What are the distinctions between DRCs and house arrest?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. Day reporting centers (DRCs) are a type of outpatient program based on a three-phase levels system in which offenders report daily for a variety of treatment programs, an itinerary, and random drug testing. Day reporting centers are like a "one-stop shop" with all the resources and educational programs in one place. The staff-to-offender ratio is low, with about 1 staff member to every 14 clients served (Craddock, 2009). DRCs are also open for extended hours to accommodate offenders who work days and evenings. Some jurisdictions (e.g., Nebraska and Indiana) use day reporting for defendants on pretrial release (Kim et al., 2007, 2008), and other states (such as North Carolina and New Jersey) use DRCs as a reentry mechanism for prisoners coming out on parole (Craddock, 2009) or as an increased sanction for probation or parole violators. DRCs are more confining than ISP and are similar to house arrest in that the offender is required to be in a particular physical location for a mandatory period of time.Treatment-oriented DRCs provide a wide range of services, all on an outpatient basis. The most common services are job-seeking skills/job placement, drug abuse education/treatment, psychological counseling, life skills training, and GED education classes/literacy. Other services provided by a smaller number of DRCs include parenting, anger management, vocational training, and transportation assistance. Once employed, offenders are still required to attend treatment programs at night or on weekends. Craddock (2009) noted that DRCs that focus on criminogenic needs outlined by risk assessment instruments will help increase program completion rates and reduce recidivism. Craddock found that "employment programming is the only component that predicts completion" (p. 130). Her findings also suggested that housing assistance be incorporated for parolees coming out of prison. Supervision-oriented DRCs ensure that clients are abiding the rules, ensure accountability through itineraries, and keep clients busy so they do not have the time or opportunity to engage in criminal activity. "The itineraries state when clients are to leave home, their destinations, how they will travel (walk, drive, take the bus, or get a ride), when they are to arrive, and when they are to return home" (Anderson, 1998, p. 63). Itineraries are important for two reasons. First, clients learn (some for the first time) how to plan their days in advance. Second, the DRCs can monitor where the clients are when random phone calls are placed via a computer. DRCs are authorized to give out Antabuse, a prescription medication prescribed for alcoholics that prevents the use of alcohol. Urine screenings and alco-sensor tests ensure that clients have not been using drugs. Another characteristic of DRCs is that many clients are on 24-hour electronic monitoring.