Community-Based Corrections

By VERNON Fox A BOOK REVIEW BY GEORGE T. FROHMADER

PRENTICE HALL, INC. 1 977 H A R D COVER - $12.95

Only three chapters out of a sixteen- chapter book zero in on current concepts in community-based corrections. The other thirteen chapters, however, are an excellent source of information about various activities related to community-based corrections, but contain relatively little that’s new.

in the modern sense began. The number of inmates in prisons and correctional institu- tions required improvement in rehabilitation procedures and the costs were being recog- nized as prohibitive. Pretrial diversion was promoted by the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Jus-

The author, Vernon Fox, defines com- munity-based corrections: “In the modern context, community-based corrections refers to the mobilization of community resources for assistance to offenders and ex-offenders commensurate with public safety. While jails, probation and parole are in the com- munity, they are not ‘community-based cor- rections’ in the modern sense. Rather, they

tice in its publications in 1967. The Law Enforcement Assistance Act provided funds for experiments that would promote alterna- tives to imprisonment. “Many correctional administrators believe that the community- based programs are a better way to protect the public because they reduce the chance of institutionalization changing the value sys- tem of people confined there.”

are traditional elements of the criminal jus- tice system.”

the tirne when community-based corrections

One of the specific problems with com- munity-based corrections is the need for grea-

more sophisticated classification system for offenders to make half-way houses and other community-based corrections successful, ac- cording to the author.

The book states that 1965 is recognized as ter specification of Program elements and a

Author’s address: George T. Frohniader Director Children’s Court Center Milwaukee County 10201 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226

h o k i n g at the future of community-based corrections, the significant statement is made that effective change requires establishing goals to arrive at some consensus as to the

November, 1978 I Juvenile & Family Court Journal 47

GEORGE T. FROHMADER

objective of the criminal justice system. This means that the community must decide what it expects from the criminal justice system.

The subjects which the author considers for discussion other than the “traditional ele- ments of the criminal justice system” are such things as neighborhood projects, diversion programs, half-way houses, work release, study release, drug and alcohol programs, and ex-offender groups. Relating to juvenile ser- vices, he encompasses group homes, foster homes, youth service bureaus and volunteer services.

The important part of the book is the pre- sentation of the wide array of topics relating to

services provided for the offender in the community. It is an excellent reference text.

The author touches on relationships with the police, the public, the political aspects, as well as the vital areas of funding and staff competency as it relates to community- based corrections. Further, he talks about what the future holds for community-based corrections.

Finally, it is concluded that while there will always be a need for prisons and insti- tutions for some offenders, community- based corrections in the future will continue to play an important role for more and more offenders.

48 Juvenile & Family Court Journal I November, 1978