Discuss the form and purpose of residential community corrections facilities (RCCFs)

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Residential community corrections facilities (RCCFs) are a popular intermediate sanction because they provide more intensive supervision than probation and parole but allow offenders to remain in the community, where they have access to more treatment services than they otherwise would in prison. RCCFs cost less than jail or prison, in part because offenders subsidize a portion of the cost through working full time. Offenders can continue to contribute to their own families as well as pay back victims for harm done. RCCFs are the most diverse type of community corrections sanction. Thus, it is difficult to describe an "average" residential facility or a typical client (Settles, 2004). Residential community corrections facilities do have the following commonalities:
• Residents live in the facility (not at home).
• Residents must be employed (or be working part time and going to school).
• Residents can leave the facility at any time for work at a verified job.
• Residents must be preapproved to leave the facility for any other reason, and they are limited to a certain pass duration, purpose, and curfew (Latessa & Travis, 1992, p. 170).
Outside of those similarities, many differences exist, such as facility size, whether the facility is public or private, type of treatment programs offered, and type of clients selected. Halfway houses are the oldest type of RCCFs, having been around since the 1830s. But there are other newer adaptations of residential facilities, including community corrections centers, prerelease centers, restitution centers, work ethic camps, work release centers, and residential drug treatment facilities.