When first established, PRCs provided transitioning services to offenders approaching release from prison. Residents who are diverted from incarceration are limited by statute to a PRC stay of one year. We found the median length of stay for residents in calendar year 1995 was approximately seven months. What Steps are Taken at PRCs to Address Public Safety To address public safety concerns, PRCs established a system for monitoring and evaluating resident behavior and activities. A high percentage of residents entering the PRC program have been involved in drug-related crimes and have a history of chemical dependency.
Residents are also subject to room, vehicle and personal searches.
These searches are a means to control offender property and guard against theft in the facility as well as in the community. Residents are required to develop weekly plans for all money spent in the community. This budget planning is designed to provide a safeguard against misuse of funds. This includes random checks with employers and on-site visits of job sites. We reviewed 122 offenders who were placed in PRC programs in calendar year 1995.