Missouri Community Correction

Missouri Community Correction

Introduction

There is an increase in the reliance of correctional facilities in U.S through emergence of training schools, reformative centers or development centers. However, they are expensive, ineffective and many at times too offensive for the young individuals seeking non-prison sanctions. Community corrections programs are usually functioned through parole agencies and consist of supervisory systems, reporting centers and residential facilities. There are many goals of the community correction program such as providing accountability of the offender's use of time, activities, rehabilitation and lastly achievement of the financial efficiency decreasing the load on the government. However, there are issues related with these corrections programs-many are insecure, corrupt and unauthorized with an increase need for checking their programs and staffing methods. The methods have failed in providing appropriate care and change of youth's habits future. Thus, the outcomes of these correctional facilities have been disappointing. This paper will look into the model adopted by Missouri State in making things better.

Discussion

Around 70 percent of the juveniles that are released from correction centers are rearrested within two years of time for a new offense (Mende, 2011). It is unfortunate that very few of these individuals return to complete their high school and achieve long term success in the job market. There is an overall expenditure of $6 billion on correctional facilities and all that is going to waste looking at the conditions that exist today. In such a scenario the State of Missouri has adopted a new approach and providing a hopeful alternative.

The state of Missouri closed its training schools long time back and since then they have been able to produce better results than other states and are not burdening state's budget. Their model is considered humane, constructive and positive (Mende, 2011). Their basic approach is to provide smaller group homes, treatment facilities and maintaining safety relationship which is not in isolation. They provide immense youth development facilities through dedicated specialists in their fields rather than supervisory guards. These methods have showed positive results, impressive safety measures and in smaller budget. However, they are also facing challenges such as better alternatives for probation, diversion and corrections. There is a need for more effective interventions for a majority who do not require confinement.

Community Corrections

There is a great difference between how community corrections are achieved and there are at least four things that need to be common in all the programs. These include an emphasis on residential stability where the offender is kept which is made to feel like home, the provision of voluntary services such as medical treatment if needed, this is mostly done to enhance trust, there is focus on accountability for the offender and the supervisor to judge the progress of the system on the whole and lastly look at the economic efficiency which results in whether the offenders are able to work in their respective jobs. Thus, the aims of a community correction programs all around the world are to decrease overcrowding in prisons, reduce the costs of the ...