Community Corrections Working Group

In response to recognition in the late 1960s and early 1970s that traditional incarceration was not working, alternatives to standard prison settings were sought and developed. One of those alternatives -- community-based corrections -- had been conceived in the 1950s as a system that might prove more progressive, humane, and effective, particularly with people who had committed less serious criminal offenses and for whom incarceration, with constant exposure to serious offenders and career criminals, might prove more damaging than rehabilitative. The alternative of community corrections has evolved to become a substantial part of the criminal justice and correctional system, spurred in recent years not so much by a progressive, humane philosophy as by dramatically increasing prison populations, court orders to "fix" overextended prison settings, and an economic search for cost savings. Encyclopedia of Community Corrections explores all aspects of community corrections, from its philosophical foundation to its current inception. Features & benefits: 150 signed entries (each with cross references and further readings) are organized in A-to-Z fashion to give students easy access to the full range of topics in community corrections; a thematic reader's guide in the front matter groups entries by broad topical or thematic areas to make it easy for users to find related entries at a glance; a chronology in the back matter helps students put individual events into broader historical context; a glossary provides students with concise definitions to key terms in the field; a resource guide to classic books, journals, and web sites (along with the further readings accompanying each entry) guides students to further resources in their research journeys; and appendix offers statistics from the Bureau of Justice.

Essentials of Community Corrections offers you a concise and practical perspective on community corrections while emphasizing successful offender reentry through strong community partnerships. Author Robert D. Hanser draws on his expertise with offender treatment planning, special needs populations, and the comparative criminal justice fields to present you with a complete introduction to community corrections today. A variety of practical pedagogical tools offer you insights into the daily lives of those working in the field and encourage you to start thinking like practitioners. Key Features: What Would You Do? assignments give you the chance to apply what they have learned by analyzing real-world scenarios to determine the best course of action for common challenges in community supervision. Applied Theory inserts throughout the book provide you with a focused application of a specific theory to particular issues in community corrections. Cross-National Perspective boxes demonstrate common themes in community corrections around the world, as well as different approaches used in other countries. Applied Exercises encourage you to reflect on your understanding of each chapter's content and to demonstrate your competence in using the information, techniques, and processes that you have learned. Food for Thought features at the end of each chapter guide your through a recent research study related to community corrections and include follow-up questions to help you think critically.

In response to recognition in the late 1960s and early 1970s that traditional incarceration was not working, alternatives to standard prison settings were sought and developed. One of those alternatives—community-based corrections—had been conceived in the 1950s as a system that might prove more progressive, humane, and effective, particularly with people who had committed less serious criminal offenses and for whom incarceration, with constant exposure to serious offenders and career criminals, might prove more damaging than rehabilitative. The alternative of community corrections has evolved to become a substantial part of the criminal justice and correctional system, spurred in recent years not so much by a progressive, humane philosophy as by dramatically increasing prison populations, court orders to "fix" overextended prison settings, and an economic search for cost savings. Although community correction programs have been in place for some 40 years now, to date no comprehensive reference resource has tackled this topic. Accessible and jargon-free and available in both print and electronic formats, the one-volume Encyclopedia of Community Corrections will explore all aspects of community corrections, from its philosophical foundation to its current inception. Features & Benefits: 150 signed entries (each with Cross References and Further Readings) are organized in A-to-Z fashion to give students easy access to the full range of topics in community corrections. A thematic Reader's Guide in the front matter groups entries by broad topical or thematic areas to make it easy for users to find related entries at a glance. In the electronic version, the Reader's Guide combines with a detailed Index and the Cross References to provide users with convenient search-and-browse capacities. A Chronology in the back matter helps students put individual events into broader historical context. A Glossary provides students with concise definitions to key terms in the field. A Resource Guide to classic books, journals, and web sites (along with the Further Readings accompanying each entry) guides students to further resources in their research journeys. An Appendix offers statistics from the Bureau of Justice.

Corrections in the Community, Sixth Edition, examines the current state of community corrections and proposes an evidence-based approach to making programs more effective. As the U.S. prison system approaches meltdown, options like probation, parole, alternative sentencing, and both residential and non-residential programs in the community continue to grow in importance. This text provides a solid foundation and includes the most salient information available on the broad and dynamic subject of community corrections. Authors Latessa and Smith organize and evaluate the latest data on the assessment of offender risk/need/responsivity and successful methods that continue to improve community supervision and its effects on different types of clients, from the mentally ill to juveniles. This book provides students with a thorough understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of community corrections and prepares them to evaluate and strengthen these crucial programs. This sixth edition includes a new chapter on specialty drug and other problem-solving courts. Now found in every state, these specialty courts represent a new way to deal with some of the problems that face our citizens, be it substance abuse or reentry to the community from prison. Chapters contain key terms, boxed material, review questions, and recommended readings, and a glossary is provided to clarify important concepts.

The U.S. corrections enterprise is challenged by a variety of demographic, societal, and fiscal trends, and this report seeks to frame an innovation agenda by identifying and prioritizing potential improvements in technology, policy, and practice.