COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL MODEL

Title: Community Correctional Model

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COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL MODEL

A correctional model depends on a number of factors: operation, risk tolerance, clinical

philosophy and inevitability of politics all play a role but don’t follow a single pattern. The

primary goals of correctional services are to: deter, incapacitate, retribution, rehabilitation and

reentry. Correctional models believe that prisons do not rehabilitate offenders but rather do the

opposite, preserving the same behavior that led to the offender’s imprisonment. One of the

mainly used model is community model of correction. Its sole purpose was to help offenders to

adapt to the community.

This model eased transition from jail to the community. This was to help the offender identify

families and have Jobs. At the core of any good community corrections program is the use of an

objective risk and needs assessment. Assessments allow correctional agencies to assign offenders

to the programs that will most likely benefit them.

The part of the assessment instrument assesses risk to reoffend, and that information is

critical to assigning probationers or parolees to levels of surveillance and supervision, such as

specialized caseloads, frequent drug testing or electronic monitoring. The “‘need” portion of the

assessment instrument identifies the sub-group of the offender population that will benefit from

being in rehabilitation treatment programs.

Research has shown that for high and moderate risk offenders participating in resources is the

best way to increase public safety. In addition, the next core principle is to make certain that the

rehabilitation programs are of sufficient quality to make a treatment programs and services has

high payoff, but for those with a low risk to reoffend, life skills programs are more appropriate.

This is the most efficient use of scarce correctional difference. There are now several scoring

methods that rate the quality of rehabilitation programs along such dimensions as staff

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COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL MODEL

qualifications and training, use of a tested curriculum or program model, and use of cognitive-

behavioral or social learning methods.

Since community model is based purely on education and work programmes, in United States,

the modes are prevalent in most prisons and they have an abiding belief that education, work

skills and the good habits learnt are integral in to securing employment and being productive

citizens. In addition, only two states out of the fifty-two do not supervise offenders released from

prison

Prisons should shift their focus from punishment of offenders to rehabilitation. This will ensure a

smooth entry of the offender to the society. These actively engage the community to assist in

restoration of the offender. First, policymakers need to understand that it is not one or the other:

build prisons or support community corrections. We need strong systems of each. We need to

create enough prison space to house the truly violent and those with no desire to change their

criminal behavior and, at the same time, we need to invest heavily in helping offenders who are

not yet steeped in criminal behavior and wish to chart a different path.

Sending someone to prison should be our last resort– it is expensive, it is stigmatizing, and it can

increase risk for future criminal behavior. Moreover, it impacts not only the person incarcerated

but also his or her family and children.

Secondly, investing in quality community corrections programs is, in my view, just good public

policy. Offenders, juvenile or adult should be afforded the opportunity to engage in productive

work, participate in programmes such as education, vocational training, religion, counselling,

leisure time and other activities that enhance self-worth, community integration and economic

status.