Major Forms of Residential Community-Based Sanctions
- Boot camps are a form of so-called ‘shock incarceration’ whereby the offender gets a sample of what life in a correctional institution is like and then embarks on a period of community supervision. Boot camps take the idea a step further by incorporating a military basic training model at the beginning of the supervision period, geared specifically toward younger offenders at risk of entering prison if their unlawful behavior were to continue. At some level, boot camps are intended to instill a notion of self-discipline and hard work into the lives of these offenders that will carry over once they reenter their community structures. Many of these programs also incorporate educational programs, therapy, and treatment options for offenders with specific issues in their backgrounds, as well as aftercare alternatives for participants once they leave the program. The concept has been utilized for a quarter of a century and has spawned programs in virtually every jurisdiction, although some are no longer in use.
- Halfway Houses are residential facilities for probationers (‘Halfway In’), parolees (‘Halfway Out’) or a combination of both. They provide a structured, supervised environment that serves as an alternative to imprisonment for certain offenders or as a transitional step for prison inmates before returning to society full time. Whatever category the resident falls under, the halfway setting serves as a treatment based setting for offenders, eases overcrowding of correctional facilities, and provides additional supervision for offenders not well suited to traditional probation. These facilities can serve a general mission or have a specialized purpose (i.e. substance abuse treatment) and can vary in size as well.
- Work Release Centers are similar to halfway houses with the exception that offenders leave the facility on their own during specified hours to work or attend school. The offenders populating such facilities have usually been convicted of minor offenses and were employed or enrolled in school prior to their convictions. Residents are required to be in the center when not working or in class and the facilities offer programming similar to that found in a halfway house (i.e. twelve step programs, faith-based seminars, etc.).
- Restitution Centers are again similar to halfway houses but have a specific mission of accepting offenders who owe fines or restitution. The focus of these facilities is on stable employment so that an offender’s financial obligations can be satisfied. Once offenders have fulfilled these obligations, they are eligible for release from the program. While treatment regimens are sometimes available, they are usually not a point of emphasis.
- Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers are either privately or publicly funded facilities that specialize in treatment for offenders sentenced for drug- or alcohol-related crimes. While very similar in form to other types of residential treatment facilities, these programs often carry the caveat of imprisonment if an offender fails to complete a prescribed course of treatment.