100 word response due 8/4/2024 1 reference/intext citation
Harris
Crime Prevention Program for CCA and Its Goals
Program Identification:
Among the various initiatives implemented by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the “Reentry and Rehabilitation Program” stands out as a key crime prevention effort. This program focuses on preparing incarcerated individuals for a successful transition back into society (Peters, 2013).
Goals:
Reduce Recidivism: The primary goal is to decrease the rate at which individuals reoffend after their release (Lee, 2017).
Enhance Employment Readiness: The program aims to furnish participants with crucial job skills and educational opportunities to enhance their employability (Davis & Lurigio, 2016).
Provide Behavioral Support: It offers counseling and mental health services to address the underlying issues that may contribute to criminal behavior (Harlow, 2003).
Improve Community Relations: The initiative seeks to build positive relationships between returning citizens and their communities, thus facilitating a smoother reintegration process (Visher & Travis, 2003).
Types of Costs Present in the Program
Direct Costs
These include expenses directly associated with implementing the program, such as hiring staff (counselors and vocational trainers), developing training materials, and organizing training sessions (Gideon, 2010).
Opportunity Costs:
This entails the potential benefits that are forfeited by allocating funds and resources to the program rather than investing in other potential programs (Kirk, 2019).
Informing a Cost-Benefit Analysis for Program Evaluation
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Reentry and Rehabilitation Program through a cost-benefit analysis the identified types of costs can be examined as follows:
Direct Costs and Benefits:
It is essential to compare immediate financial investments with tangible benefits, such as reduced incarceration expenses resulting from lower recidivism rates. If the cost of running the program per participant is significantly less than the cost of reconvictions, this would suggest a favorable financial outcome (Cohen, 1998).
Opportunity Costs:
Incorporating opportunity costs into the CBA helps in understanding the trade-offs involved. If reallocating resources to this program leads to significantly lower recidivism, this will potentially justify any opportunity costs incurred (Belfield et al., 2018).
Any crime prevention initiative, such as the Reentry and Rehabilitation Program, must undergo a thorough analysis from both financial and social perspectives. By examining various types of costs and weighing them against expected benefits, stakeholders can gain valuable insights into the program’s efficiency and effectiveness, leading to more informed decisions regarding resource allocation and policy (Visher & Travis, 2003).
