Halfway Home Research Paper

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What is a halfway house and what is its purpose? Our text defines them as houses in which offenders live in the community that provide supervision, room and board, and some treatment as an alternative to prison (Seiter 526). This is a fairly bland description of the true capabilities of community correctional facilities in our country today. It is true that they do offer treatment programs, including substance abuse programs, anger management, and educational opportunities. However, they also do so much more for their residents. Community correctional facilities offer a platform for inmates or other circumstantial offenders to learn how to re-integrate and comfortably exist in our ever-changing society. They are given unique privileges …show more content…
One of the most recognized benefits is that they are ever reducing the prison population by placing less violent and/or first time offenders into a correctional facility instead of a common long-term prison sentence. Correlating to the first benefit, halfway houses are also extremely more cost efficient when being compared to prisons or other traditional institutions. “In 2008, the average cost per inmate per day was $78.95, considerably more than the 2001 average cost of $46.15 per day for a halfway house” (Seiter 119). Not only are they more cost efficient, but they also help to offer a more individualized treatment program for the residents that live there. Some of the other benefits include a period of transition for inmates who are getting ready to re-enter into society. They help to lower the rate of recidivism and give the ex-cons a chance to learn and grow as individuals outside of the system. A recent volume of the Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare concluded that “the findings indicat(ed) the significance of the relationship between successful program completion and reduced likelihood of recidivism” (Lightenwalker, 2010). If the offenders get the proper treatment that they need, the chances of them committing future crimes after release is diminished …show more content…
The communities that these halfway houses are located in face many issues. One of the main problems is that the residents do not wish to be living near ex-criminals. There is the fear for their children, and their work, and their schools being in the same neighborhood as these correctional facilities. One resident living in such a community was interviewed by the WFAA and stated that "We have children. We have lives here. We don't want them here. Why can’t they go someplace else?" (Denmon, 2011). Along with the obvious concern for public safety, another drawback includes the economic problems of lowering the property values in the real estate industry. The homes and land surrounding the halfway houses plummet dramatically simply because of their proximity. Another resident stated that "As a taxpaying homeowner, I think I have rights, too, and I think I bought this neighborhood so my property value can be improved. I'm pretty sure if I put my house up for sale today — who's going to buy it?" (Denmon 2011). Many other residents in that community feel the very same way. Others are not necessarily wholeheartedly concerned with property value or protection, but simply believe that these correctional facilities are not strict enough to properly inflict the punishment on the offenders they house. Ever since the “tough on crime” mentality
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