohan, P., and Wood, K. These areas are as follows:[13] 1. (Eds.). Community Corrections sanctions, services, andintervention may include the following:[7] 1. Liberaltheory demands toleration of the views of others, fair procedures indealing with all people, and a respect for individual rights. e. The counties, in partnership with the state, will provide,under the revised Act, punishment, sanctions and services for criminaloffenders whom they would otherwise sentence to prison for 12 months orless. d. Community Service: Offenders are assigned to work forgovernment or private nonprofit agencies. Much of the evidence from the 199 s suggests,however, "get-tough surveillance-oriented community supervision programs,such as boot camps, intensive supervision, home detention and day reportingcenters ... [3]Ibid. Anger Management: This program is delivered in a groupsetting that teaches methods to control anger productively. j. The Community Corrections Policyalso is consistent with republican theory in that the implementingCommunity Corrections Act provides for the participation of both the stateand local levels of government in the implementation of the programs underthe policy. Recognize and respect community differences and respond tocommunity needs. The mission of the CommunityCorrections Division is as follows: "To advocate for an effective,efficient coordinated corrections system. Officially, theCommunity Corrections Act is described as Oregon Revised Statutes 423.475through 423.565. Offenders cannot getjobs because they lack marketable skills. The Task Force proposed a new system of community-based corrections based on a model developed in Minnesota in the early-197 s. Treatment durations rangefrom 3 -to-18 days. Simultaneously, theCommunity Corrections Policy attempts to protect the rights of offenders byproviding them with the guidance and support required for these offendersto be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the community. Each county decides what set of sanctions and services bestmeet the needs of the offender population and the community in specificcounties. Offenders evaluated as high-risk for re-offendingare contacted personally by probation and parole officers a minimum of fourtimes each month. Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment: Group and/orindividual treatment is used to address alcohol and drug issues. "A Crime Control Rationale for Reinvesting in Community Corrections." Spectrum: The Journal of State Government 68 (Summer 1995): 16-27.Sandel, M. n. Urinalysis: Testing for drugs and alcohol is performed. Bazemore, "Charting the Future of the JuvenileJustice System: Reinventing Mission and Management," Spectrum: the Journalof State Government 68 (Spring 1995): 62. g. c. Unlike many responsibilities shifted to local jurisdictions, the statehas generally increased financial support to the Community Correctionsprogram. Brewster, "Thinking Your Way Out of Prison,"Spectrum: The Journal of State Government 66 (Fall 1993): 54. The statelegislature enacted the Community Corrections Act in 1977 to enhanceexisting community programs and to develop new sentencing alternatives toprison incarceration. Further, offenders under the supervision ofthe Community Corrections Program are subject to frequent unannounced homevisits, searches, random urine testing for drug use, or polygraph testingto monitor compliance with conditions of supervision.[3] In addition to the various sanctions and services described in thepreceding discussion, probation and parole officers under the CommunityCorrections Program can respond quickly to the violation behavior ofoffenders through a formal system named Structured Sanctions. Eckl, "Playing Hardball With Criminals," State Legislatures 2 (September 1994): 18. J. [8]Ibid. TheCommunity Corrections program in Oregon is responsible for supervision ofoffenders in the community who have been sentenced in judicial proceedingsthe court has to probation or who are on parole or are under post-prisonsupervision subsequent to the completion of a prison sentence. Transition Services: Pre-release services featuring"reaching in" to the institution to "hook" the offender to housing,treatment, employment, and other services before release from prison isprovided to reduce likelihood of failure.[8] k. [15]M. g. [5]Ibid. Intensive and Special Supervision: An offender may beseen up to five times per week; be on curfew; have frequent employmentchecks; submit to drug testing; and be subject to unannounced visits athome by a corrections officer. Treatment is generally long in duration. "Between A Rock and A Hard Place." American City & County 1 8 (June 1993): 56-61.Department of Corrections, State of Oregon. The state legislatureprovided state funds under the Community Corrections Act in 1977 to enhanceexisting community programs and to develop new sentencing alternatives toprison incarceration.[11] The original Community Corrections Act has been challenged severaltimes in the state legislature over the past 22 years. Polygraph: Disclosure and ongoing testing for sexoffenders is performed to assure compliance with conditions of supervision. 3. In these projects, "offenders have worked with volunteerbuilders and carpenters to construct a homeless shelter ... Experts debate the possiblereasons for these returns, but most agree that the lack of job training andwork opportunities are significant causal factors. b. Within three years, most of these releasedprisoners are returned to jail or prison. In Oregon, corrections costs created a considerable dilemma whena tax revolt initiative left the state in a serious budget crisis. Three states (Colorado,Michigan, and Montana), however, allow community boards to decide whichoffenders may be accepted into local community corrections programs.[1 ] Oregon Governor Robert Straub appointed the Governor's Task Force onCorrections in 1976. "Charting the Future of the Juvenile Justice System: Reinventing Mission and Management." Spectrum: the Journal of State Government 68 (Spring 1995): 51-66.----------------------- [1]Department of Corrections, State of Oregon, "Information," (1997):www.doc.state.or.us/cc.htm [2]Ibid. A revision of the Act in 1995 preserved theessential goals of the Community Corrections policy while enhancing thelevel of participation of counties in the Community Corrections Program.The Community Corrections policy in Oregon has been a success. A specific schedule is required andverification occurs by telephone. To support and promotecorrectional activities developed to meet community needs."[5] Theprinciples that guide the performance of the Community Corrections Divisionare as follows:[6] 1. The Community Corrections Act provides the authority forthe implementation of the Community Corrections program.Persons Targeted by the Community Corrections Policy The Community Corrections program in Oregon is responsible forsupervision of offenders in the community who have been sentenced injudicial proceedings the court has to probation or who are on parole or areunder post-prison supervision subsequent to the completion of a prisonsentence. d. High costs associated with the building and maintaining prisons andjails led to demands for a more cost efficient means of dealing withoffenders.[9] Community corrections was conceived as an approach for thepunishment and treatment of persons convicted of non-violent crimes. Insteadof the predictable response of dropping community corrections contracts toobtain short-term savings, however, Oregon lawmakers invested in communitycorrections and are now beginning to see fiscal benefit in that policyapproach. 2. 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