Halfway houses have rules and regulations for inmates. These rules are important to ensure that the inmates or the residents get the best care and support provided by the halfway house. When they get what it is like to live in a halfway house, they will be able to achieve their goals and to make the halfway house the place it should be.
The staff at a halfway house should ensure that the residents adhere to a disciplined system and a daily routine that will make them better ones. Violating the rules set at the halfway house is not recommended. If a resident violates the rules at this place, they will get consequences. For those who are wondering about the consequences that these residents can get if they violate the rules applied at the halfway house, the list includes fines and eviction from the house.
So, what are the rules that are usually found in the halfway houses? For anyone who wants to know about the rules that are usually found at the halfway houses, some of the most common ones include:
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- It is a must for the residents to be sober at all times. It means drugs and alcohol are clearly not allowed.
- It is a must for the residents to agree to a random drug test.
- It is a must for the residents to contribute to the house by doing chores.
- It is a must for the residents to follow the curfew time set by the halfway house.
- It is a must for the residents to attend 12-step or other recovery meetings.
- It is a must for the residents that do not have jobs to interview for jobs.
- There should be no violence and no fighting towards the other residents.
- There should be no stealing or destroying the property belonging to another resident.
As you can read above, these rules that are usually found in the halfway houses are similar to an inpatient program. What makes them different is the lack of medical and psychiatric staff on the site. Compared to the rehab facilities, halfway houses are more flexible because they allow people to come and out whenever they want to.
Once again, every halfway house has different sets of rules and regulations. As a few sober living facilities are gender-specific, they have different rules. Those who still have to attend rehab may get a different set of rules to follow than those who are in recovery. Below are several other rules to expect:
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- It is a must for the residents to have a sponsor.
- It is a must for the residents to agree to take random drug and alcohol tests when requested.
- It is a must for the residents to agree to pay admission fees.
- It is a must for the residents to agree to follow the set of command for every comment, question, concern, medication, and appointment request.
- The residents are not allowed to loan, lend, buy, or sell anything to another resident.
- The residents are not allowed in any other bedroom or apartment unless there is an approval from the staff.
- The residents are not allowed to fraternize, flirt, or engage in any sexual or intimidate relationships, behavior, or language.
- The residents are encouraged to do community services.
- The visitors are not allowed to visit the site without getting approved by the staff.
- The visitors are not allowed to stay overnight.
- There should be no physical or verbal threats as they will not be tolerated.
- It is a must for any medication to be updated through the Nurse Practitioner and kept in the treatment office.
- Pets are not allowed.
- There is a designated time of stay in some halfway houses. It varies from 90- days to 1 year.
- The former residents are not allowed to be on the property without the approval from the staff.
- The residents should report anyone who breaks the rules to the staff.
Apart from the rules for the residents, there are also some rules that should be followed by the visitors. Just like the rules for the residents, the rules for visitors can also vary, depending on the facility. The rules for the visitors are mainly for security purposes. These rules are applied to make sure that the residents are not exposed to any physical danger or substance at any point of time during their time at halfway house.
Talking about the rules for the visitors, it is worth noting that not everyone can visit halfway houses and the number of guests who can visit is limited. According to the rules, the ones that are allowed to visit the site include family members, approved friends, and attorneys. To visit the site, the visitors must get approval from the staff first. It should be known that those who have an outstanding warrant are currently on parole or are considered a security risk will not get the approval. Not only that, they also need to have a valid ID and must be 18 years of age or over. In case minors want to visit the site, they should be accompanied by a guardian or a parent.
If someone gets approved by a staff member to visit a halfway house, they should know the items that they can bring in case they want to bring items. The ones that are allowed to be brought include ID, spectacles, diapers, and bottles for accompanying children. As for the ones that are not allowed, the list includes medication, cigarettes, weapons, electronic items such as mobile phones and cameras, food and drinks, lighters, and so on.
Now, let’s talk about regulations. In March 2014, the new regulations for federal halfway houses were announced by the U.S. attorney general. These regulations include allowing inmates to have cell phones so that they can keep in touch with their family members, friends, and potential employers. Not only that, those who are seeking employment are provided with transportation or public transit vouchers. Besides, they are also provided with standardized treatment with substance abuse or mental health issues. In addition, more inmates can graduate to home confinement with the expanded use of ankle bracelet monitors.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
