Recreation Program Evaluation Plan, Case Study Example

Introduction

Correctional services play a vital role in not only controlling individuals who do not adhere to the laws and regulations that guide society but also helping them integrate back into society. Correctional services are crucial to the stability of society as it offers avenues to correct negative behavior that is detrimental to society. One of the major roles of correctional facilities is to provide recreation for its inmates, especially for female inmates. Even though correctional services are mandated to provide recreation activities and opportunities, several challenges hinder female inmates from accessing such services. Recreation for women in living in correctional facilities is not only vital to their wellbeing but also integral to their integration back into society.

Assignment 1 (A1) Constraints

Even though correctional facilities offer leisure and recreational facilities and opportunities for female inmates, several challenges constrain the ability of women to enjoy such opportunities. One of the major constraints is discipline. Inmates who behave poorly are often denied opportunities for recreation (Bryson & Groves, 2017). The denial of leisure or recreation is one of the major tools of discipline employed by correctional services to ensure good behavior among female inmates. This punishment strategy often hinders the ability of female inmates enjoying recreational activities. This is done even though they require recreation time to vent emotional and psychological stress.

While Correctional Services is mandated to provide inmates with leisure and recreational facilities and opportunities, the scope of such facilities and services is significantly limited. Most correctional services facilities operate on a limited budget, which requires sound financial management to guarantee the wellbeing of inmates. Most of the resources received by correctional services facilities are directed towards crucial services, such as food, utilities, and security (Gallant, Sherry, & Nicholson, 2015). Leisure and recreational activities often receive the funds that are left over after all essential expenditures. As such, the scope of leisure and recreational activities is significantly limited by the financial constraints that correctional facilities face.

The population of female inmates in Canada has grown over the past three decades. While this growing population is an indicator of underlying issues and problems in society, it is also an indicator of the capacity of correctional services in providing recreational facilities (Gallant, Sherry, & Nicholson, 2015). The growing population of female inmates in Canadian prisons presents a challenge for managers of such facilities. Developing leisure recreation facilities and services for the entire female inmate population while ensuring security is a difficult undertaking. As such, the scope of leisure recreational activities in prisons is constrained.

Women in the Canadian Federal Prison system are among some of the most marginalized in the country, characterized by histories of drug abuse, poverty, and trauma. They experience significant oppression and isolation from social stigma perpetuated by their communities. Because of society’s prevailing prejudices against women in the correctional system, symptoms of psychological trauma are common among female inmates. Female inmates are often portrayed as predators who are brutal and savage by the Canadian media, often leading to opposition against programs that are essential to their rehabilitation and eventual integration back to their communities (Yuen, Arai, & Fortune, 2012). Despite leisure and recreation programs providing a rehabilitative framework to instill self-care, responsibility, and choice, the negative image of the female inmate perpetuated by the media continues to provide hindrances and opposition to such programs. Some recreation and leisure programs designed for women in the correctional system have been deemed to be a luxury as they rival those available to the public. These programs are perceived as a reward to individuals who have committed ills against society, leading to significant opposition from the general public (Yuen, Arai, & Fortune, 2012).

Program Name

Recreation and Fitness for Women’s Correction (RFWC)

Table 2: Visual Planning Model (Step 4)

Table 3: Questions for Evaluation and Research Tools (Steps 5-6)

Conclusion

In conclusion, recreation activities are an integral part of the services that correctional services provide for female inmates. Not only are recreational activities essential to the health and wellbeing of female inmates, but they are also vital to their integration back into society. Through recreation, correctional services can better manage the female inmate population as it offers avenues to vent and relieve stress and other negative emotions. Even though such services are provided by correctional services, financial limitations often prove to be a barrier for female inmates to enjoy recreation. The proposed program is expected to yield short-term and long-term outcomes. In the short term a reduction in the number of indiscipline cases in the inmate population is expected. Additionally, the program is expected to experience reduced cost of recreation and leisure activities while changing the perceptions of members of the community from apprehension to acceptance. In the long-term, improved welfare for female inmates in Canadian correctional facilities should be recorded while the program provides a variety of sport and recreational activities at relatively low costs. It is also expected that existing social stigma in the surrounding communities will reduce over time.